The 19TH century brought a powerful transformation and development in all the spheres of individual and social life.

The local society of scientists and the freemason lodge played an important role in the propagation of the Enlightenment's ideas. The lower nobility did the most to make the attempts at reform successful. Political attempts were bound together closely with the creation of the different forums of social life. They established the National Club in 1832, and in 1842 the ‘Miskolc News' (Miskolci Értesítő) was published, which contained public information. The News could be printed in Miskolc, because after an initiative in 1792 the first printing house was opened in 1812. The first stone-theatre in Hungary was built in Miskolc. The city supported national culture and opened the gates of its theatre to a company from the capital, which put on performances in Hungarian.

The hard-pottery factory was the oldest in Miskolc, starting its work in 1833. The Borsod-Miskolc Steam-mill was the second biggest in the Hungarian pottery-industry. The number of small businesses and middle-sized enterprises grew rapidly at the turn of the century. There were beer, starch, gas, soda water, fletton brick, sugar, fish canning, machine, iron, and steel factories.

For its advantageous location, the city has always been an important traffic junction. In the beginning of the 19TH century already five passenger coaches left for the capital weekly. It took 24 hours to get to Pest from Miskolc. A very significant event was the opening of the Debrecen-Miskolc railway in 1859. The Miskolc Savings Bank began serving customers in 1845.

Historic records speak about natural disasters causing enormous damage in that bustling time. The biggest fire suffered up to that time broke out in 1843. The decorated houses of the Greek traders in the downtown burnt down to the ground. Miskolc had just been rebuilt after the disaster when the greatest flood in the history of the city destroyed it in 1878. There had also been serious damage caused by water in 1691 and 1845.

In the time of the war for independence, in 1848-1849, Miskolc played a significant role, just as it had in the years of Rákóczy's revolution. As the centre of ‘Upper-Hungary,' it became a focal point for weapon, gunpowder and uniform production. A great number of officers, generals, government commissioners and the leaders of civil administration visited the city.
After the battles of the revolution had broken out, the front slowly moved towards Miskolc and reached the city in the winter of 1848-1849. After the lost battle at Kassa (Kosice) in December 1848, the road was open for the Austrians from Galicia towards Miskolc and Debrecen. Bertalan Szemere, a government commissioner who had been born in the region, moved back to Miskolc at that time and established a bayonet-making factory.
The Emperor's army occupied the city first between January 25TH and February 5TH. During the second occupation, General Arthur Görgey chased the Austrian army out of Miskolc.
At the end of April the Declaration of Independence was announced at a meeting of the county council. It meant the separation from the House of Habsburg.
After this announcement, Bertalan Szemere (1812-1869) became Prime Minister. During the war for independence the inhabitants of Miskolc twice suffered occupation by the Russian Czar's army. (Between June 29th - July 20th and between July 24th - September 2nd) After the lost war for freedom, Hungarian soldiers were impressed into the Austrian armies. The submission happened slowly, and the events of the War for Independence left a deep imprint on the people living here.

The forming of the cityscape of today and the modern development of Miskolc began in the 1860-1880s. The city connected to the railway in 1859. In 1868 the iron factory in Diósgyőr started to work and the second tramline in Hungary carried its passengers in Miskolc in 1897. The Town Hall, the County Hall, the Tiszai and Gömör train stations were built, and the city park (Népkert) was laid out, where a statue of Queen Elisabeth was erected. The bath of the city was opened and arrangement of the square in front of it finished with the first full-sized statue of Louis Kossuth, (governor of Hungary between 14 April and 11 August 1849) was erected. The Borsod-Miskolc Museum opened its gates and the city was enriched with hotels and many houses. Taking advantage of the opportunities of the beautiful natural surroundings, Hámor, Lillafüred, and Tapolca were developed into holiday resorts.