Stargard Szczeciński (German Stargard in Pommern) is a town in Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with 73,000 inhabitants (1995). Situated on the Ihna, it is the capital of Stargard County in West Pomeranian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Szczecin Voivodship (1975-1998). Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern and Pommerellen, Pomeranian (Kashubian): Pòmòrze and Pòmòrskô, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania) is a geographical and historical region in northern Poland and Germany on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea between and on both sides of the Vistula and Oder (Odra) rivers, reaching the Reknitz river... West Pomeranian voivodship since 1999 West Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze Zachodnie, German: West Pommern; Latin Pomerania Occidentalis) or West Pomeranian Voivodship (Polish: województwo zachodniopomorskie) is an administrative region or voivodship in the northwestern part of Poland. ... Szczecin Voivodship (1) was (Polish: województwo szczecińskie) was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1975-1998, superseded by West Pomeranian Voivodship. ...

Historical buildings and monuments: St. Mary's church (15th century) - one of the biggest brick church in Europe; St. John's church (15th century) with high tower (99 m); mediaeval fortifications - ramparts, walls, gates and towers (13th - 16th centuries) - i.e. Red Sea Tower (Polish: Baszta Morze Czerwone) from 1513; renessaince townhall from 15th - 16th centuries; gothic tenement-houses; granary (16th century); expiatory cross (1542); column of victory (1945).

Stargard, destroyed by the Poles in 1120, was raised to the rank of a town in 1229, joined the Hanseatic League, and was strongly fortified. It was important during the Thirty Years' War. The foundations of the Hanseatic League (German: Hanse), an alliance of trading cities that for a time in the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period maintained a trade monopoly over most of Northern Europe and the Baltic, can be seen as early as the 12th century, with the... The victory of Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) The Thirty Years War was a conflict fought between the years 1618 and 1648, principally in the Central European territory of the Holy Roman Empire, but also involving most of the major continental powers. ...

Sports

• Spojnia Stargard Szczecinski - men basketball team, 11th in Era Basket Liga in 2003/2004 season.

Spójnia Stargard Szczeciński is a Polish basketball team, based in Stargard Szczecinski, playing in Era Basket Liga. ... Era Basket Liga (EBL) or Polish Basketball League (=Polska Liga Koszykówki, PLK) is the highest level league of basketball in Poland 2004 Championship Playoffs for 1st place: Idea Śląsk Wrocław (2nd place) - Prokom Trefl Sopot (Polish Champion) Playoffs for 3rd place: Anwil Włocławek (4th place) - Polonia Warbud Warszawa (3rd place...

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

External links (in Polish)

http://www.stargard.pl/
http://www.stargard.com.pl/
http://www.info.stargard.pl/