The article discusses the political and economic changes in small towns that occurred between the outbreak of the January Uprising of 1863 and the end of 1866. At that time, the situation of cities and their inhabitants was not easy. The city’s population has been affected by a wave of Russian repression, including arrests and imprisonment. Part of the costs of suppressing the uprising was passed on to the townspeople (food for the soldiers housed in the houses and financing the military police). The economic consequences of the uprising were also severe: the destruction of homes as a result of the war and the decline in income. Part of the costs of implementing reforms introduced in 1864-1866 (including expropriation of peasants) was passed on to the urban population. In 1866, city revenues were reduced and city officials were replaced. The studied problem was presented on the example of the cities of Jędrzejów, Małogoszcz and Wodzisławie in the province of Radom.