Stargard

Stargard Szczeciński
Old town Old town
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Stargard - Klejnot Pomorza Stargard - Jewel of Pomerania
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	West Pomeranian
County	Stargard
Gmina	Stargard Szczeciński (urban gmina)
Established	12th century
Town rights	1243
Government
• Mayor	Sławomir Pajor
Area
• Total	48.1 km2 (18.6 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (70 ft)
Population  (2006)
• Total	70,534
• Density	1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	73-110
Area code	+48 91
Car plates	ZST
Website	http://www.stargard.pl

Brama Młyńska one of two water gates in Europe.

St. Mary's Church with marketplace

Stargard Szczeciński [Polish pronunciation: ['] ] (-Polish, Kashubian/Pomeranian: Stôrgard, Template:Lang-de) is a town in Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with 71 017 inhabitants (2005). Situated on the Ina river, it is the capital of Stargard County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999); previously it was in Szczecin Voivodeship (1975-1998).

History

Stargard, first mentioned around 1140, received Magdeburg city rights in 1253 from the Pomeranian duke Barnim I. The city joined the Hanseatic League (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 1648 it came – together with the rest of Pomerania – under Prussian influence. From 1871 to 1945, Prussia became part of the unified Germany.

During World War II the large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-D was located nearby.

After World War II, the city was renamed and placed under Polish administration; the German population was expelled and replaced by Poles, mainly from territories taken over 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, Dominet Bank Ekstraliga

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

• Adolf Wallenberg, (1862 - 1949)
• Werner von Blomberg, (1878 - 1946), General
• Michał Jach, politician
• Arkadiusz Bąk, footballer
• Ewa Kasprzyk, ( b. 1957), actress

Twin towns

• Elmshorn, Saldus, Slagelse, Stralsund, Wijchen

Towns near Stargard Szczeciński

• Szczecin City (Poland)
• Goleniów (Poland)
• Pyrzyce (Poland)
• Maszewo (Poland)
• Nowogard (Poland)
• Suchań (Poland)
• Choszczno (Poland)
• Chociwel (Poland)
• Dobrzany (Poland)
• Ińsko (Poland)

See also

• Kolbacz

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
• Satellite photo via Google Maps

53°20′N 15°03′E