In 1848, the construction of a train station began at the planned junction of the Küstrin (Kostrzyn nad Odrą)-Posen (Poznań) line, with a reception building built in the classical style.

The town owes its existence to the rail, as developed only after 1848, when the Poznań-Szczecin line was opened, crossing the Prussian Eastern Railway.

After further railway lines to Wałcz and Rogoźno had been built from this point in the following years, the station had gained such importance that a new settlement developed in its vicinity.

[6] Feliks Kasprzak, who founded the local military and civil administration cell of the Home Army, was arrested by the Gestapo in April 1944, however, he escaped during a German-perpetrated death march in 1945.

The historic Polish name Krzyż[3] was confirmed as official,[8] and later on, the adjective Wielkopolski was added after the region of Greater Poland, within which it is located, to distinguish it from other places of the same name.