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).

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.

Sports

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

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