Stargard

Stargard

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): Stargard - Klejnot Pomorza
Stargard - Jewel of Pomerania
Stargard
Stargard
Coordinates: 53°20′N 15°2′E / 53.333°N 15.033°E / 53.333; 15.033
Country  Poland
Voivodeship West Pomeranian
County Stargard
Gmina Stargard Szczeciński (urban gmina)
Established 12th century
Town rights 1243
Government
 • Mayor Rafał Zając
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 73-100
to 73-110
Area code(s) +48 91
Car plates ZST
Website http://www.stargard.pl

Stargard [ˈstarɡart] ( listen) (German: Stargard in Pommern; Kashubian: Stôrgard) 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).[1] 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.

From 1945 until December 31, 2015, the town was known as Stargard Szczeciński.[2]

History

Town Hall

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. However, some experts say that the name is of Scandinavian origin: starn (star) and gate (as in English).[3]

It was one of the most important towns in Duchy of Pomerania. 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 February, 1945, one of the last German armored offensives, Operation Solstice, was launched from the Stargard area.

After World War II the region was placed under Polish administration by the Potsdam Agreement under territorial changes demanded by the Soviet Union. Most Germans fled or were expelled and were replaced with Poles expelled from the 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. Another industrial park is located in the south - Park Przemysłowy Wysokich Technologii.

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

Landmarks and monuments

Heavy bombing during World War II devastated most of Stargard's fine historical sites and destroyed over 75% of the city. Some of these monuments, such as St. Mary’s Church (13th–15th century) and the 16th-century town hall, have been rebuilt.[4] The newly restored buildings are on the European Route of Brick Gothic. Some of the notable surviving examples include:

  • St. Mary's Church (15th century) - one of the largest brick churches in Europe
  • St. John's Church (15th century)
  • Medieval 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 town hall from 16th century
  • Gothic tenement-houses
  • Granary (16th century)
  • Expiatory cross (1542)
  • The monument 'The 15th Meridian'
  • Column of victory (1945)

Sport

The town is home to Spójnia Stargard, a men's basketball team and Błękitni Stargard, 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 European water gates still in existence
St. Mary's Church with marketplace
Number of inhabitants in years.[5][6]
Year Inhabitants
161812,000
16401,200
16883,600
1720400
17405,529
17825,612
17866,243
17945,971
18128,900
18168,042
18319,907
184311,192
185212,473
186114,168
190526,907
191328,000
192934,600
193335,773
193939,760
19452,870
195020,684
196033,650
197044,460
198059,227
199071,000
199572,254

Notable residents

Margaret, singer-songwriter

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Stargard is twinned with

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Brücker, Aleksander (1927). Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (in Polish). oboczne gard zachowały nazwy na Pomorzu (Stargard, ‘starogród’, ...)
  2. 1 2 https://www.premier.gov.pl/wydarzenia/decyzje-rzadu/rozporzadzenie-w-sprawie-ustalenia-granic-niektorych-miast-nadania.html
  3. ↑ Kociuba, Jarosław (2012). Pomorze - Praktyczny przewodnik turystyczny po ziemiach Księstwa Pomorskiego (in Polish). Szczecin: Walkowska Wydawnictwo. p. 422. ISBN 9788361805496.
  4. ↑ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/563628/Stargard-Szczecinski
  5. ↑ Kratz (1865), p. 370
  6. ↑ Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. 6th edition, vol. 18, Leipzig and Vienna 1909, p. 857.

Coordinates: 53°20′N 15°03′E / 53.333°N 15.050°E / 53.333; 15.050


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