Szczecin

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(Redirected from Stettin)
Szczecin
Image:Szczecin Flag.png Image:Szczecin CoA.png
(Flag) (Coat of Arms)
Motto: none
Image:Szczecin Mapa1.PNG
Voivodship West Pomeranian
Municipal government Rada miasta Szczecina
Mayor Marian Jurczyk
Area 301,3 km²
Population
 - city
 - urban
 - density
413 600

1372/km²
Founded
City rights 		8th century
1243
Latitude
Longitude 		53°26'N
14°34'E
Area code +48 91
Car plates ZS
Twin towns Berlin-Kreuzberg, Bremerhaven, Dalian, Esbjerg, Hull, Lubeck, Malmö, Murmansk, St. Louis
Municipal Website


Szczecin (pronounce: Image:Ltspkr.png ['ʃʧεtɕin], Latin: Stetinum or Scecinum; Kashubian/Pomeranian Sztetëno; German: Stettin, formerly Alten Stettin) is the 7th largest city in Poland and the second largest Polish seaport on the Baltic. It is also the capital of the West Pomeranian Voivodship. As of the 2005 census estimate the city has a total population of 413,638.

Szczecin is located in the northwest part of Poland, on the Oder River, south of the Lagoon of Szczecin and the Bay of Pomerania. The city is situated along the southwestern shore of Dąbie Lake, on both sides of Oder and on several large islands between western and eastern branch of the river.

Contents

Origins of the name

Early medieval sources show: Stetin 1133, Stetyn 1188, Priznoborus vir nobilis in Stetin, Symon nobilis Stettinensis 1234, in vico Stetin 1240, Barnim Dei gratia dux Pomeranorum... civitati nostri Stetin 1243, Stityn 1251, Sigillum Burgoncium de Stitin municipal seal of the 13th century, which is the same to the modern Polish spelling of Szczecin. The name is almost certainly of the same origin as others Polish names such as Szczytno, Szczucin and Szczuczyn. In Latin, the city was known as Stetinum.

Image:Szczecin urzadmiejski.jpg

There are several possible etymologies of the city name:

  1. Szczecin comes from the word szczyt which means peak, hill top in modern Polish, but also a long shield in Old Polish. So Szczecin means a town located on a hill top, or a town fortified as a stronghold.
  2. Szczecin comes from a personal name Szczuka and means Szczuka's town
  3. Szczecin comes from a personal name Szczeta/Szczota and means Szczota's town
  4. Szczecin comes from a word szczecina which means bristle. So Szczecin is a town with many swines, or a town fortified like bristle. If this is true Szczecin could be identified with Burstaborg mentioned in the Scandinavian chronicles.

Because in 1310 duke Warcislaw IV had founded a new city called New Szczecin and today Szczecinek modelled after the Szczecin municipality, the original Szczecin was sometimes called the Old Szczecin (Latin: Stetinum Antiqua, Polish: Stary Szczecin, German: Alten Stettin.)

In the 16th century Polish literature used two alternative spellings: Szczecin (seems to be the exact pronunciation of the city name used by its Slavonic inhabitants, previously spelled in Latin as Stetin since the 12th century) and Sztetyn (seems to be a copy of the German pronunciation). The first form of Szczecin prevailed in the following years and was officially confirmed in the 19th century, long before the city was again in Polish hands.

Prior to 1945, the city, inhabited almost entirely by Germans from late Medieval times, was known internationally and locally as Stettin, its German name.

History

Main article: History of Szczecin
Image:Stettin merian.JPG
Image:Szczecin-Bateaux dans le port de Stettin en Pologne-vers 1900.JPG

A stronghold of the Lusatian culture was here in the early Iron Age period. Another stronghold of the Pomeranians was built in the 8th century at the ford of the Oder river. The city was already a flourishing trading centre with 10,000 inhabitants when it was subjugated and baptized by Boleslaus III of Poland. A medieval municipality was granted autonomy in 1243. Till the 1630s Stettin was the capital of the Duchy of Pomerania ruled by the Slavonic Griffin dynasty, of Slavic origins. After their extinction Stettin, along with the rest of western Pomerania, was granted to Sweden at the Peace of Westphalia, despite the protests of the Elector of Brandenburg, who had a legal claim to inherit all of Pomerania. After the Great Northern War, in 1720, the Swedes were forced to cede the city to the Brandenburg elector Frederick William I, by now King of Prussia. Stettin remained in Prussia (and thus, after 1871 in Germany) until 1945, when the Red Army captured the city. The city's German inhabitants either escaped or were left at the mercy of the invading forces. In the aftermath of World War II, the city became part of Poland and the remaining German population was expelled to Germany. Stettin was colonized with Poles, mainly from Poznan area. The city, now known as Szczecin, was rebuilt and made a major industrial centre, the capital of Szczecin Voivodship. It witnessed anti-communist revolts in 1970 and 1980 adding its share to the birth of Solidarity movement. Since 1999 Szczecin has been the capital of Western Pomeranian Voivodship.

Dukes of Szczecin

Notable people born or otherwise connected with Szczecin

Historical population

12th century: 5,000 inhabitants
1720: 6,000 inhabitants
1740: 12,300 inhabitants
1816: 21,500 inhabitants
1843: 37,100 inhabitants
1861: 58,500 inhabitants
1872: 76,000 inhabitants
1890: 116,228 inhabitants
1910: 236,000 inhabitants
1939: 382,000 inhabitants
1945: ?
1950: ?
1960: 269,400 inhabitants
1970: 338,000 inhabitants
1975: 369,700 inhabitants
1980: 388,300 inhabitants
1990: ?
2000: ?
2002: 413,600 inhabitants
2004: 419,000 inhabitants

Architecture and urban planning

Szczecin's architectural style is mainly influenced by those of last half of 19th century and first twenty years of the 20th century mostly by Academic art and Art Nouveau. In many areas build after 1945 Social realism is prevalent.

Urban planning of Szczecin is unusual. The first thing observed by a newcomer is abundance of green areas: parks and avenues – wide streets with trees planted in the island separating opposite traffic (where often tram tracks are laid); and roundabouts. This makes Szczecin's city project quite similar to that of Paris. The reason is, Szczecin (like Paris) was rebuild in 1880s using a design by Georges-Eugène Haussmann.

This course of designing streets in Szczecin is still used, as many recently built (or modified) city areas include roundabouts and avenues.


Politics and Administration

Municipal politics

Szczecin is governed by city council and mayor. Mayor (prezydent miasta), as well as council, is elected by city's citizens every four years.

Marian Jurczyk, Solidarity icon, is Szczecin's mayor. His achievements are however widely criticised and he is blamed for over 10 millions zlotys compensations which city must pay for canceling the land selling deal, his lack of formal education, and his apparent cluelessness in many important matters. Mr Jurczyk famous errors includes forgetting the name of his own deputy he just nominated or quoting Jesus in his speech to the council.

Because of this criticism recall voices of recall were raised. On 23 March 2004 necessary 32 000 signatures were received by Recall Committee. Recall referendum took place on 23 May 2004. However the necessary 30% turnout wasn't reached as only 19% of voters cast their ballots. An overwhelming majority of those voting (92%), supported mayor's recall. This means that current political situation is quite difficult.

Municipal administration

The city is administratively divided onto boroughs (dzielnica), which are further divided onto smaller neighbourhoods. The governing bodies of the latter serve the role of auxiliary local government bodies called Neighborhood Councils (Polish: Rady Osiedla). Elections for Neighborhood Councils are held up to six months after each City Council elections. Attendance is rather low (on 13 April 2003 it ranged from 1,03% to 27,75% and was 3,78% on average). Councillors are responsible mostly for small infrastructure like trees, park benches, playgrounds, etc. Other functions are mostly advisory. Official list of districts

Image:Szczecin dzielnice2.gif
Image:Szczecin Neigborhoods.jpg

Dzielnica Śródmieście (City Centre)

Centrum, Drzetowo-Grabowo, Łękno, Międzyodrze-Wyspa Pucka, Niebuszewo-Bolinko, Nowe Miasto, Stare Miasto, Śródmieście Północ, Śródmieście-Zachód, Turzyn

Dzielnica Północ (North)

Bukowo, Golęcino- Gocław, Niebuszewo, Skolwin, Stołczyn, Warszewo, Żelechowa

Dzielnica Zachód (West)

os.Arkonskie-Niemierzyn, Głębokie-Pilchowo, Gumieńce, Krzekowo-Bezrzecze, Osów, Pogodno, Pomorzany, Świerczewo, os.Zawadzkiego-Klonowica

Dzielnica Prawobrzeże (Right-Bank)

Bukowe-Klęskowo, Dąbie, Majowe-Kijewo, Płonia, Podjuchy, os.Słoneczne, Wielgowo-Sławociesze, Załom, Zdroje, Żydowce-Klucz

Other historical neigbourhoods

Babin, Barnucin, Basen Górniczy,Błędów, Boleszyce, Bystrzyk, Cieszyce, Cieśnik, Dolina, Drzetowo, Dunikowo, Glinki, Grabowo, Jezierzyce, Kaliny, Kępa Barnicka, Kijewko, Kluczewko, Kłobucko, Kniewo, Kraśnica, Krzekoszów, Lotnisko, Łasztownia, Niemierzyn, Odolany, Oleszna, Podbórz, Port, os.Przyjaźni, Rogatka, Rudnik, Sienna, Skoki, Słowieńsko, Sosnówko, Starków, Stoki, Struga, Śmierdnica, os.Świerczewskie, Trzebusz, Urok, Widok, Zdunowo.

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) from Szczecin

Economy

Image:Mk Stettin PAZIM.jpg

Szczecin has the biggest shipyard in Poland, which recently went bankrupt and was successfully reinstated. It has a fishing industry and a steel mill. It is served by Szczecin-Goleniów Airport and by the Port of Szczecin, third biggest port of Poland. It is also home to several major companies. Among them is the major food producer Drobimex, Polish Steamship Company, producer of construction materials Komfort, Bosman brewery and Cefarm drug factory. It also houses several of the new business firms of the IT branch, among them the Vobis Microcomputer group and the home.pl web portal.

Culture

Major cultural events in Szczecin are:

  • Days of the Sea (Polish Dni Morza) held every June
  • Days of The Ukrainian Culture (Polish Dni Kultury Ukraińskiej) held every May.
  • Air show on Dabie airport held every May

Museums

  • National Museum in Szczecin (Polish Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie) collects arts, old jewelry, military equipment. It has three branches:
    • Museum of the City of Szczecin (Polish Muzeum Miasta Szczecina)
    • Maritime Museum (Polish Muzeum Morskie)
    • Gallery of Contemporary Arts (Polish Galeria Sztuki Współczesnej)
  • Museum of the Szczecin Archidiocese (Polish Muzeum Archidiecezjalne w Szczecinie) collects sacral arts and historical documents

Arts and Entertainment

  • Kana Theatre (Polish Teatr Kana)
  • Modern Theatre (Polish Teatr Współczesny)
  • Opera in the Castle (Polish Opera na Zamku)
  • Polish Theatre (Polish Teatr Polski)
  • The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin (Polish Zamek Książąt Pomorskich w Szczecinie)
    • The Castle Cinema (Polish Kino Zamek)
    • The Cellar by the Vault Cabaret (Polish Kabaret Piwnica przy Krypcie)
    • The Crypt Theatre (Polish Teatr Krypta)

Education and Science

Scientific and regional organizations

Sports

There are many popular professional sports team in Szczecin area. The most popular sport today is probably football (thanks to Pogon Szczecin just promoted to play in the 1st league in season 2004/2005). Amateur sports are played by thousands of Szczecin citizens and also in schools of all levels (elementary, secondary, university).

Professional teams

Image:Pogon Szczecin.gif

Amateur leagues

External links

Internet guides

Regional media

History and culture

Economy and transportation

Education and Science

Sports

Local Businesses


 
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Principal cities
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