Stargard Szczeciński

Infobox Settlement
name = Stargard Szczeciński
motto = Stargard - Klejnot Pomorza
Stargard - Jewel of Pomerania

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Old town

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image_shield = POL Stargard Szczecinski COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = West Pomeranian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Stargard
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Stargard Szczeciński (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Sławomir Pajor
established_title = Established
established_date = 12th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1243
area_total_km2 = 48.1
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 70534
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 53 | latm = 20 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 15 | longm = 2 | longs = | longEW = E
elevation_m = 20
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 73-110
area_code = +48 91
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = ZST
website = http://www.stargard.pl

Stargard Szczeciński [IPA-pl|'|s|t|a|r|g|a|r|t|-|sz|cz|e|'|ć|i|ń|s|k|i] ( _de. Stargard in Pommern; _cs. Stôrgard) is a city in northwestern Poland, with 71,017 inhabitants (2005). Situated on the Ina River, it is the capital of Stargard County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999); previously it was in the Szczecin Voivodeship (1975-1998). Stargard is a major railroad junction, where the southwards connection from Szczecin splits into two directions - one towards Poznan and another towards Gdansk. Also, another, minor line to Pyrzyce stems from the town.

History

Stargard, first mentioned around 1140, received Magdeburg city rights in 1243 from the Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania. The city joined the Hanseatic League in 1363 and was strongly fortified. In the 15th century, the Pomeranian dukes chose it as their residence.

During the Thirty Years' War, the city burnt down, and in the 1648 Peace of Westphalia it came — together with the rest of Further Pomerania — to Brandenburg-Prussia. In 1701 Stargard became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1818 after the Napoleonic Wars, Stargard became part of the new district Saatzig within the Province of Pomerania.

The city became part of the German Empire in 1871 during the unification of Germany. On 1 April 1901 it became an independent city separate from Saatzig District.

During World War II the large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-D was located near Stargard.The city was placed under Polish administration in 1945 according to the postwar Potsdam Agreement. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles, mainly from eastern Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union.

Landmarks and monuments

The town is on The European Route of Brick Gothic.

* St. Mary's Church (15th century) - one of the biggest brick churches in Europe;
* St. John's Church (15th century) with high tower (99 m);
* mediaeval fortifications - ramparts, walls, gates (Brama Młyńska "The Mill Gate" from 15th cent.) and towers (13th - 16th centuries) - i.e. Red Sea Tower (Polish: Baszta Morze Czerwone) from 1513;
* renaissance townhall from 15th - 16th centuries;
* gothic tenement-houses;
* granary (16th century);
* expiatory cross (1542);
* column of victory (1945).

Until 1998 southeast of Stargard Szczeciński, there was a facility for mediumwave broadcasting at 15°7'E and 53°18'N used for foreign broadcasting on 1503 kHz with 300 kW. The two antenna towers of the facility are meanwhile dismantled.

Sport

* Spojnia Stargard Szczeciński - men's basketball team

Historical population

1618: 12,000 inhabitants
1640: 1,200 inhabitants
1688: 3,600 inhabitants
1720: 400 inhabitants
1740: 5,529 inhabitants
1786: 6,243 inhabitants
1800: 7,000 inhabitants
1901: 25,000 inhabitants
1913: 28,000 inhabitants
1929: 34,600 inhabitants
1939: 39,760 inhabitants
1945: 2,870 inhabitants
1950: 20,684 inhabitants
1960: 33,650 inhabitants
1970: 44,460 inhabitants
1975: 51,400 inhabitants
1980: 59,227 inhabitants
1990: 71,000 inhabitants
1995: 72,254 inhabitants

Notable residents

*Carl Wilhelm Schmidt (died 1864), missionary
*Adolf Wallenberg (1862-1949), neurologist
*Oscar Levy (1867-1946), writer
*Werner von Blomberg (1878-1946), general
*Arkadiusz Bąk (born 1974), footballer
*Ewa Kasprzyk (born 1957), actress
*Dominika Pawłowska (born 1983), singer
*Mariusz Rogowski, footballer
*Karolina Szarubka, singer

Twin towns

Stargard is twinned with:
* Elmshorn (Germany)
* Saldus (Latvia)
* Slagelse (Denmark)
* Stralsund (Germany)
* Wijchen (Netherlands)

External links (in Polish)

* http://www.stargard.pl/
* http://www.stargard.com.pl/
* http://www.info.stargard.pl/
* http://www.muryobronne.republika.pl/stargard/stargard.html
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&hl=en&ll=53.340918,15.031872&spn=0.069899,0.161018&t=k Satellite photo via Google Maps]