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Stargard

Coordinates: 53°20′N 15°03′E / 53.333°N 15.050°E / 53.333; 15.050
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For other uses, see Stargard (disambiguation).
Stargard
Flag of Stargard
Flag
Coat of arms of Stargard
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Stargard - Klejnot Pomorza
Stargard - Jewel of Pomerania
Country Poland
VoivodeshipWest Pomeranian
CountyStargard
GminaStargard Szczeciński (urban gmina)
Established12th century
Town rights1243
Government
 • MayorSławomir Pajor
Area
 • Total48.1 km2 (18.6 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (70 ft)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total70,534
 • Density1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
73-100
to 73-110
Area code+48 91
Car platesZST
Websitehttp://www.stargard.pl

Stargard [ˈstarɡart] ⓘ (German: Stargard in Pommern; Template:Lang-csb) is a city in northwestern Poland, with a population of 71,017 (2005). Situated on the Ina River it is the capital of Stargard County and since 1999 has been in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship; prior to that it was in the Szczecin Voivodeship (1975–1998). Before World War II the town was in Prussia, Germany. The city's name is of Pomeranian (Kashubian) origin and stands for old (stari) town/city (gard or gôrd). It's one of the biggest towns of Szczecin agglomeration. Stargard is a major railroad junction, where the southwards connection from Szczecin splits into two directions - one towards Poznań and the other towards Gdańsk. There is also another minor line to Pyrzyce from the town.

Until December 31, 2015, the town was known as Stargard Szczeciński. [1]

History

Stargard, which was first mentioned in around 1140, received Magdeburg city rights in 1243 from Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania. The name itself is a combination of two Slavic words: stari (old) and gard (town). In this connotation, the term gard is still being used by the only surviving Pomeranian language speakers, the Kashubs.

In 1363 the city joined the Hanseatic League and was then strongly fortified. During 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 was incorporated, together with the rest of Further Pomerania, into Brandenburg-Prussia. In 1701 Stargard became part of the Kingdom of Prussia and in 1818, after the Napoleonic Wars, Stargard became part of the new district Saatzig within the Province of Pomerania.

As a result of the unification of Germany in 1871 the city became part of the German Empire. On 1 April 1901 it became an independent city, separate from the Saatzig District.

During World War II the large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-D was located near Stargard. There were Kashubs and later thousands of Canadians captured at Dieppe imprisoned there, one of whom was Gerald MacIntosh Johnston, a Canadian actor, who was killed trying to escape.

In 1945 the city was placed under Polish administration, according to the postwar Potsdam Agreement, and since then has remained part of Poland. The German population was expelled and replaced by Poles, mainly from central Poland and the eastern Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union.

In 2004 a north-western part of the town was made into an industrial park - Stargardzki Park Przemysłowy.

On January 1, 2016, the town will be renamed Stargard. [2]

Landmarks and monuments

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "heavy bombing during World War II devastated many of its fine historical sites and destroyed 75 percent of the city; St. Mary’s Church (13th–15th century) and the 16th-century town hall have been rebuilt".[3] The newly restored buildings are 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 century) 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

The town is home to Spojnia Stargard Szczeciński, a men's basketball team and Błękitni Stargard Szczeciński, formerly a multi-sports club, now a men's association football team, best known for reaching the Polish Cup semi-final in 2015.

Demographics

Brama Młyńska one of two water gates in Europe.
Number of inhabitants in years.[4][5]
Year Inhabitants
1618 12,000
1640 1,200
1688 3,600
1720 400
1740 5,529
1782 5,612
1786 6,243
1794 5,971
1812 8,900
1816 8,042
1831 9,907
1843 11,192
1852 12,473
1861 14,168
1905 26,907
1913 28,000
1929 34,600
1933 35,773
1939 39,760
1945 2,870
1950 20,684
1960 33,650
1970 44,460
1980 59,227
1990 71,000
1995 72,254

Notable residents

St. Mary's Church with marketplace

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland

Twin towns — sister cities

Stargard Szczeciński is twinned with:

References

Notes
  1. ^ https://www.premier.gov.pl/wydarzenia/decyzje-rzadu/rozporzadzenie-w-sprawie-ustalenia-granic-niektorych-miast-nadania.html
  2. ^ https://www.premier.gov.pl/wydarzenia/decyzje-rzadu/rozporzadzenie-w-sprawie-ustalenia-granic-niektorych-miast-nadania.html
  3. ^ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/563628/Stargard-Szczecinski
  4. ^ Kratz (1865), p. 370
  5. ^ Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. 6th edition, vol. 18, Leipzig and Vienna 1909, p. 857.
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53°20′N 15°03′E / 53.333°N 15.050°E / 53.333; 15.050


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