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{{short description|Capital city of West Pomerania, Poland}}
{{Redirect|Stettin||Stettin (disambiguation)|and|Szczecin (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Szechuan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Szczecin
| other_name = {{lang|de|Stettin}}
| settlement_type = [[City with powiat rights|City county]]
| motto = "{{lang|pl|Szczecin jest otwarty}}" <br />("Szczecin is open")
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| perrow = 2/2/2/1
| total_width = 270
| align = center
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Szczecin Waly Chrobrego muzeum dron (1).jpg
| caption1 = [[National Museum in Szczecin|National Museum]]
| image2 = West Pomeranian Voivodship Office in Szczecin, winter 2021.jpg
| caption2 = [[Szczecin Voivodeship Office|Voivodeship Office]]
| image3 = Town hall
| caption3 = [[Old Town
| image4 = Filharmonia Szczecinska cb.JPG
| caption4 = [[Szczecin Philharmonic|Philharmonic]]
| image5 = Red Town Hall in Szczecin, 2021.jpg
| caption5 = [[Red Town Hall (Szczecin)|Red Town Hall]]
| image6 = Palace of the Pomeranian Land Owners, July 2023.jpg
| caption6 = [[Palace of the Pomeranian Landowners|Art Academy]]
| image7 = Most Kolejowy w Szczecinie (dron1) (cropped)2.jpg
| caption7 = [[Oder River]], with the [[Szczecin Cathedral|Cathedral]] in the distance
}}
| image_flag = POL Szczecin flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Szczecin COA.svg
| image_blank_emblem = Logo szczecin.svg
| blank_emblem_type = [[Brandmark]]
| pushpin_map = Poland
| pushpin_label_position = right
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West Pomeranian]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties of Poland|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = City county
| leader_party = [[All-Poland Local Government Coalition|OKS]]
| leader_title = City mayor
| leader_name = [[Piotr Krzystek]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 8th century
| established_title3 = City rights
| established_date3 = 1243
| area_total_km2 = 301
| area_metro_km2 = 2795
| population_as_of = 31 December 2021
| population_total = 395,513 {{decrease}} ([[List of cities and towns in Poland|7th]])<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/tablica|title=Local Data Bank|access-date=10 February 2024|publisher=Statistics Poland}} Data for territorial unit 3262000.</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 1340
| population_metro = 777000
| population_density_metro_km2 = 278
| population_demonym = szczecinianin (male) <br/> szczecinianka (female) ([[Polish language|pl]])
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|53|25|57|N|14|32|53|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = PL-70-017<br />to 71–871
| area_code = +48 91
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Poland|Car plates]]
| blank_info = ZS
| blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
| blank_name_sec2 = Primary airport
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.szczecin.pl}}
}}
'''Szczecin''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|ʃ|tʃ|ɛ|tʃ|ɪ|n}} {{respell|SHCHETCH|in}},<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Szczecin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116223906/https://www.lexico.com/definition/szczecin |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-01-16 |title=Szczecin |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|-|tʃ|iː|n}} {{respell|-|een}},<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Szczecin|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/szczecin|title=Szczecin|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Szczecin|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|pl|ˈʂt͡ʂɛt͡ɕin|lang|Pl-Szczecin-2.ogg}}; {{langx|de|Stettin}} {{IPA|de|ʃtɛˈtiːn||De-Stettin.ogg}}; {{langx|sv|Stettin}} {{IPA|sv|stɛˈtiːn|}}) is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of the [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]] in northwestern [[Poland]].{{TERYT}} Located near the [[Baltic Sea]] and the [[Poland-Germany border|German border]], it is a major [[port|seaport]], the largest city of northwestern Poland, and seventh-largest city of Poland. {{As of|2022|12|31|post=,}} the population was 391,566.<ref name="population" />
Szczecin is located on the [[Oder]] River, south of the [[Szczecin Lagoon]] and the [[Bay of Pomerania]]. The city is situated along the southwestern shore of [[Dąbie Lake]], on both sides of the Oder and on several large islands between the western and eastern branches of the river. It is also surrounded by dense forests, shrubland and [[heath]]s, chiefly the [[Ueckermünde Heath|Wkrzańska Heath]] shared with Germany (Ueckermünde) and the [[Szczecin Landscape Park]]. Szczecin is adjacent to the [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|town of Police]] and is the urban centre of the [[Szczecin agglomeration]], an extended metropolitan area that includes communities in the [[States of Germany|German states]] of [[Brandenburg]] and [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]].
The city's recorded history began in the 8th century as a [[Lechites|Lechitic]] [[Pomeranians (tribe)|Pomeranian]] stronghold, built at the site of the [[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|Ducal Castle]]. In the 10th century, Szczecin first became part of the emerging [[Duchy of Poland (966–1025)|Polish state]]. In the following centuries it was the capital of the [[Duchy of Pomerania]] ruled by the local [[House of Griffin]], which at various times was under the suzerainty of Poland, the [[Duchy of Saxony]], the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[Denmark]]. In [[Treaty of Stettin (1630)|1630]], the city came under the control of the [[Swedish Empire]] and became in 1648 the capital of [[Swedish Pomerania]] until [[Treaties of Stockholm (Great Northern War)|1720]], when it was acquired by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]. Following [[World War II]] the city became part of Poland again in accordance with the [[Potsdam Agreement]], resulting in a nearly complete population exchange. Szczecin was the site of large Polish protests in [[1970 Polish protests|1970]] and 1980. In 1980, the first agreement between the protesters and the communist regime was signed in Szczecin, which paved the way for the creation of [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]], which contributed to the [[fall of communism]].
Szczecin is the administrative and industrial centre of West Pomeranian Voivodeship and is the site of the [[University of Szczecin]], [[Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin|Pomeranian Medical University]], [[Maritime University of Szczecin|Maritime University]], [[West Pomeranian University of Technology]], [[Art Academy of Szczecin|Szczecin Art Academy]], and the see of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień|Szczecin-Kamień Catholic Archdiocese]]. From 1999 onwards, Szczecin has served as the site of the [[Military headquarters|headquarters]] of [[NATO]]'s [[Multinational Corps Northeast]]. The city was a candidate for the [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2016.<ref name="szczecin2016.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.szczecin2016.pl/esk2016/chapter_89000.asp|title=Strona domeny www.szczecin2016.pl|work=szczecin2016.pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817102057/http://www.szczecin2016.pl/esk2016/chapter_89000.asp|archive-date=17 August 2010}}</ref> Its chief landmarks include the [[Szczecin Cathedral]], the [[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|Ducal Castle]], the [[National Museum in Szczecin|National Museum]] and the [[Szczecin Philharmonic]].
== Name and etymology ==
{{lang|pl|Szczecin}} and {{lang|de|Stettin}} are the Polish and German equivalents of the same name, which is of [[Proto-Slavic]] origin, though the exact etymology is the subject of ongoing research.<ref name="Bialecki">{{cite book|first=Tadeusz|last=Białecki|title=Historia Szczecina|publisher=[[Ossolineum|Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich]] |year=1992 |___location=Wrocław |pages=9, 20–55, 92–95, 258–260, 300–306}}</ref>{{efn |Spelling variants in medieval sources include:
* ''Stetin'',<ref name=Labuda14/> recorded e.g. in 1133,<ref name=Labuda14>Gerard Labuda, Władysław Filipowiak, Helena Chłopocka, Maciej Czarnecki, Tadeusz Białecki, Zygmunt Silski, ''Dzieje Szczecina 1–4'', Państwowe Wydawn. Nauk., 1994, p.{{nbsp}}14, {{ISBN|83-01-04342-3}}</ref> 1159,<ref name=Labuda14/> 1177<ref name=Labuda14/>
* ''Stetyn'',<ref name=Labuda14/> recorded, e.g., in 1188,<ref name=Labuda14/> 1243<ref name=Labuda14/>
* ''Stetim'', 1237<ref name=Lizak/>
* ''Szcecin'', 1273.<ref name=Lizak>Wojciech Lizak, "Jak wywodzono nazwę Szczecina?", [http://nowahistoria.interia.pl/kartka-z-kalendarza/news-14-pazdziernika-1861-r-stan-wojenny-w-krolestwie-polskim,nId,1902574], last accessed 4/2/2011</ref>
* ''Stetina'',<ref name=Labuda14/> by Herbord<ref name=Labuda14/>
* ''Sthetynensibus'' or ''Sthetyn'', 1287, in Anglicised medieval Latin.<ref name=Lizak/> (The ending ''–ens–ibus'' means 'to the people of' in Latin.)
* ''Stetinum'' and ''Sedinum'', still used in contemporary [[Latin]] language references
* ''Stitin'', recorded, e.g., in 1251,<ref name=Labuda14/> in the ''Annales Ryensis'',<ref name=Labuda14/> in 1642<ref>Merians anmüthige Städte-Chronik, das ist historische und wahrhaffte Beschreibung und zugleich Künstliche Abcontrafeyung zwantzig vornehmbster und bekantester in unserm geliebten Vatterland gelegenen Stätte, 1642</ref>
* ''Stitinum'', by [[Saxo Grammaticus]]<ref name=Labuda14/>
* ''Stittinum''
* ''Stytin'',<ref name=Labuda14/> in the ''Annales Colbacensis''.<ref name=Labuda14/>}}
In her ''Etymological Dictionary of Geographical Names of Poland'', Maria Malec lists 11 theories regarding the origin of the name, including derivations from either: an Old Slavic word for 'hill peak' ({{langx|pl|szczyt|links=no}}), the plant [[Dipsacus fullonum|fuller's teasel]] ({{langx|pl|szczeć|links=no}}), or the [[personal name]] {{lang|pl|Szczota}}.<ref>Słownik etymologiczny nazw geograficznych Polski Profesor Maria Malec PWN 2003</ref>
Other medieval names for the town are ''Burstaborg'' (in the [[Knýtlinga saga|Knytlinga saga]])<ref name=Labuda14/><ref name=Rospond162>Stanisław Rospond, Slawische Namenkunde Ausg. 1,{{nbsp}}Nr.{{nbsp}}3, C.{{nbsp}}Winter, 1989, p.{{nbsp}}162</ref> and ''Burstenburgh'' (in the Annals of Waldemar).<ref name =Labuda14/><ref name=Rospond162/> These names, which literally mean 'brush burgh', are likely derived from the translation of the city's Slavic name (assuming the second derivation mentioned above).<ref name=Rospond162/>
The [[Latin]] name of the city is {{lang|la|Sedinum}} or {{lang|la|Stetinum}}.<ref>Johann Georg Theodor Grässe: ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=pTgLAAAAQAAJ&q=Orbis+latinus Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benennungen der bekanntesten Städte etc.]'', Meere, Seen, Berge und Flüsse in allen Theilen der Erde nebst einem deutsch-lateinischen Register derselben. T. Ein Supplement zu jedem lateinischen und geographischen Wörterbuche. Dresden: G. Schönfeld’s Buchhandlung (C. A.Werner), 1861, p. 179, 186, 278. [access-date: 2010-01-10].</ref>
== History ==
{{Main|History of Szczecin}}
{{For timeline}}
<!-- NOTE: EDITS LACKING SOLID REFERENCES ARE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL -->
=== Middle Ages ===
[[File:Kamień kaszubski z gryfem przy katedrze w Szczecinie.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The stone near [[Szczecin Cathedral]] commemorating the [[Kashubians]] (a [[Lechites|Lehitic]] people), with an image of the Pomeranian [[Griffin]]]]
The recorded history of Szczecin began in the eighth century, when [[Vikings]]<ref>"Vikingar", Natur och Kultur 1995, {{ISBN|91-27-91001-6}} (CD)</ref> and [[West Slavs]] settled in [[Pomerania]]. The West Slavs, or [[Lechites]], erected a new [[burgh|stronghold]] on the site of the [[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|modern castle]].<ref name=Piskorski52/>
Since the 9th century, the stronghold was fortified and expanded toward the [[Oder|Oder bank]].<ref name=Piskorski52>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}52, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> [[Mieszko I of Poland]] took control of [[Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages]] and the region became part of Poland in the 10th century.<ref>The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 11, Encyclopædia Britannica, 1998, p.{{nbsp}}473 "In the 8th and 9th centuries Szczecin was a Slavic fishing and commercial settlement, later named Western Pomerania (Pomorze Zachodnie). During the 10th century, it was annexed to Poland by [[Mieszko I]]</ref><ref>The Origins of Polish state. Mieszko I and Bolesław Chrobry. Professor Henry Lang, Polish Academic Information Center, University at Buffalo. [http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/orig/mieszko.html info-poland.buffalo.edu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206100818/http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/orig/mieszko.html |date=6 February 2012 }}</ref> However, already [[Mieszko II Lambert]] (1025 ~ 1034) effectively lost control over the area and had to accept German suzerainty over the area of the Oder lagoon.<ref>{{cite book|author=Charles Higounet|title=Die deutsche Ostsiedlung im Mittelalter|page=141|language=de}}</ref> Subsequent Polish rulers, the Holy Roman Empire, and the [[Veleti|Liutician federation]] all aimed to control the territory.<ref name="Bialecki"/>
After the decline of the neighbouring regional centre [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]] in the 12th century, the city became an important and powerful seaport of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Addyman et al., 1979 |date=1981 |title=Waterfront Archaeology in Britain and Northern Europe: A review of current research in waterfront archaeology in six European countries, based on the papers presented to the First International Conference on Waterfront Archaeology in North European Towns held at the Museum of London on 20-22 April 1979 |url=https://woolmerforest.org.uk/E-Library/W/WATERFRONT%20ARCHAEOLOGY%20IN%20BRITAIN%20AND%20NORTHERNN%20EUROPE.pdf |journal=Council for British Archaeology Research Reports |volume=41 |pages=69 |via=The Council for British Archaeology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Port of Szczecin |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/POL_Port_of_Szczecin_1178.php |access-date=September 24, 2023 |website=World Port Source |archive-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126002019/http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/POL_Port_of_Szczecin_1178.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In a campaign in the winter of 1121–1122,<ref name=Piskorski36>Jan M. Piskorski, ''Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten'', 1999, pg. 36; {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}}, {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]], Duke of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|Poland]], gained control of the region, including the city of Szczecin and its stronghold.<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name=Piskorski3136>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp. 31,36,43 {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}: pg. 31 (yrs 967-after 1000 AD): "[...] gelang es den polnischen Herrschern sicherlich nicht, Wollin und die Odermündung zu unterwerfen." pg. 36: "Von 1119 bis 1122 eroberte er schließlich das pommersche Odergebiet mit Stettin, [...]" pg. 43: "[...] während Rügen 1168 erobert und in den dänischen Staat einverleibt wurde."</ref><ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, pp. 100–101, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref><ref>Norbert Buske, Pommern, Helms Schwerin 1997, pp. 11ff; {{ISBN|3-931185-07-9}}</ref><ref>[[Kyra T. Inachin]], Die Geschichte Pommerns, Hinstorff Rostock, 2008, pp.{{nbsp}}15ff; {{ISBN|978-3-356-01044-2}}: pp. 14–15: "Die westslawischen Stämme der Obroditen, Lutizen und Pomoranen konnten sich lange der Eroberung widersetzen. Die militärisch überlegenen Mächte im Norden und Osten, im Süden und im Westen übten jedoch einen permanenten Druck auf den südlichen Ostseeraum aus. Dieser ging bis 1135 hauptsächlich von Polen aus. Der polnische Herzog Boleslaw III Krzywousty (Schiefmund) unterwarf in mehreren Feldzügen bis 1121 pomoranisches Stammland mit den Hauptburgen Cammin und Stettin und drang weiter gen Westen vor", pg. 17: Das Interesse Waldemars richtete sich insbesondere auf das Siedlungsgebiet der Ranen, die nördlich des Ryck und auf Rügen siedelten und die sich bislang gegen Eroberer und Christianisierungsversuche gewehrt hatten. [...] und nahmen 1168 an König [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Waldemar I]]. Kriegszug gegen die Ranen teil. Arkona wurde erobert und zerstört. Die unterlegenen Ranen versprachen, das Christentum anzunehmen, die Oberhoheit des Dänenkönigs anzuerkennen und Tribut zu leisten."</ref><ref name="Barber">Malcolm Barber, "The two cities: medieval Europe, 1050–1320", Routledge, 2004, pg. 330 [https://books.google.com/books?id=kP23uZBUCYUC&dq=Boles%C5%82aw+III+Wrymouth+Pomerania&pg=PA330 books.google.com]</ref><ref>An historical geography of Europe, 450 B.C.{{nsndns}}A.D. 1330, Norman John Greville Pounds, Cambridge University Press 1973, pg. 241, "By 1121 Polish armies had penetrated its forests, captured its chief city of Szczecin."</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=December 2023}} The Polish ruler initiated [[Christianization]], entrusting this task to [[Otto of Bamberg]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Medley|first=D. J.|year=2004|title=The church and the empire|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|page=152}}</ref> and the inhabitants were Christianised<ref name="Bialecki"/> by two missions of Otto in 1124 and 1128.<ref>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, pp. 36ff; {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}}, {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> At this time, the first Christian church of Saints Peter and Paul was erected. The Poles' minted coins were commonly used in trade in this period.<ref name="Bialecki"/> The population of the city at that time is estimated to be at around 5,000–9,000 people.<ref>''Archeologia Polska'', Volume 38, Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej (Polska Akademia Nauk, pg. 309, Zakład im. Ossolińskich, 1993.</ref>
Polish rule ended with Boleslaw's death in 1138.<ref>Kyra Inachim, ''Die Geschichte Pommerns'', Hinstorff Rostock, 2008, pg. 17; {{ISBN|978-3-356-01044-2}}: "Mit dem Tod Kaiser Lothars 1137 endete der sächsische Druck auf Wartislaw I., und mit dem Ableben Boleslaw III. auch die polnische Oberhoheit."</ref> During the [[Wendish Crusade]] in 1147, a contingent led by the German margrave [[Albert the Bear]], an enemy of Slavic presence in the region,<ref name="Bialecki"/> papal legate, bishop [[Anselm of Havelberg]] and [[Conrad, Margrave of Meissen|Konrad of Meissen]] besieged the town.<ref name=Schimmelpfennig16>Bernhard Schimmelpfennig, ''Könige und Fürsten, Kaiser und Papst nach dem Wormser Konkordat'', Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 1996, pg. 16; {{ISBN|3-486-55034-9}}</ref><ref name=Fuhrmann147>Horst Fuhrmann, Deutsche Geschichte im hohen Mittelalter: Von der Mitte des 11. Bis zum Ende des 12. Jahrhunderts, 4th edition, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2003, pg. 147; {{ISBN|3-525-33589-X}}</ref><ref>Peter N. Stearns, [[William L. Langer|William Leonard Langer]], [[Encyclopedia of World History|The Encyclopedia of world history]], [[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]], 2001; pg. 206 @ [https://books.google.com/books?id=MziRd4ddZz4C&dq=Albert+the+Bear+Slavs&pg=PA206 books.google.com]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>Davies, Norman (1996). Europe: A History. Oxford: [[Oxford University Press]]; {{ISBN|0-06-097468-0}}, pg. 362</ref> There, a Polish contingent supplied by [[Mieszko III the Old]]<ref name=Piskorski43>Jan M. Piskorski, ''Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten'', 1999, pg. 43; {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}: Greater Polish continguents of Mieszko the Elder</ref><ref name=Heitz163>{{cite book|title=Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|first1=Gerhard|last1=Heitz|first2=Henning|last2=Rischer|publisher=Koehler&Amelang|___location=Münster-Berlin|year=1995|isbn=3-7338-0195-4|language=de|page=163}}</ref> joined the crusaders.<ref name=Schimmelpfennig16/><ref name=Fuhrmann147/> However, the citizens had placed crosses around the fortifications,<ref>Jean Richard, Jean Birrell, "The Crusades, c.{{nbsp}}1071{{nsndns}}c.{{nbsp}}1291", [[Cambridge University Press]], 1999, p.{{nbsp}}158, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KszvJSv7t30C&dq=Szczecin+Albert+the+Bear&pg=PA158 books.google.com]</ref> indicating they already had been Christianised.<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref>Jonathan Riley-Smith, "The Crusades: A History", Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005, p.{{nbsp}}130, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-noOrtrox4C&dq=Szczecin+Albert+the+Bear&pg=PA130 books.google.com]</ref> Duke [[Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania|Ratibor I]] of [[Duchy of Pomerania|Pomerania]], negotiated the disbanding of the crusading forces.<ref name=Schimmelpfennig16/><ref name=Fuhrmann147/><ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}30, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref>
[[File:Bazylika Archikatedralna pw. św. Jakuba Apostoła (1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Szczecin Cathedral]], first built in the 14th century]]
After the [[Battle of Verchen]] in 1164, Stettin duke [[Bogusław I, Duke of Pomerania]] became a vassal of the Duchy of Saxony's [[Henry the Lion]].<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}34">Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}34, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> In 1173, Stettin [[castellan]] [[Wartislaw II, Duke of Pomerania|Wartislaw II]], could not resist a Danish attack and became vassal of [[Denmark]].<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}34"/> In 1181, Bogusław became a vassal of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}35">Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}35, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> In 1185, Bogusław again became a Danish vassal.<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}35"/> Despite falling under foreign suzerainty, local dukes maintained close ties with the fragmented Polish realm, and future Polish monarch [[Władysław III Spindleshanks]] stayed at the local court of Duke Bogusław I in 1186, on behalf of his father [[Mieszko III the Old]], Duke of [[Duchy of Greater Poland|Greater Poland]], who also periodically was the [[List of Polish monarchs|High Duke of Poland]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Krasuski|first=Marcin|year=2018|title=Walka o władzę w Wielkopolsce w I połowie XIII wieku|magazine=Officina Historiae|language=pl|issue=1|page=64|issn=2545-0905}}</ref> Following a conflict between his heirs and [[Canute VI of Denmark]], the settlement was destroyed in 1189,<ref name=riis48>{{cite book|title=Studien Zur Geschichte Des Ostseeraumes IV. Das Mittelalterliche Dänische Ostseeimperium|first=Thomas|last=Riis|publisher=Ludwig|year=2003|isbn=87-7838-615-2|page=48}}</ref> but the fortress was reconstructed and manned with a Danish force in 1190.<ref>Université de Caen. Centre de recherches archéologiques médiévales, ''Château-Gaillard: études de castellologie médiévale, XVIII : actes du colloque international tenu à Gilleleje, Danemark, 24–30 août 1996'', CRAHM, 1998, p.{{nbsp}}218, {{ISBN|978-2-902685-05-9}}</ref> While the empire restored its superiority over the Duchy of Pomerania in the [[Battle of Bornhöved (1227)|Battle of Bornhöved]] in 1227,<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}35"/> Stettin was one of two bridgeheads remaining under Danish control (until 1235; [[Wolgast]] until 1241/43 or 1250).<ref name=riis48/>
In the second half of the 12th century, a group of German tradesmen ("multus populus Teutonicorum"<ref name=Heitz168>{{cite book|title=Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|first1=Gerhard|last1=Heitz|first2=Henning|last2=Rischer|publisher=Koehler&Amelang|___location=Münster-Berlin|year=1995|isbn=3-7338-0195-4|language=de|page=168}}</ref> from various parts of the Holy Roman Empire) settled in the city around St.{{nbsp}}Jacob's Church, which was donated in 1180<ref name=Heitz168/> by Beringer, a trader from [[Bamberg]], and consecrated in 1187.<ref name=Heitz168/><ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p. 43, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> [[Zdunowo, Szczecin|Hohenkrug]] (now Zdunowo) was the first village in the Duchy of Pomerania that was clearly recorded as German (''villa teutonicorum'') in 1173.<ref>Jan Maria Piskorski, Slawen und Deutsche in Pommern im Mittelalter, in Klaus Herbers, Nikolas Jaspert, Grenzräume und Grenzüberschreitungen im Vergleich: der Osten und der Westen des mittelalterlichen Lateineuropa, Akademie Verlag, 2007, p.{{nbsp}}85, {{ISBN|3-05-004155-2}}</ref> [[Ostsiedlung]] accelerated in Pomerania during the 13th century.<ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}43ff, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> Duke [[Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania|Barnim I]] of Pomerania granted Stettin a [[local government]] charter in 1237, separating the German settlement from the Slavic community settled around the [[Saint Nicholas|St. Nicholas]] church in the neighbourhood of Kessin ({{langx|pl|Chyzin}}). In the charter, the Slavs were put under Germanic jurisdiction.<ref>Jan Maria Piskorski, Slawen und Deutsche in Pommern im Mittelalter, in Klaus Herbers, Nikolas Jaspert, Grenzräume und Grenzüberschreitungen im Vergleich: der Osten und der Westen des mittelalterlichen Lateineuropa, Akademie Verlag, 2007, p.{{nbsp}}86, {{ISBN|3-05-004155-2}}</ref>
[[File:Szczecin Zamek Ksiazat Pomorskich (od pln-wsch).jpg|thumb|left|[[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|Szczecin Castle]], the seat of the dukes of the [[House of Griffin]], which was founded by Duke [[Wartislaw I, Duke of Pomerania|Wartislaw I]]]]
When Barnim granted Stettin [[Magdeburg rights]] in 1243, a part of the Slavic settlement was reconstructed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Geschichte Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns|publisher=Beck|first=Michael|last=North|year=2008|isbn=978-3-406-57767-3|language=de|page=21}}</ref> The duke had to promise to level the burgh in 1249.<ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}83, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> Most Slavic inhabitants were resettled to two new suburbs north and south of the town.<ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}84, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref>
In 1249, Barnim I also granted equivalent Magdeburg town privileges to the town of [[Dąbie, Szczecin|Damm]] (also known as Altdamm, now the Dąbie neighbourhood) on the eastern bank of the Oder.<ref>Roderich Schmidt, ''Pommern und Mecklenburg'', Böhlau, 1981, p.{{nbsp}}61, {{ISBN|3-412-06976-0}}</ref><ref name=Johanek277>Peter Johanek, Franz-Joseph Post, ''Städtebuch Hinterpommern 2–3'', [[Kohlhammer Verlag]], 2003, p.{{nbsp}}277, {{ISBN|3-17-018152-1}}</ref> Damm merged with neighbouring Stettin on 15{{nbsp}}October 1939.<ref>Johannes Hinz, ''Pommernlexikon'', Kraft, 1994, p.{{nbsp}}25, {{ISBN|3-8083-1164-9}}</ref> This town had been built on the site of a former [[Pomeranians (Slavic tribe)|Pomeranian]] burg, "Vadam" or "Dambe", which Boleslaw had destroyed during his 1121 campaign.<ref name=Johanek277/>
On 2 December 1261, Barnim I allowed Jewish settlement in Stettin in accordance with the Magdeburg law, in a privilege renewed in 1308 and 1371.<ref name=heitmann225>{{citation|last=Heitmann|first=Margret|chapter=Synagoge und freie christliche Gemeinde in Stettin|title="Halte fern dem ganzen Lande jedes Verderben..". Geschichte und Kultur der Juden in Pommern|editor1-last=Heitmann|editor1-first=Margret|editor2-last=Schoeps|editor2-first=Julius|publisher=Olms|___location=Hildesheim/Zürich/New York|year=1995|language=de|isbn=3-487-10074-6|pages=225–238; p. 225}}</ref> The Jewish Jordan family was granted citizenship in 1325, but none of the 22 Jews allowed to settle in the duchy in 1481 lived in the city, and in 1492, all Jews in the duchy were ordered to convert to Christianity or leave{{snds}}this order remained effective throughout the rest of the Griffin era.<ref name=heitmann225/>
In 1273, duke of [[Poznań]] and future King of Poland [[Przemysł II]] married princess [[Ludgarda (wife of Przemysł II)|Ludgarda]], granddaughter of [[Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania]] in the city, in order to strengthen the alliance between the two rulers.<ref>''Kronika wielkopolska'', [[Polish Scientific Publishers PWN|PWN]], Warszawa, 1965, p. 297 (in Polish)</ref>
Stettin was part of the federation of [[Wends|Wendish towns]], a predecessor of the [[Hanseatic League]], in 1283.<ref name="Wernicke">{{cite book |last=Wernicke |first=Horst |chapter=Die Hansestädte an der Oder |title=Oder-Odra. Blicke auf einen europäischen Strom |editor1-first=Karl |editor1-last=Schlögel |editor2-first=Beata |editor2-last=Halicka |publisher=Lang |year=2007 |isbn=978-3-631-56149-2 |pages=137–48; here p. 142 |language=de}}</ref> The city prospered due to its participation in the [[Baltic Sea]] trade, primarily with [[herring]], grain, and timber; craftsmanship also prospered, and more than forty guilds were established in the city.<ref name=aps344/> The far-reaching autonomy granted by the House of Griffins was in part reduced when the dukes reclaimed Stettin as their main residence in the late 15th century.<ref name=aps344/> The anti-Slavic policies of German merchants and craftsmen intensified in this period, resulting in measures such as bans on people of Slavic descent joining [[craft]] guilds, a doubling of customs tax for Slavic merchants, and bans against public usage of their native language.<ref name="Bialecki"/> The more prosperous Slavic citizens were forcibly stripped of their possessions, which were then handed over to Germans.<ref name="Bialecki"/> In 1514, the guild of tailors added a ''Wendenparagraph'' to its statutes, banning Slavs.<ref name=slaski97>{{cite book|last=Ślaski|first=Kazimierz|chapter=Volkstumswandel in Pommern vom 12. bis zum 20. Jahrhundert|editor-last=Kirchhoff|editor-first=Hans Georg|title=Beiträge zur Geschichte Pommerns und Pommerellens. Mit einem Geleitwort von Klaus Zernack|___location=Dortmund|year=1987|isbn=3-923293-19-4|pages=94–109; p. 97|language=de |publisher=Forschungsstelle Ostmitteleuropa }}</ref>
[[File:Alten Stettin Hogenberg.jpg|thumb|View of the city with fortifications, 1581]]
While not as heavily affected by medieval [[Witch-hunt|witchhunts]] as other regions of the Holy Roman Empire, there are reports of the burning of three women and one man convicted of [[witchcraft]] in 1538.<ref>Hubertus Fischer, ''Klosterfrauen, Klosterhexen: Theodor Fontanes Sidonie von Borcke im kulturellen Kontext : Klosterseminar des Fontane-Kreises Hannover der Theodor-Fontane-Gesellschaft e.V. mit dem Konvent des Klosters St. Marienberg vom 14. bis 15. November 2003 in Helmstedt'', Rübenberger Verlag Tania Weiss, 2005, p.{{nbsp}}22, {{ISBN|3-936788-07-3}}</ref>
In 1570, during the reign of [[John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania]], [[Treaty of Stettin (1570)|a congress was held at Stettin]] ending the [[Northern Seven Years' War]]. During the war, Stettin had tended to side with Denmark, while [[Stralsund]] tended toward [[Sweden]]{{snds}}as a whole, however, the Duchy of Pomerania tried to maintain neutrality.<ref name=Inachim62>Kyra Inachim, ''Die Geschichte Pommerns'', Hinstorff Rostock, 2008, p.{{nbsp}}62, {{ISBN|978-3-356-01044-2}}</ref> Nevertheless, a [[Landtag]] that had met in Stettin in 1563 introduced a sixfold rise in real estate taxes to finance the raising of a mercenary army for the duchy's defence.<ref name=Inachim62/> Johann Friedrich also succeeded in elevating Stettin to one of only three places allowed to [[coining (metalworking)|coin money]] in the [[Upper Saxon Circle]] of the Holy Roman Empire, the other two places being [[Leipzig]] and [[Berlin]].<ref>Joachim Krüger, ''Zwischen dem Reich und Schweden: die landesherrliche Münzprägung im Herzogtum Pommern und in Schwedisch-Pommern in der frühen Neuzeit (ca. 1580 bis 1715)'', LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster, 2006, pp.{{nbsp}}53–55, {{ISBN|3-8258-9768-0}}</ref> [[Bogislaw XIV, Duke of Pomerania|Bogislaw XIV]], who resided in Stettin beginning in 1620, became the sole ruler and Griffin duke when [[Philipp Julius, Duke of Pomerania]] died in 1625. Before the [[Thirty Years' War]] reached Pomerania, the city, as well as the entire duchy, declined economically due to the decrease in importance of the Hanseatic League and a conflict between Stettin and [[Frankfurt (Oder)|Frankfurt an der Oder]].<ref name=Inachim65>Kyra Inachim, ''Die Geschichte Pommerns'', Hinstorff Rostock, 2008, p.{{nbsp}}65, {{ISBN|978-3-356-01044-2}}</ref>
=== 17th to 18th centuries ===
[[File:Stettin merian.JPG|thumb|left|The city's fortifications, as seen in 1642]]
Following the [[Treaty of Stettin (1630)|Treaty of Stettin of 1630]], the town (along with most of Pomerania) was allied to and occupied by the [[Swedish Empire]], which managed to keep the western parts of Pomerania after the death of Bogislaw{{nbsp}}XIV in 1637. From the [[Peace of Westphalia]] in 1648, Stettin became the capital of [[Swedish Pomerania]].<ref name="auto">Swedish encyclopedia "Bonniers lexikon" (1960's), vol 13:15, column 1227</ref> Stettin was turned into a major Swedish fortress, which was repeatedly besieged in subsequent wars.<ref name=aps345/> The next [[Treaty of Stettin (1653)]] did not change this, but due to the downfall of the Swedish Empire after [[Charles XII]], the city went to [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] in 1720.<ref name="auto"/> Instead Stralsund became capital of the last remaining parts of Swedish Pomerania 1720–1815.<ref>Swedish encyclopedia "Bonniers lexikon" (1960's), vol 13:15, column s 709-710</ref>
The city was on the path of Polish forces led by [[Hetman]] [[Stefan Czarniecki]] moving from Denmark during the [[Second Northern War]]. Czarniecki, who led his forces to the city,<ref>''Historia Szczecina: zarys dziejów miasta od czasów najdawniejszych'', Tadeusz Białecki, 1992: "Nowa wojna polsko-szwedzka w połowie XVII w. nie ominęła i Szczecina. Oprócz zwiększonych podatków i zahamowania handlu w 1657 r. pod Szczecinem pojawiły się oddziały polskie Stefana Czarnieckiego"</ref> is today mentioned in the [[Polish anthem]], and numerous locations in the city honour his name.
Wars inhibited the city's economic prosperity, which had undergone a deep crisis during the devastation of the Thirty Years' War and was further impeded by the new Swedish-Brandenburg-Prussian frontier, cutting Stettin off from its traditional [[Farther Pomerania]]n hinterland.<ref name=aps344>[[Peter Oliver Loew]], ''Staatsarchiv Stettin: Wegweiser durch die Bestände bis zum Jahr 1945'', German translation of Radosław Gaziński, Paweł Gut, Maciej Szukała, ''Archiwum Państwowe w Szczecinie, Poland. Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych'', Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2004, p.{{nbsp}}344, {{ISBN|3-486-57641-0}}</ref> Due to a [[Plague (disease)|Plague]] during the [[Great Northern War]], the city's population dropped from 6,000 people in 1709 to 4,000 in 1711.<ref name="Buchholz, p.{{nbsp}}532">Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}532, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> In 1720, after the Great Northern War, Sweden was forced to cede the city to King [[Frederick William I of Prussia]]. Stettin was made the capital city of [[Province of Pomerania (1653–1815)|the Prussian Pomeranian province]], since 1815 reorganised as the [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]]. In 1816, the city had 26,000 inhabitants.<ref name="Buchholz, p. 416">Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}416, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref>
The Prussian administration deprived the city of its right to administrative autonomy, abolished [[guild]] privileges as well as its status as a staple town, and subsidised manufacturers.<ref name=aps345/> Also, colonists were settled in the city, primarily French [[Huguenots]].<ref name=aps345/> The French settlers, who numbered more than 600,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hackmann |first=Jörg |date=2021-07-30 |title=Stettin/Szczecin |url=http://ome-lexikon.uni-oldenburg.de/p32459 |website=Online-Lexikon zur Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa |___location=Oldenburg |publisher=Bundesinstitut für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa (BKGE)|access-date=2025-06-22}}</ref> established a prosperous community, greatly contributed to the city's economic revival, and were treated with reluctance by the German burghers and city authorities.<ref>{{cite book|last=Skrycki|first=Radosław|editor-last=Rembacka|editor-first=Katarzyna|year=2011|title=Szczecin i jego miejsca. Trzecia Konferencja Edukacyjna, 10 XII 2010 r.|language=pl|___location=Szczecin|page=96|chapter=Z okresu wojny i pokoju – "francuskie" miejsca w Szczecinie z XVIII i XIX wieku|isbn=978-83-61233-45-9}}</ref>
=== 19th to 20th centuries ===
In October 1806, during the [[War of the Fourth Coalition]], believing that he was facing a much larger force, and after receiving a threat of harsh treatment of the city, the Prussian commander [[Friedrich Gisbert Wilhelm von Romberg|Lieutenant General Friedrich von Romberg]] agreed to [[Capitulation of Stettin|surrender the city]] to the French led by [[Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle|General Lasalle]].<ref>Petre, 252–253</ref> In fact, Lasalle had only 800 men against von{{nbsp}}Romberg's 5,300 men. In March 1809 Romberg was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for giving up Stettin without a fight. In 1809, also Polish troops were stationed in the city, while the French remained until 1813.
[[File:Stettin Lange Brucke (1890-1900).jpg|thumb|left|Late 19th-century view of the city's riverfront]]
From 1683 to 1812, one Jew was permitted to reside in Stettin, and an additional Jew was allowed to spend a night in the city in case of "urgent business".<ref name=heitmann225/> These permissions were repeatedly withdrawn between 1691 and 1716, also between 1726 and 1730 although else the Swedish regulation was continued by the Prussian administration.<ref name=heitmann225/> Only after the [[Prussian Edict of Emancipation]] of 11{{nbsp}}March 1812, which granted Prussian citizenship to all Jews living in the kingdom, did a Jewish community emerge in Stettin, with the first Jews settling in the town in 1814.<ref name=heitmann225/> Construction of a synagogue started in 1834; the community also owned a religious and a secular school, an orphanage since 1855, and a retirement home since 1893.<ref name=heitmann226>{{citation|last=Heitmann|first=Margret|chapter=Synagoge und freie christliche Gemeinde in Stettin|title="Halte fern dem ganzen Lande jedes Verderben..". Geschichte und Kultur der Juden in Pommern|editor1-last=Heitmann|editor1-first=Margret|editor2-last=Schoeps|editor2-first=Julius|publisher=Olms|___location=Hildesheim/Zürich/New York|year=1995|language=de|isbn=3-487-10074-6|pages=225–238; p. 226}}</ref> The Jewish community had between 1,000 and 1,200 members by 1873 and between 2,800 and 3,000 members by 1927{{nsndns}}28.<ref name=heitmann226/> These numbers dropped to 2,701 in 1930 and to 2,322 in late 1934.<ref name=heitmann226/>
After the [[Franco-Prussian war|Franco Prussian war of 1870–1871]], 1,700 French [[POW]]s were imprisoned there in deplorable conditions, resulting in the deaths of 600;<ref>Kultura i sztuka Szczecina w latach 1800–1945:materiały Seminarium Oddziału Szczecińskiego Stowarzyszenia Historyków Sztuki, 16–17 październik 1998 Stowarzyszenie Historyków Sztuki. Oddział Szczeciński. Seminarium, Maria Glińska</ref> After the war, Stettin remained a fortress until 1873.<ref name=aps345/> When part of the defensive structures were levelled, a new neighbourhood, ''Neustadt'' ("New Town") as well as water pipes, [[Combined sewer|sewerage]] and drainage, and gas works were built to meet the demands of the growing population.<ref name=aps345/>
Stettin developed into a major Prussian port and following the [[unification of Germany]] in 1871 became part of the [[German Empire]]. While most of the province retained its agrarian character, Stettin was [[Industrial Revolution|industrialised]], and its population rose from 27,000 in 1813 to 210,000 in 1900 and 255,500 in 1925.<ref name="Schmidt 2009 19–20">{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|___location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|pages=19–20}}</ref> Major industries that flourished in Stettin from 1840 were shipbuilding, chemical and food industries, and machinery construction.<ref name=aps345/> Starting in 1843, Stettin became connected to the major German and Pomeranian cities by railways, and the water connection to the [[Bay of Pomerania]] was enhanced by the construction of the [[Kaiserfahrt]] (now Piast) canal.<ref name=aps345/> The city was also a scientific centre; for example, it was home to the [[Entomological Society of Stettin]].
[[File:Manzelbrunnen 3.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Sedina Monument from 1898 sculptured by [[Ludwig Manzel]] (postcard from c.1899-1913) — Sedina was a personification of the city, symbolizing maritime trade and commerce.]]
On 20 October 1890, some of the city's Poles created the "Society of Polish-Catholic Workers" in the city, one of the first Polish organisations.<ref>Dzieje Szczecina:1806–1945 p.{{nbsp}}450 Bogdan Frankiewicz 1994</ref> In 1897, the city's ship works began the construction of the [[pre-dreadnought]] battleship ''[[SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse|Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse]]''. In 1914, before World War{{nbsp}}I, the Polish community in the city numbered over 3,000 people,<ref name="Bialecki"/> contributing about 2% of the population.<ref name="Schmidt 2009 19–20"/> These were primarily industrial workers and their families who came from the [[Poznań]] (Posen) area<ref name=Musekamp72>{{cite book|title=Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin|volume=27|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|first=Jan|last=Musekamp|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2009|isbn=978-3-447-06273-2|language=de|page=72}}. Quote1: "[...] Polen, die sich bereits vor Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges in der Stadt befunden hatten. Es handelte sich bei ihnen zum einen um Industriearbeiter und ihre Angehörigen, die bis zum Ersten Weltkrieg meist aus der Gegend um Posen in das damals zum selben Staat gehörende Stettin gezogen waren [...]"</ref> and a few local wealthy industrialists and merchants. Among them was Kazimierz Pruszak, director of the Gollnow industrial works and a Polish patriot, who predicted the eventual "return" of Szczecin to Poland.<ref name="Bialecki"/>
During the [[interwar period]], Stettin was [[Weimar Republic|Weimar Germany]]'s largest port on the Baltic Sea, and her third-largest port after [[Hamburg]] and [[Bremen]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|___location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|page=20}}</ref> Cars of the [[Stoewer]] automobile company were produced in Stettin from 1899 to 1945. By 1939, the [[Reichsautobahn]] [[Berlin]]{{nsndns}}Stettin was completed.<ref name=aps345/>
Stettin played a major role as an entrepôt in the development of the Scottish herring trade with the Continent, peaking at an annual export of more than 400,000 barrels in 1885, 1894 and 1898. Trade flourished until the outbreak of the First World War and resumed on a reduced scale during the years between the wars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishherringhistory.uk/statistics/AnnualExport.html|title=Annual Statistics|work=scottishherringhistory.uk}}</ref>
In the [[March 1933 German federal election|March 1933 German elections]] to the Reichstag, the Nazis and German nationalists from the [[German National People's Party]] (or DNVP) won most of the votes in the city, together winning 98,626 of 165,331 votes (59.3%), with the NSDAP getting 79,729 (47.9%) and the DNVP 18,897 (11.4%).<ref name="verwaltungsgeschichte.de">{{cite web |url=http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stettin.html |title=Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte Pommern, Kreis Stettin |publisher=Verwaltungsgeschichte.de |access-date=2011-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723075150/http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stettin.html |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1935, the [[Wehrmacht]] made Stettin the headquarters for Wehrkreis{{nbsp}}II, which controlled the [[military organization|military units]] in all of [[Mecklenburg]] and Pomerania. It was also the area headquarters for units stationed at Stettin{{nbsp}}I and II, [[Świnoujście|Swinemünde]], [[Greifswald]], and [[Stralsund]].
In the interwar period, the Polish minority numbered 2,000 people,<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name="AP & BD 1961">Polonia szczecińska 1890–1939 Anna Poniatowska Bogusław Drewniak, Poznań 1961</ref> less than 1% of the city's population at that time.<ref name="Schmidt 2009 19–20"/> A number of Poles were members of the [[Union of Poles in Germany]] (ZPN), which was active in the city from 1924.<ref>''Historyczna droga do polskiego Szczecina:wybór dokumentów i opracowań''. Kazimierz Kozłowski, Stanisław Krzywicki. Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, p.{{nbsp}}79, 1988</ref> A Polish consulate was located in the city between 1925 and 1939.<ref name=Musekamp73>{{cite book|title=Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin|volume=27|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|first=Jan|last=Musekamp|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2009|isbn=978-3-447-06273-2|language=de|page=73}}</ref> On the initiative of the consulate<ref name=Musekamp73/> and ZPN activist Maksymilian Golisz,<ref name=Musekamp74>{{cite book|title=Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin|volume=27|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|first=Jan|last=Musekamp|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2009|isbn=978-3-447-06273-2|language=de|page=74}}</ref> a number of Polish institutions were established, e.g., a Polish Scout team and a Polish school.<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name=Musekamp73/> German historian Musekamp writes, "however, only very few Poles were active in these institutions, which for the most part were headed by employees of the [Polish] consulate."<ref name=Musekamp74/> The withdrawal of the consulate from these institutions led to a general decline of these activities, which were in part upheld by Golisz and Aleksander Omieczyński.<ref>{{cite book|title=Konsulat Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Szczecinie w latach 1925–1939. Powstanie i działalność|first=Wojciech|last=Skóra|publisher=Pomorska Akademia Pedagogiczna w Słupsku|year=2001|isbn=83-88731-15-7|language=pl|page=139}}</ref> Intensified repressions by the Nazis,<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name="AP & BD 1961"/> who exaggerated the Polish activities to propagate an infiltration,<ref name=Musekamp74/> led to the closing of the school.<ref name="Bialecki"/> In 1938, the head of Szczecin's Union of Poles unit, Stanisław Borkowski, was imprisoned in [[Sachsenhausen]] concentration camp in [[Oranienburg, Germany|Oranienburg]].<ref name="Bialecki"/> In 1939, all Polish organisations in Stettin were disbanded by the German authorities.<ref name="Bialecki"/> Golisz and Omieczyński were murdered during the war.<ref name="Bialecki"/> After the defeat of Nazi Germany, a street was named after Golisz.<ref name=Musekamp74/> According to German historian Jan Musekamp, the activities of the Polish pre-war organizations were exaggerated after World War II for propaganda purposes.<ref>Musekamp, Jan: Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin, p. 74, with reference to: Edward Wlodarczyk: "Próba krytycznego spojrzenia na dzieje Polonii Szczecińskiej do 1939 roku" in Pomerania Ethnica, Szczecin 1998 Quote: ''"..und so musste die Bedeutung der erwähnten Organisationen im Sinne der Propaganda übertrieben werden."''</ref>
===
[[File:Szczecin godlo z konsulatu.jpg|thumb|upright|Emblem of the pre-war Polish Consulate, removed by the Germans in September 1939 and thrown into the Oder River; now an exhibit of the [[National Museum in Szczecin]]]]
During [[World War II]], Stettin was the base for the [[2nd Infantry Division (Germany)|German 2nd Motorised Infantry Division]], which cut across the so-called [[Polish Corridor]] and was later used in 1940 as an embarkation point for [[Operation Weserübung]], Germany's assault on Denmark and [[Norway]].<ref>Gilbert, M (1989) Second World War, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, P52</ref>
On 15 October 1939, neighbouring municipalities were joined to Stettin, creating Groß-Stettin, with about 380,000 inhabitants, in 1940.<ref name=aps345>Peter Oliver Loew, ''Staatsarchiv Stettin: Wegweiser durch die Bestände bis zum Jahr 1945'', German translation of Radosław Gaziński, Paweł Gut, Maciej Szukała, ''Archiwum Państwowe w Szczecinie, Poland. Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych'', Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2004, p.{{nbsp}}345, {{ISBN|3-486-57641-0}}</ref> The city had become the third-largest German city by area, after Berlin and Hamburg.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stolzenburg|first=Katrin|chapter=Hans Bernhard Reichow (1899–1974)|title=Architektur und Städtebau im südlichen Ostseeraum zwischen 1936 und 1980|editor-first=Bernfried|editor-last=Lichtnau|publisher=Lukas Verlag|year=2002|isbn=3-931836-74-6|language=de|pages=137–152; p. 140}}</ref>
As the war started, the number of non-Germans in the city increased as [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|slave workers]] were brought in. The first transports came in 1939 from [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Toruń]] and [[Łódź]]. They were mainly used in a synthetic silk factory near Stettin.<ref name="Bialecki"/> The next wave of slave workers was brought in 1940, in addition to PoWs who were used for work in the agricultural industry.<ref name="Bialecki"/> According to German police reports from 1940, 15,000 Polish slave workers lived within the city.<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tey6mM1RCs0C&q=autochthons+poland&pg=PA72 |title=Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin |first1=Jan |last1=Musekamp |publisher=Deutsches Polen-Institut |year=2010 |isbn=978-3-447-06273-2 |page=72 |language=de |access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref>
During the war, 135 forced labour camps for slave workers were established in the city. Most of the 25,000 slave workers were Poles, but Czechs, Italians, Frenchmen and Belgians, as well as Dutch citizens, were also enslaved in the camps.<ref name="Bialecki"/> A Nazi prison was also operated in the city, with forced labour subcamps in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesarchiv.de/zwangsarbeit/haftstaetten/index.php?action=2.2&tab=7&id=100001209|title=Gefängnis Stettin|website=Bundesarchiv.de|access-date=15 May 2021|language=de}}</ref>
[[File:Szczecin1945.JPG|left|thumb|The city centre in 1945]]
In February 1940, [[History of Pomerania (1933–1945)#Deportation of the Pomeranian Jews|the Jews of Stettin were deported]] to the [[Nisko Plan|Lublin reservation]]. International press reports emerged, describing how the Nazis forced Jews, regardless of age, condition and gender, to sign away all property and loaded them onto trains headed to the camp, escorted by members of the [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] and [[SS]]. Due to publicity given to the event, German institutions ordered such future actions to be made in a way unlikely to attract public notice.<ref>''The Origins of [[Final Solution|the Final Solution]]'' [[Christopher Browning|Christopher R. Browning]], [[Jürgen Matthäus]], page 64 [[University of Nebraska system|University of Nebraska]] Press, 2007</ref> The action was the first deportation of Jews from prewar territory in Nazi Germany.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Holocaust: The Fate of European Jewry|url=https://archive.org/details/holocaustfateofe00yahi|url-access=limited|last=Yahil|first=Leni|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1990|isbn=0-19-504522-X|___location=Oxford|pages=[https://archive.org/details/holocaustfateofe00yahi/page/140 140]}}</ref>
[[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[Strategic bombing|air raids]] in 1944 and heavy fighting between the German and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] armies destroyed 65% of Stettin's buildings and almost all of the city centre, the seaport, and local industries. Polish [[Home Army]] intelligence assisted in pinpointing targets for Allied bombing in the area of Stettin.<ref>Polski ruch oporu 1939–1945 Andrzej Chmielarz, Wojskowy Instytut Historyczny im. Wandy Wasilewskiej, Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1988 page 1019</ref> The city itself was covered by the Home Army's "Bałtyk" structure, and [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|Polish resistance]] infiltrated Stettin's naval yards.<ref>Wywiad Związku Walki Zbrojnej—Armii Krajowej, 1939–1945 Piotr Matusak 2002 page 166</ref><ref>Wywiad Polskich Sił Zbrojnych na Zachodzie 1939–1945 Andrzej Pepłoński AWM, 1995 page 342</ref> Other activities of the resistance consisted of smuggling people, including Polish and British POWs who escaped from German captivity, to Sweden,<ref>Cudzoziemcy w polskim ruchu oporu: 1939–1945 Stanisław Okęcki 1975 page 49</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Chrzanowski|first=Bogdan|title=Organizacja sieci przerzutów drogą morską z Polski do Szwecji w latach okupacji hitlerowskiej (1939–1945)|journal=Stutthof. Zeszyty Muzeum|language=pl|volume=5|page=30|issn=0137-5377}}</ref> and distribution of [[Polish underground press]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Chrzanowski|first=Bogdan|year=2022|title=Polskie Państwo Podziemne na Pomorzu w latach 1939–1945|language=pl|___location=Gdańsk|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=57|isbn=978-83-8229-411-8}}</ref>
The Soviet [[Red Army]] captured the city on 26{{nbsp}}April 1945. While the majority of the almost 400,000 inhabitants had left the city, between 6,000 and 20,000 inhabitants remained in late April.<ref name=Dok>{{cite book| first1=Jörg |last1=Hackmann| first2=Tadeusz | last2=Bialecki|title=Stettin Szczecin 1945-1946 Dokument – Erinnerungen, Dokumenty - Wspomnienia |publisher=Hinstorff|year=1995 | pages=97, 283, 287 |isbn= 3-356-00528-6|language=de}}</ref>
[[File:WOPR, Barka i Zamek Książąt Pomorskich.jpg|thumb|right|View of the [[Stare Miasto, Szczecin|Old Town]] from the [[Oder]] River. Most of the medieval buildings in the city centre were completely destroyed during [[World War II]]. The [[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|Ducal Castle]] can be seen in the background.]]
On 28 April 1945 Polish authorities tried to gain control,<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name=Dok/> but in the following month, the Polish administration was twice forced to leave. The reason for this was, according to Polish sources, that the Western Allies raised protest against the Soviet and Polish policy of creating a fait-accomplit in [[Former eastern territories of Germany|Eastern Germany]].<ref name=Musekamp72/> Finally the permanent handover occurred on 5{{nbsp}}July 1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.szczecin.pl/strasse/kalendar_uk.htm|title=Chronicle of the most important events in the history of Szczecin|work=Szczecin.pl|date=2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607192402/http://www.szczecin.pl/strasse/kalendar_uk.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> In the meantime, part of the German population had returned, believing it might become part of the [[Soviet occupation zone of Germany]].<ref name=Piskorski376>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}376, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> The Soviet authorities had already appointed the German Communists Erich Spiegel and [[Erich Wiesner]] as mayors.<ref>Grete Grewolls: ''Wer war wer in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern? Ein Personenlexikon''. Edition Temmen, Bremen 1995, {{ISBN|3-86108-282-9}}, p.{{nbsp}}467.</ref> Stettin is located mostly west of the Oder River, which was expected to become Poland's new western border, placing Stettin in East Germany. This would have been in accordance with the [[Potsdam Agreement]] between the victorious Allied powers, which envisaged the [[Oder-Neisse border|new border]] to be in "a line running from the Baltic Sea immediately west of Swinemünde, and thence along the Oder River[...]". Because of the returnees, the German population of the town swelled to 84,000.<ref name=Piskorski376/> The [[mortality rate]] was at 20%, primarily due to starvation.<ref name=Piskorski377>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.{{nbsp}}377, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> However, Stettin and the mouth of the Oder River became Polish on 5{{nbsp}}July 1945, as had been decided in a treaty signed on 26{{nbsp}}July 1944 between the Soviet Union and the Soviet-controlled [[Polish Committee of National Liberation]] (PKWN) (also known as "the Lublin Poles", as contrasted with the [[London]]-based [[Polish government-in-exile]]).<ref name="Bialecki"/> On 4{{nbsp}}October 1945, the decisive land border of Poland was established west of the 1945 line,<ref name="Bialecki"/><ref name=Piskorski380381>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp. 380–381, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> and the city was renamed to its historic Polish name Szczecin, but the area excluded the [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]] area, the Oder River itself and the port of Szczecin, which remained under Soviet administration.<ref name=Piskorski380381/> The Oder River was handed over to Polish administration in September 1946, followed by the port between February 1946 and May 1954.<ref name=Piskorski380381/>
==== Post-war ====
[[File:0907 Pomnik Czynu Polaków Szczecin SZN 1.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Monument to the Polish Endeavor]], dedicated to three Generations of Poles in [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Western Pomerania]]: the pre-war Poles in Szczecin, the Poles who rebuilt the city after [[World War II]], and the modern generation]]
While the number of pre-war inhabitants dropped to 57,215 on 31 October 1945, the [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|systematic expulsion of Germans]] started on 22 February 1946 and continued until late 1947, in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} In December 1946 about 17,000 German inhabitants remained, while the number of Poles living in the city reached 100,000.<ref name=Dok/> To ease the tensions between settlers from different regions, and help overcome fear caused by the continued presence of the Soviet troops, a special event was organised in April 1946 with 50,000 visitors in the partly destroyed city centre.<ref name=mcnamara3>{{cite book|last=McNamara|first=Paul|chapter=Competing National and Regional Identities in Poland's Baltic|title=History of Communism in Europe|volume=3|year=2012|isbn=9786068266275|pages=30–31; p. 31 |others=Bogdan C. Iacob |publisher=Zeta Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70ECBQAAQBAJ}}</ref> Settlers from Central Poland made up about 70% of Szczecin's new population.<ref name=musekamp20>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 20}}</ref> In addition to Poles, Ukrainians from [[Territories of Poland annexed by the Soviet Union|Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union]] settled there.<ref name=musekamp20/> Also Poles repatriated from [[Harbin]], China and Greeks, [[refugees of the Greek Civil War]], settled in Szczecin in the following years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://szczecin.tvp.pl/42971441/wyjatkowa-wystawa-o-historii-w-chinskiej-mandzurii-i-jej-finale-w-szczecinie|title=Wyjątkowa wystawa o historii w chińskiej Mandżurii i jej finale w Szczecinie|website=TVP3 Szczecin|author=Przemysław Plecan|access-date=15 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kubasiewicz|first=Izabela|editor-last1=Dworaczek|editor-first1=Kamil|editor-last2=Kamiński|editor-first2=Łukasz|year=2013|title=Letnia Szkoła Historii Najnowszej 2012. Referaty|language=pl|___location=Warszawa|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|pages=117–118|chapter=Emigranci z Grecji w Polsce Ludowej. Wybrane aspekty z życia mniejszości}}</ref> In 1945 and 1946, the city was the starting point of the northern route used by the Jewish underground organisation [[Brichah]] to channel Jewish [[displaced person]]s from Central and Eastern Europe to the [[American occupation zone of Germany|American occupation zone]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Königseder|first=Angelika|chapter=Durchgangsstation Berlin. Jüdische Displaced Persons 1945–1948|title=Überlebt und unterwegs. Jüdische Displaced Persons im Nachkriegsdeutschland|editor-last=Giere|editor-first=Jacqueline|publisher=Campus Verlag|year=1997|isbn=3-593-35843-3|language=de|pages=189–206; pp. 191–192|display-editors=etal}}</ref> By 1950, the entire German population of the city had been expelled and replaced with Poles or other ethnic minority groups from the [[Kresy]].
Szczecin was rebuilt, and the city's industry was expanded. At the same time, Szczecin became a major Polish industrial centre and an important seaport (particularly for [[Silesia]]n coal) for Poland, [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[East Germany]]. Cultural expansion was accompanied by a campaign resulting in the "removal of all German traces".<ref name=musekamp2223>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; pp. 22–23}}</ref> In 1946, [[Winston Churchill]] prominently mentioned the city in his [[Iron Curtain]] speech: "From Stettin in the Baltic to [[Trieste]] in the [[Adriatic]] an iron curtain has descended across the Continent".<ref>British Information Services [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FO371-51624.jpg excerpt of Churchill's speech]</ref><ref>Peter H. Merkl, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=dduIXz8kpEsC&dq=Winston+Churchill+Iron+curtain+Szczecin&pg=PA338 German Unification]'', Penn State Press, 2004, p.{{nbsp}}338</ref>
[[File:Strajk w stoczni szczecinskiej 1980.jpg|thumb|[[Szczecin Shipyard]] workers' strike against the [[Polish United Workers' Party|communist government authorities]] in Poland, August 1980]]
The city witnessed [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] revolts in 1956,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.szczecin.uw.gov.pl/?type=article&action=view&id=14767|title=Upamiętnienie wydarzeń z 10 grudnia 1956 r|website=szczecin.uw.gov.pl|date=10 December 2019|access-date=21 April 2023|language=pl}}</ref> [[Polish 1970 protests|1970]] and 1980.<ref name=pr>{{cite web|url=https://www.polskieradio.pl/39/156/Artykul/674436,Porozumienie-szczecinskie-krok-ku-wolnosci|title=Porozumienie szczecińskie: krok ku wolności|website=PolskieRadio.pl|access-date=15 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref> On 30 August 1980, first of the four ''[[August Agreements]]'', which led to the first legalisation of the trade union [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]], was signed in Szczecin.<ref name=pr/> The introduction of [[Martial law in Poland|martial law]] in December 1981 met with a strike by the dockworkers of Szczecin shipyard, joined by other factories and workplaces in a [[general strike]]. All these were suppressed by the communist authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naszemiasto.stetinum.pl/pl/wiadomosci/kalendarium/Dzis_rocznica_wprowadzenia_stanu_wojennego|title=Dziś rocznica wprowadzenia stanu wojennego – Szczecin|trans-title=Today is the anniversary of the imposition of martial law – Szczecin|publisher=Naszemiasto.stetinum.pl|access-date=3 June 2011}}{{dead link|date=March 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.13grudnia81.pl/sw/galeria-1/szczecin/6067,Manifestacje-studenckie.html |title=Wprowadzenie stanu wojennego w Szczecinie – Wiadomości – Szczecin |publisher=Sedinum.stetinum.pl |date=13 December 2009 |access-date=2011-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123959/http://www.13grudnia81.pl/sw/galeria-1/szczecin/6067,Manifestacje-studenckie.html |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pope [[John Paul II]] visited the city on 11{{nbsp}}June 1987.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gs24.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/SZCZECIN/542492938 |title=Papież w Szczecinie |author=Monika Stefanek |date=11 April 2008 |publisher=GS24.pl – Serwis Głosu Szczecińskiego |access-date=19 April 2011 |language=pl}}</ref> Another wave of strikes in Szczecin broke out in [[1988 Polish strikes|1988]] and 1989, which eventually led to the [[Polish Round Table Agreement|Round Table Agreement]] and first [[Contract Sejm|semi-free elections in post-war Poland]].
Szczecin has been the capital of the [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]] since 1999.
== Geography ==
=== Climate ===
Szczecin has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''), typical of [[Western Pomerania]]. The winters are colder than on the immediate coast and the summers are warm, but still with some moderation, especially due to the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=50221&cityname=Szczecin,+Poland|title=Szczecin, Poland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=2018-12-27|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201152101/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=50221&cityname=Szczecin%2C+Poland|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The average air temperature in Szczecin ranges from 8 to 8.4 °C. The hottest month is July with a temperature of 15.8 °C to 20.3 °C, the coldest January from -4.1 °C to 2.6 °C. Air temperature below 0 °C occurs on average over 86 days a year, most frequently in January and February. The average annual rainfall is 537 mm, the average rainfall in the cool half-year is 225 mm, and in the warmer half-year is 350 mm. On average, 167 days with precipitation occurs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ikzm-oder.de/download.php?fileid=2150|title=Stan środowiska miasta Szczecina|date=May 2004|publisher=Küsteninformationssystem Odermündung|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214822/http://www.ikzm-oder.de/download.php?fileid=2150|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| ___location = Szczecin ([[Szczecin Dąbie railway station|Szczecin Dąbie]]), elevation: 1 m, 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1951–present
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 15.5
| Feb record high C = 17.9
| Mar record high C = 23.9
| Apr record high C = 30.6
| May record high C = 32.0
| Jun record high C = 35.6
| Jul record high C = 37.3
| Aug record high C = 37.8
| Sep record high C = 30.8
| Oct record high C = 26.7
| Nov record high C = 19.4
| Dec record high C = 14.9
| year record high C = 37.8
| Jan avg record high C = 9.8
| Feb avg record high C = 11.6
| Mar avg record high C = 17.2
| Apr avg record high C = 23.8
| May avg record high C = 27.5
| Jun avg record high C = 30.3
| Jul avg record high C = 31.6
| Aug avg record high C = 31.8
| Sep avg record high C = 25.7
| Oct avg record high C = 20.5
| Nov avg record high C = 14.2
| Dec avg record high C = 10.8
| year avg record high C = 33.7
| Jan high C = 3.0
| Feb high C = 4.5
| Mar high C = 8.5
| Apr high C = 14.7
| May high C = 19.1
| Jun high C = 22.1
| Jul high C = 24.3
| Aug high C = 24.0
| Sep high C = 19.2
| Oct high C = 13.5
| Nov high C = 7.5
| Dec high C = 4.0
| year high C = 13.7
| Jan mean C = 0.6
| Feb mean C = 1.5
| Mar mean C = 4.2
| Apr mean C = 9.2
| May mean C = 13.6
| Jun mean C = 16.8
| Jul mean C = 18.9
| Aug mean C = 18.5
| Sep mean C = 14.3
| Oct mean C = 9.5
| Nov mean C = 4.9
| Dec mean C = 1.9
| year mean C = 9.5
| Jan low C = -1.8
| Feb low C = -1.3
| Mar low C = 0.4
| Apr low C = 4.0
| May low C = 8.2
| Jun low C = 11.5
| Jul low C = 13.8
| Aug low C = 13.5
| Sep low C = 9.9
| Oct low C = 6.0
| Nov low C = 2.4
| Dec low C = -0.5
| year low C = 5.5
| Jan avg record low C = -11.8
| Feb avg record low C = -9.9
| Mar avg record low C = -7.3
| Apr avg record low C = -3.2
| May avg record low C = 1.1
| Jun avg record low C = 5.7
| Jul avg record low C = 8.2
| Aug avg record low C = 7.2
| Sep avg record low C = 3.0
| Oct avg record low C = -2.1
| Nov avg record low C = -4.8
| Dec avg record low C = -8.6
| year avg record low C = -15.0
| Jan record low C = -30.0
| Feb record low C = -28.7
| Mar record low C = -23.1
| Apr record low C = -7.7
| May record low C = -4.4
| Jun record low C = 0.3
| Jul record low C = 4.4
| Aug record low C = 1.2
| Sep record low C = -2.6
| Oct record low C = -6.9
| Nov record low C = -11.4
| Dec record low C = -22.3
| year record low C = -30.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 40.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 32.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 38.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 31.2
| May precipitation mm = 55.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 59.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 76.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 60.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 47.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 43.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 39.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 43.0
| year precipitation mm = 567.1
| Jan snow depth cm = 3.6
| Feb snow depth cm = 4.0
| Mar snow depth cm = 1.9
| Apr snow depth cm = 0.4
| May snow depth cm = 0.0
| Jun snow depth cm = 0.0
| Jul snow depth cm = 0.0
| Aug snow depth cm = 0.0
| Sep snow depth cm = 0.0
| Oct snow depth cm = 0.0
| Nov snow depth cm = 0.7
| Dec snow depth cm = 2.3
| year snow depth cm =
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 16.13
| Feb precipitation days = 14.54
| Mar precipitation days = 13.53
| Apr precipitation days = 11.07
| May precipitation days = 13.57
| Jun precipitation days = 13.07
| Jul precipitation days = 14.17
| Aug precipitation days = 13.10
| Sep precipitation days = 11.93
| Oct precipitation days = 14.07
| Nov precipitation days = 14.60
| Dec precipitation days = 16.87
| year precipitation days = 166.64
| unit snow days = 0 cm
| Jan snow days = 7.6
| Feb snow days = 6.9
| Mar snow days = 2.8
| Apr snow days = 0.4
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.3
| Dec snow days = 4.7
| year snow days = 23.7
| Jan humidity = 87.1
| Feb humidity = 83.3
| Mar humidity = 78.2
| Apr humidity = 70.8
| May humidity = 71.5
| Jun humidity = 72.9
| Jul humidity = 74.4
| Aug humidity = 75.9
| Sep humidity = 81.2
| Oct humidity = 85.5
| Nov humidity = 89.1
| Dec humidity = 89.0
| year humidity = 79.9
| Jan sun = 42.7
| Feb sun = 66.7
| Mar sun = 121.2
| Apr sun = 199.3
| May sun = 244.5
| Jun sun = 242.3
| Jul sun = 246.3
| Aug sun = 230.3
| Sep sun = 160.0
| Oct sun = 105.7
| Nov sun = 47.4
| Dec sun = 32.2
| year sun = 1738.6
| Jan uv = 0
| Feb uv = 1
| Mar uv = 2
| Apr uv = 4
| May uv = 5
| Jun uv = 6
| Jul uv = 6
| Aug uv = 5
| Sep uv = 4
| Oct uv = 2
| Nov uv = 1
| Dec uv = 0
| Jan dew point C = -1
| Feb dew point C = -1
| Mar dew point C = 0
| Apr dew point C = 3
| May dew point C = 8
| Jun dew point C = 11
| Jul dew point C = 13
| Aug dew point C = 13
| Sep dew point C = 10
| Oct dew point C = 7
| Nov dew point C = 3
| Dec dew point C = 0
| source 1 = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management<ref name=IMGWtavg>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211203115527/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| archive-date = 3 December 2021
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TSR_AVE
| title = Średnia dobowa temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmin>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115043924/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMIN_AVE
| title = Średnia minimalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWtmax>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115044916/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/TMAX_AVE
| title = Średnia maksymalna temperatura powietrza
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecip>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220109045820/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| archive-date = 9 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_SUMA
| title = Miesięczna suma opadu
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWprecipdays>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115051112/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/OPAD_01
| title = Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdepth>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054936/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_SR_GRUB
| title = Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsnowdays>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220121044246/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| archive-date = 21 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/SNIEG_0
| title = Liczba dni z pokrywą śnieżna > 0 cm
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=IMGWsun>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055331/https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| archive-date = 15 January 2022
| url = https://klimat.imgw.pl/pl/climate-normals/USL
| title = Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h)
| work = Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020
| publisher = Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Meteomodel.pl (records, relative humidity 1991–2020),<ref name=recordhigh>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=353140205&par=tmax&max_empty=3
| title = Szczecin Absolutna temperatura maksymalna
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 23 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=recordlow>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=353140205&par=tmin&max_empty=3
| title = Szczecin Absolutna temperatura minimalna
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 20 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=relativehumidity>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=353140205&par=rh&max_empty=3
| title = Szczecin Średnia wilgotność
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 January 2022}}</ref> Weather Atlas (UV),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/poland/szczecin-climate|title=Szczecin, Poland - Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985-2015)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/poland/szczecin/climate
| title = Climate & Weather Averages in Szczecin
| publisher = Time and Date
| access-date = 24 July 2022}}</ref>
| source =
}}
<div style="width: 80%;"></div>
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table = Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Szczecin.tab
| title = Szczecin temperature
}}
=== Architecture and urban planning ===
[[File:Śląska Street in Szczecin, 2018 (14).jpg|thumb|right|19th-century [[tenement]]s on Śląska Street in Szczecin.]]
Szczecin's [[architectural style]] reflects trends popular in the last half of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th century: [[Academic art]] (historicist [[Gründerzeit]]) and [[Art Nouveau]]. In many areas built after 1945, especially in the city centre, which had been partly destroyed due to Allied bombing, [[social realism]] is prevalent.
The city has an abundance of green areas: [[park]]s and avenues{{snds}}wide streets with trees planted in the island separating opposing traffic (where often [[tram]] tracks are laid); and [[roundabout]]s corresponding to the [[Orion constellation]]. Szczecin's city plan resembles that of [[Paris]], mostly because Szczecin was remodelled in the 1880s according to a design by [[Georges-Eugène Haussmann]], who had [[Haussmann's renovation of Paris|redesigned Paris]] under [[Napoleon III|Napoléon III]].<ref name="ncdc.eu">{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.eu/single-post/2014/10/01/The-History-and-Culture-of-Szczecin|title=NCDC|access-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030201738/http://www.ncdc.eu/single-post/2014/10/01/The-History-and-Culture-of-Szczecin|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> This pattern of street design is still used in Szczecin, as many recently built (or modified) city areas include roundabouts and avenues.<ref name="ncdc.eu"/>
During the city's reconstruction in the aftermath of World War II, the communist authorities of Poland wanted the city's architecture to reflect an old Polish [[Piast]] era. Since no buildings from that time existed, instead [[Brick Gothic|Gothic]] as well as [[Renaissance]] buildings were picked as worthy of conservation.<ref name=musekamp23>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 23}}</ref> The motivation behind this decision was that Renaissance architecture was used by the [[House of Pomerania|Griffin dynasty]], which had [[Lechites|Lechitic]] and [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] roots and was seen to be of Piast extraction by some historians.<ref name=musekamp31>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 31}}</ref> This view was manifested, for example, by erecting respective memorials, and the naming of streets and enterprises,<ref name=musekamp33>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 33}}</ref> while German traces were replaced by symbols of three main categories: Piasts, the martyrdom of Poles, and gratitude to the Soviet and Polish armies which had ended the [[Nazi crimes against the Polish nation|Nazi atrocities against Polish citizens]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Wawrzyniak|first=Joanna|chapter=Die Westgebiete in der Ideologie des polnischen Kommunismus|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=298–319; p. 306}}</ref>
The ruins of the [[Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, Szczecin|former Griffin residence]], initially renamed "Piast Palace", also played a central role in this concept<ref name=musekamp31/> and were reconstructed in Renaissance style, with all traces of later eras removed.<ref name=musekamp30>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 30}}</ref> In general, post-Renaissance buildings, especially those from the 19th and early 20th centuries, were deemed unworthy of conservation until the 1970s,<ref name=musekamp23/> and were in part used in the "Bricks for Warsaw" campaign (an effort to rebuild [[Warsaw]] after it had been [[Planned destruction of Warsaw|systematically razed]] following the [[Warsaw Uprising]]): with 38 million bricks, Szczecin became Poland's largest brick supplier.<ref name=musekamp28>{{cite book|last=Musekamp|first=Jan|chapter=Der Königsplatz in Stettin als Beispiel kultureller Aneignung nach 1945|title=Wiedergewonnene Geschichte. Zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas|volume=22|series=Veröffentlichungen des Deutschen Polen-Instituts Darmstadt|editor1-first=Peter Oliver|editor1-last=Loew|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-last=Pletzing|editor3-first=Thomas|editor3-last=Serrier|publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag|year=2006|isbn=3-447-05297-X|language=de|pages=19–35; p. 28}}</ref> The Old Town was rebuilt in the late 1990s, with new buildings, some of which were reconstructions of buildings destroyed in World War{{nbsp}}II.
The Gothic monuments preserved to this day are parts of [[European Route of Brick Gothic]], along with monuments of other Pomeranian cities, e.g. [[Stargard]], [[Kamień Pomorski]], [[Sławno]] and [[Chełmno]].
A portion of the [[Szczecin Landscape Park]] in the forest of Puszcza Bukowa lies within Szczecin's boundaries.
Szczecin contains 28 extant historic water pumps, known as [[Szczecin pumps]] or Berliners, which are a popular tourist attraction due to their colorful and intricate design.<ref name="gs">{{cite web|url=https://gs24.pl/zabytkowe-pompy-w-szczecinie-pieknieja/ar/4964706|title=Zabytkowe pompy w Szczecinie pięknieją|language=pl|website=gs24.pl|date=30 July 2014 |access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref> Fresh water for the city is supplied from nearby Lake [[Miedwie]].<ref name="l130">{{cite book | last=Bhattacharya | first=Prosun | last2=Rosborg | first2=Ingegerd | last3=Sandhi | first3=Arifin | last4=Hayes | first4=Colin | last5=Benoliel | first5=Maria Joao | title=Metals and Related Substances in Drinking Water | publisher=IWA Publishing | publication-place=London | date=2011-11-25 | isbn=978-1-78040-035-8 | page=92}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Szczecin 05-2017 img06 Rynek.jpg|Façades in the rebuilt old town
File:Pałac pod Globusem w Szczecinie - panoramio (cropped).jpg|Globe Palace
File:1 Krzywoustego Street in Szczecin, April 2022.jpg|Tenement house at Vicory Square
File:Velthusen Palace in Szczecin, 2018.jpg|[[Velthusen Palace]]
File:Bogusława X Street in Szczecin, 2022.jpg|Bogusław X Street
File:Szczecin plac Grunwaldzki dron (1).jpg|Grunwald Square
</gallery>
=== Municipal administration ===
[[File:Szczecin urzad miejski2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Town Hall]]
[[File:Szczecin administrative division 2010.png|thumb|right|Szczecin's administrative divisions]]
The city is administratively divided into districts (Polish: ''dzielnica''), which are further divided into smaller neighbourhoods. The governing bodies of the latter serve the role of auxiliary local government bodies called ''[[Neighbourhood]] Councils'' (Polish: ''Rady Osiedla''). [[Election]]s for neighbourhood councils are held up to six months after each City Council election. Voter turnout is rather low (on 20{{nbsp}}May 2007 it ranged from 1.03% to 27.75% and was 3.78% on average). [[Councillor]]s are responsible mostly for small infrastructure like trees, park benches, [[playground]]s, etc. Other functions are mostly advisory.
* ''Dzielnica Śródmieście'' (City Centre) includes: [[Centrum, Szczecin|Centrum]], [[Drzetowo-Grabowo]], [[Łękno]], [[Międzyodrze-Wyspa Pucka]], [[Niebuszewo-Bolinko]], [[Nowe Miasto, Szczecin|Nowe Miasto]], [[Stare Miasto, Szczecin|Stare Miasto]], [[Śródmieście-Północ]], [[Śródmieście-Zachód]], [[Turzyn, Szczecin|Turzyn]].
* ''Dzielnica Północ'' (North) includes: [[Bukowo, Szczecin|Bukowo]], [[Golęcino-Gocław]], [[Niebuszewo]], [[Skolwin]], [[Stołczyn]], [[Warszewo, Szczecin|Warszewo]], [[Żelechowa]].
* ''Dzielnica Zachód'' (West) includes: [[Arkońskie-Niemierzyn]], [[Głębokie-Pilchowo]], [[Gumieńce]], [[Krzekowo-Bezrzecze]], [[Osów, Szczecin|Osów]], [[Pogodno]], [[Pomorzany, Szczecin|Pomorzany]], [[Świerczewo, Szczecin|Świerczewo]], [[Zawadzkiego-Klonowica]].
* ''Dzielnica Prawobrzeże'' (Right-Bank) includes: [[Bukowe-Klęskowo]], [[Dąbie, Szczecin|Dąbie]], [[Kijewo, Szczecin|Kijewo]], [[Osiedle Majowe, Szczecin|Osiedle Majowe]], [[Osiedle Słoneczne, Szczecin|Osiedle Słoneczne]], [[Płonia-Śmierdnica-Jezierzyce]], [[Podjuchy]], [[Wielgowo-Sławociesze]], [[Załom, Szczecin|Załom]], [[Zdroje, Szczecin|Zdroje]], [[Żydowce-Klucz]].
=== Other historical neighbourhoods ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
[[Babin, Szczecin|Babin]], [[Barnucin]], [[Basen Górniczy]], [[Błędów, Szczecin|Błędów]], [[Boleszyce]], Bystrzyk, [[Cieszyce, Szczecin|Cieszyce]], [[Cieśnik]], Dolina, [[Drzetowo]], Dunikowo, Glinki, [[Grabowo, Szczecin|Grabowo]], [[Jezierzyce, Szczecin|Jezierzyce]], Kaliny, Kępa Barnicka, Kijewko, [[Kluczewko]], [[Kłobucko]], Kniewo, Kraśnica, Krzekoszów, [[Lotnisko, Szczecin|Lotnisko]], [[Łasztownia]], [[Niemierzyn, Szczecin|Niemierzyn]], [[Odolany, Szczecin|Odolany]], [[Oleszna, Szczecin|Oleszna]], [[Podbórz, Szczecin|Podbórz]], [[Port, Szczecin|Port]], Osiedle Przyjaźni, Rogatka, [[Rudnik, Szczecin|Rudnik]], [[Sienna, Szczecin|Sienna]], Skoki, [[Słowieńsko, Szczecin|Słowieńsko]], Sosnówko, [[Starków, Szczecin|Starków]], Stoki, [[Struga, Szczecin|Struga]], [[Śmierdnica]], os.Świerczewskie, [[Trzebusz, Szczecin|Trzebusz]], Urok, [[Widok, Szczecin|Widok]], [[Zdunowo, Szczecin|Zdunowo]].
== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
| footnote = source <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.polskawliczbach.pl/Szczecin | title=Szczecin (Zachodniopomorskie) » mapy, nieruchomości, GUS, noclegi, szkoły, regon, atrakcje, kody pocztowe, wypadki drogowe, bezrobocie, wynagrodzenie, zarobki, tabele, edukacja, demografia }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Demographic and occupational structure and housing conditions of the urban population in 1978-1988|url=https://statlibr.stat.gov.pl/exlibris/aleph/a22_1/apache_media/RQ1U9XAX48KJJDQ54QSAFQKQ6AK6GS.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>
|1600|5000
|1720 |6081
|1740 |12300
|1812 |21255
|1840 |35300
|1852 |48028
|1861 |58487
|1872 |76000
|1885 |99543
|1905 |224119
|1939 |383000
|1946 |72948
|1950 |178907
|1960 |269318
|1970|338000
|1978|384948|1988|410331|2002|415399|2011|410131|2021|396168}}
Since the 12th-century Christianization of the city, the majority of the population were [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], then since the Renaissance era, up to the end of World War II, the majority of the population were [[Protestantism|Protestants]] (93% in 1890<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belzyt |first=Leszek |title=Sprachliche Minderheiten im preussischen Staat 1815 - 1914 ; die preußische Sprachenstatistik in Bearbeitung und Kommentar |publisher=Verlag Herder-Institut |year=1998 |___location=Marburg |pages=159 |language=German}}</ref>), and since 1945, the majority are again Catholics. Historically, the number of inhabitants doubled from 6,081 in 1720,<ref name="Kratz">Kratz (1865), [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_g2sRAAAAYAAJ/page/n499 p. 405]</ref> to 12,360 in 1740,<ref name="Kratz"/> and reached 21,255 in 1812, with only 476 Catholics and 5 Jews.<ref name="Kratz"/> By 1852 the population was 48,028,<ref name="Kratz"/> and 58,487 ten years later (1861), including 1,065 Catholics and 1,438 Jews.<ref name="Kratz"/> In 1885, it was 99,543,<ref name="verwaltungsgeschichte.de"/> and by 1905 it ballooned to 224,119 settlers (incl. the military), among them 209,152 Protestants, 8,635 Catholics and 3,010 Jews.<ref>''Meyers Konversations-Lexikon''. 6th edition, vol.{{nbsp}}19, Leipzig and Vienna 1909, p.{{nbsp}}9 (in German).</ref> In 1939, the number of inhabitants reached 268,421 persons according to German sources including 233,424 Protestants, 10,845 Catholics, and 1,102 Jews.<ref name="verwaltungsgeschichte.de"/><ref name="Brockhaus">''Der Große Brockhaus''. 15th edition, vol.{{nbsp}}18, Leipzig 1934, p.{{nbsp}}153 (in German)</ref> The current population of Szczecin by comparison was 406,427 in 2009. Following the [[Revolution of Dignity]], Szczecin, much like most other major urban centers in Poland, saw an unprecedented influx of foreign nationals, an overwhelming majority of them Ukrainians; in July 2017 26 thousand of them were officially registered as living and working in Szczecin, with unofficial estimates going as high as 50 thousand, thus making up more than 10% of the city's inhabitants.<ref name="ukraine">{{Cite web|url=https://szczecin.onet.pl/ponad-26-tysiecy-ukraincow-mieszka-w-szczecinie-radny-chce-pelnomocnika/p3wfj5l|title=Ponad 26 tysięcy Ukraińców mieszka w Szczecinie. Radny chce pełnomocnika|last=Wirwicka|first=Alicja|date=18 July 2017|website=Onet.pl|access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref>
;Number of inhabitants over the centuries
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== Politics ==
[[File:Szczecin Urzad Wojewodzki dron (1).jpg|thumb|right|[[Szczecin Voivodeship Office]]]]
Recently{{When|date=February 2024}}, the city has favoured the centre right [[Civic Platform]]. Nearly two-thirds (64.54%) of votes cast in the second round of the [[2010 Polish presidential election|2010 presidential election]] went to the [[Civic Platform]]'s [[Bronisław Komorowski]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl/PZT/EN/WYN/W/326201.htm |title=Election 2010 |publisher=Prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl |access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref> and in [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|the following year's Polish parliamentary election]] the party won 46.75% of the vote in the [[Szczecin (parliamentary constituency)|Szczecin constituency]] with [[Law and Justice]] second garnering 21.66% and [[Palikot's Movement]] third with 11.8%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/poland/ |title=European Election Database (EED) |publisher=Nsd.uib.no |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-date=24 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224123956/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/poland/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Members of European Parliament (MEPs) from Szczecin ===
*[[Sławomir Nitras]], [[Civic Platform|PO]], former MP in the Polish lower house of Parliament.
*[[Bogusław Liberadzki]], [[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD-UP]], economist, former Minister of Transport.
*[[Marek Gróbarczyk]], [[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]], engineer and manager, Minister of Maritime Economy.
== Museums and galleries ==
[[File:Muzeum Techniki i Komunikacji Szczecin (1).jpg|thumb|Interior of the Museum of Technology and Transport]]
*[[National Museum in Szczecin]] ({{langx|pl|Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie}}) is the largest cultural institution in the [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]. It has branches:
** The Main Building of Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie, Wały Chrobrego 3 Street.<ref name="szczecin1">{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeum.szczecin.pl/|title=Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie}}</ref>
** Szczecin's History Museum (Polish ''Muzeum Historii Szczecina'') in the [[Old Town Hall, Szczecin]], Księcia Mściwoja II Street.<ref name="szczecin1"/>
** The Old Art Gallery of the National Museum, Staromłyńska Street 27.<ref name="szczecin1"/>
** The Museum of Contemporary Art, Staromłyńska 1 Street.<ref name="szczecin1"/>
** The [[Narrow-gauge railway|Narrow Gauge Railway]] Exhibition in [[Gryfice]]<ref name="szczecin1"/>
** Planned investments: Dialogue Center Breakthroughs (Polish ''Centrum Dialogu Przełomy'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.przelomy.muzeum.szczecin.pl/|title=Centrum Dialogu PRZEŁOMY MUZEUM NARODOWE W SZCZECINIE}}</ref> and Maritime Science Centre (Polish ''Muzeum Morskie{{snds}}Centrum Nauki'').
* Literature Museum (Polish ''Muzeum Literatury'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/www/muzeum-literatury |title=Książnica Pomorska – Muzeum Literatury |publisher=Ksiaznica.szczecin.pl |access-date=2011-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901134318/http://ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/www/muzeum-literatury |archive-date=1 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* EUREKA – the miracles of science.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://eureka.univ.szczecin.pl/ |title = eureka.univ.szczecin.pl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031016083341/http://eureka.univ.szczecin.pl/ |archive-date=16 October 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The Castle Museum (Polish ''Muzeum Zamkowe'') in the [[Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, Szczecin]].
* [[Museum of Technology and Transport]] (Polish ''Muzeum Techniki i Komunikacji{{snds}}Zajezdnia Sztuki'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeumtechniki.eu/|title=Muzeum Techniki i Komunikacji – Zajezdnia Sztuki w Szczecinie}}</ref>
== Arts and entertainment ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = Szczecin filharmonia (2).jpg
| image2 = Szczecin filharmonia (1).jpg
| caption2 = Interior of the Szczecin Philharmonic, which opened in 2014
}}
There are a few theatres and cinemas in Szczecin:
* The Castle Cinema (Polish ''Kino Zamek'')
* Pionier 1909 Cinema (Polish ''Kino Pionier 1909'')
* Kana Theatre (Polish ''Teatr Kana'')
* Modern Theatre (Polish ''Teatr Współczesny'')
* Opera in the Castle (Polish ''Opera na Zamku'')
* [[Polish Theatre in Szczecin]] (Polish ''Teatr Polski w Szczecinie'')
* The Cellar by the Vault Cabaret (Polish ''Kabaret Piwnica przy Krypcie'')
* The Crypt Theatre (Polish ''Teatr Krypta'')
* The Pleciuga Puppetry Theatre<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bip.pleciuga.pl/index.php|title=Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej Teatru Lalek Pleciuga w Szczecinie}}</ref> (Polish ''Teatr Lalek Pleciuga'')
* The Niema Theatre (Polish ''Teatr Niema'')
* [[Szczecin Philharmonic]]
and many historic places as:
* [[Szczecin Bismarck tower|Bismarck tower Szczecin]]
* (ruins of) The Quistorp's Tower (Polish ''Wieża Quistorpa'')
* [[Napoleon]] mound (at the intersection of Klonowica Street and Unii Lubelskiej Street)
The statue, [[Monument of Sailor]] stands at the Grunwald Square at [[John Paul II Avenue, Szczecin|John Paul II Avenue]].
== Local cuisine ==
[[File:1104 Pasztecik Szczeciński.JPG|thumb|''Pasztecik szczeciński'' with clear borscht, a local fast food]]
The local cuisine in Szczecin was mostly shaped in the mid-20th century by people who settled in the city from other parts and regions of Poland, including the former [[Eastern Borderlands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://szczecin.eska.pl/poznaj-miasto/czym-wyroznia-sie-kuchnia-szczecinska-czy-znasz-te-przysmaki-top-9-galeria/150066|title=Czym wyróżnia się kuchnia szczecińska? Czy znasz te przysmaki? [TOP 9, GALERIA] - szczecin.eskainfo.pl|access-date=24 March 2018|archive-date=9 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609192805/http://szczecin.eska.pl/poznaj-miasto/czym-wyroznia-sie-kuchnia-szczecinska-czy-znasz-te-przysmaki-top-9-galeria/150066|url-status=dead}}</ref> The most renowned dishes of the area are ''[[Szczecin pasztecik|pasztecik szczeciński]]'' and ''[[Szczecin paprikash|paprykarz szczeciński]]''.<ref name="info-migrator.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.szczecin.info-migrator.pl/informacje-o-miescie-szczecinie/kuchnia-szczecinska|title=Kuchnia szczecińska - Info Migrator Szczecin|access-date=24 March 2018|archive-date=24 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101805/http://www.szczecin.info-migrator.pl/informacje-o-miescie-szczecinie/kuchnia-szczecinska|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other local [[traditional food]]s and drinks include Szczecin gingerbread and beer.
''[[Szczecin pasztecik|Pasztecik szczeciński]]'' is a deep-fried yeast dough traditionally stuffed with minced meat (pork and beef) or vegetarian filling - cheese and mushrooms or cabbage and mushrooms, served in specialised bars as a fast food. The first bar serving ''pasztecik szczeciński'', Bar "Pasztecik", founded in 1969, is located on Wojska Polskiego Avenue 46 in the centre of Szczecin. ''Pasztecik szczeciński'' is usually served with clear red [[borscht]].<ref name="info-migrator.pl"/>
''[[Szczecin paprikash|Paprykarz szczeciński]]'' is a paste made by mixing [[fish paste]] (around 50%) with [[rice]], [[onion]], [[tomato]] concentrate, vegetable oil, [[salt]] and a mixture of spices including [[chili powder]] to put it on a sandwich. It is available in most grocery stores in the country.<ref name="info-migrator.pl"/>
[[File:Pierniki Szczecinskie (Poznan Smaki Regionów 2017).jpg|thumb|Szczecin gingerbread]]
Szczecin gingerbread (''pierniki szczecińskie'') is a traditional local [[gingerbread]] glazed with [[chocolate]] or [[sugar]] with decorations mostly referring either to the city's architecture or to maritime motifs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/pierniki-szczecinskie|title=Pierniki szczecińskie|website=Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi - Portal Gov.pl|access-date=15 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref>
Szczecin beer (''piwo szczecińskie'') includes various types of traditional local [[Beer in Poland|Polish beer]]: [[Light beer|light]], amber, and [[wheat beer]].<ref name=ps>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/piwo-szczecinskie|title=Piwo szczecińskie|website=Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi - Portal Gov.pl|access-date=15 May 2021|language=pl}}</ref> The city's brewing traditions go back over a thousand years.<ref name=ps/>
The word "''szczeciński''" or "''szczecińskie''" in the names of the products is an adjective from the name of the city of Szczecin, the place of its origin.
== Sports ==
[[File:Szczecin Stadion Miejski dron (1).jpg|thumb|Stadium of Pogoń Szczecin]]
[[File:Arena Azoty Szczecin (cropped).jpg|thumb|Netto Arena]]
[[File:POL Szczecin-MSLWM(wgł).jpg|thumb|Athletics stadium]]
There are many popular [[professional sports]] teams in Szczecin area. The most popular sport today is probably [[Association football|football]] thanks to [[Pogoń Szczecin]]. [[Amateur sports]] are played by thousands of Szczecin citizens and also in schools of all levels (elementary, secondary, university).
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
|+ Professional sports teams
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Trophies
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin]]
|Football (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|0
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin (women)|Pogoń Szczecin]]
|Football (women's)
|[[Ekstraliga (women's football)|Ekstraliga]]
|1 Polish Championship ([[2023–24 Ekstraliga Kobiet|2024]])
|-
|[[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]]
|[[Basketball]] (men's)
|[[Polish Basketball League]]
|1 Polish Championship ([[2022–23 PLK season|2023]])
|-
|[[Świt Szczecin]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin (women's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]]
|[[Handball]] (women's)
|Liga Centralna
|3 Polish Championships (1983, 1986, 1991)<br>4 Polish Cups (1971, 1980, 1986, 1992)
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin (men's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]]
|[[Handball]] (men's)
|Liga Centralna
|0
|}
Other notable teams:
*[[Arkonia Szczecin]] – football team, which competes in the lower divisions, but played in the top division in the past, and one of the most successful Polish [[water polo]] clubs
*KS Stal Szczecin – 15 youth and junior teams, 1{{nbsp}}senior, being in 4th regional league in the 2008/2009 season
*KS Piast Szczecin – women's volleyball team, (Seria{{nbsp}}A in the 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 seasons)
*[[Łącznościowiec Szczecin]] - women's handball team
*OSoT Szczecin - trains Polish and foreign [[pole vault|pole jumpers]]
*SEJK Pogoń Szczecin - [[sailing]] team
*Wicher Warszewo – futsal team playing in Środowiskowa Liga Futsalu (Futsal League){{snds}}two regional Futsal League: 2nd place in 2006/2007 season{{snds}}promotion in the first regional Futsal League
*Husaria Szczecin – A karate kyoukishin and diving sports club
*Szczecin Dukes – senior [[baseball]] team
As can be seen above, many teams in Szczecin are named after [[Pogoń Lwów (1904)|Pogoń Lwów]], a team from the [[Eastern Borderlands]].
=== Amateur leagues ===
*Halowa Amatorska Liga Pilkarska – Hall Amateur Football League<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.halp.com.pl/|title=HALP Szczecin|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201152137/http://www.halp.com.pl/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Halowa Liga Pilki Noznej – Hall Football League
*Szczecinska Liga Amatorskiej Koszykowki – Szczecin Amateur Basketball League<ref>[http://www.infoludek.pl/slak infoludek.pl/slak] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623211410/http://www.infoludek.pl/slak |date=23 June 2004 }}</ref>
*Szczecinska Amatorska Liga Pilki Siatkowej – Szczecin Amateur Volleyball League<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salps.home.pl/|title=salps.home.pl|work=home.pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028002758/http://www.salps.home.pl/|archive-date=28 October 2007}}</ref> – women league, 1st, 2nd and 3rd men league
*Elita Professional Sport – Elita Hall Football League<ref>[http://www.futsal.szczecina.pl/ futsal.szczecina.pl] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210193823/https://www.futsal.szczecina.pl/ |date=10 February 2008 }}</ref> – 1st and 2nd league, futsal cup
*Kaskada Szczecin Rugby Club – club rugby<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaskada.szczecin.pl/|title=Drewno najlepszy naturalny surowiec|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929184118/http://www.kaskada.szczecin.pl/|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> – 7 and 15 league, rugby cup
==== Cyclic events ====
Every year in September the men's tennis tournament [[Pekao Szczecin Open]] is held in Szczecin. In August, a marathon is organized in Szczecin.
== Economy and transport ==
[[File:Port Szczecin rejon przeladunkow drobnicowych.jpg|thumb|[[Port of Szczecin]]]]
[[File:Moderus Beta MF 29 AC BD 622, tram line 7, Szczecin, 2021.jpg|thumb|[[Moderus Beta]] tram, in the city's green and white [[livery]]]]
[[File:S3 Goleniow.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Expressway S3 (Poland)|S3 Expressway]] links Szczecin with its airport (at [[Goleniów]]) and Baltic ferry terminal (in [[Świnoujście]]), as well as with the major cities of Western Poland to the south – [[Gorzów Wielkopolski]] and [[Zielona Góra]].]]
=== Economy ===
Szczecin is a center of the maritime economy; it employs 13279 people. The [[Port of Szczecin|seaport of Szczecin]] serves shipowners from all over the world and is the home port of two shipping companies: [[Polsteam]] and Euroafrica. In addition, other maritime-related companies are headquartered here.
In 2013, a subzone of the Szczecin-Kostrzyn-Slubice Special Economic Zone was established.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 13 sierpnia 2013 r. zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie kostrzyńsko-słubickiej specjalnej strefy ekonomicznej |url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20130001095 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>
As of September 2016, the number of registered unemployed in Szczecin included about 8,400 residents, representing an unemployment rate of 5.0% to the economically active population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Liczba bezrobotnych zarejestrowanych oraz stopa bezrobocia według województw, podregionów i powiatów. Stan w końcu września 2016 r. |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/rynek-pracy/bezrobocie-rejestrowane/liczba-bezrobotnych-zarejestrowanych-oraz-stopa-bezrobocia-wedlug-wojewodztw-podregionow-i-powiatow-stan-w-koncu-wrzesnia-2016-r-,2,50.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
The average employee salary in October 2012 was PLN 3807.73, with the number of employed workers in Szczecin - 90,754 people. According to data from the District Labor Office in Szczecin, effective 1 January 2023, the minimum wage is PLN 3490, while the average salary of residents of the capital of West Pomerania is at PLN 6733.49.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Praca Szczecin - oferty pracy w Szczecinie |url=https://www.praca.pl/szczecin.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Portal Praca.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
In 2009, the average gross monthly salary in the enterprise sector in Szczecin was PLN 3439.94.
Szczecin's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] is PLN 20.255 billion, which is 1/3 of the GDP of the entire province. There are 49497 zlotys per capita, about 40% more than the result for the province.
=== Air ===
Szczecin is served by [[Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]], which is {{convert|47|km|0|abbr=off}} northeast of central Szczecin. There is also a grass airstrip within city limits, the [[Szczecin-Dąbie Airstrip]].
=== Trams ===
{{Main|Trams in Szczecin}}
Szczecin has a tram network comprising 12 tram lines serving 95 tram stops and measuring {{convert|110.77|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length. Tram transport is operated by the [[Tramwaje Szczecińskie]] (TS).
Szczecin's first horse tram opened in 1879, running from Gałczyńskiego Square to Staszica Street. In 1896, the first line using electric traction was opened. By 1900, the horse trams had been entirely replaced by electric trams.
==
{{Main|Bus transport in Szczecin}}
Szczecin has a bus network of 70 bus routes. Bus transport is operated by 4{{nbsp}}companies: SPA Dąbie, SPA Klonowica, SPPK and [[Państwowa Komunikacja Samochodowa|PKS]] Szczecin.
Of all bus routes, 50 lines are designated as normal. At nighttime, Szczecin is served by a night bus network of 16 routes. There are also 7{{nbsp}}express bus lines, which do not serve all stops on their route.
==
The recently upgraded [[A6 autostrada (Poland)|A6]] motorway serves as the southern bypass of the city, and connects to the German [[Bundesautobahn 11|A11]] autobahn (portions of which are currently undergoing upgrade), from where one can reach Berlin in about 90 minutes (about {{convert|150|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}). Other important highways are the [[Expressway S3 (Poland)|S3 Expressway]], linking Szczecin with the more southern cities of [[Gorzów Wielkopolski]], [[Zielona Góra]] and [[Legnica]], and the [[Expressway S6 (Poland)|S6 Expressway]], connecting Szczecin with [[Koszalin]] (and eventually [[Gdańsk]] once the easternmost section is completed). Through intersections with other highways, Szczecin has convenient highway connections with a number of other major Polish cities, such as [[Poznań]], [[Łódź]], [[Wrocław]], [[Katowice]], [[Warsaw]] and [[Kraków]]. Also planned is the construction of the [[Expressway S10 (Poland)|S10]] highway to connect the city with [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Toruń]], [[Płock]] and Warsaw.
===
[[
The main railway station{{snds}}[[Szczecin Główny railway station]]{{snds}}is situated in the city centre (Kolumba Street). Szczecin has good railway connections with [["Solidarity" Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]] and the rest of Poland, e.g., [[Świnoujście]], [[Kołobrzeg]], [[Poznań]], [[Wrocław]], [[Warsaw]] and [[Gdańsk]]. Szczecin is also connected with Germany ([[Berlin]] ([[Berlin-Gesundbrunnen station|Gesundbrunnen]]) and through [[Pasewalk]] to [[Neubrandenburg]] and [[Lübeck]]), but only by two single-track, non-electrified lines. Because of this, the [[Berlin-Szczecin railway|rail connection between Berlin and Szczecin]] is much slower and less convenient than what is typical for two European cities of that size and proximity.
=== Port ===
The [[Port of Szczecin]] is the third largest port in Poland and handles over 32{{nbsp}}million tons of cargo annually.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://port.szczecin.pl/en/ports/history-of-ports/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Port Szczecin|title=History of ports}}</ref> This is a harbour of the [[Baltic Sea]] and the [[Oder]] river.
== Education and science ==
[[File:Szczecin pomnik Jana Czekanowskiego.jpg|thumb|The monument of [[Jan Czekanowski]], president of [[Polish Copernicus Society of Naturalists]] (1923–1924), at the General Władysław Anders Square]]
* [[University of Szczecin]] (Polish: ''Uniwersytet Szczeciński''), with 35,000 students; rector: [[Waldemar Tarczyński]]
* [[West Pomeranian University of Technology]] ({{langx|pl|Zachodniopomorski Uniwersytet Technologiczny}})
* [[Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin|Pomeranian Medical University]] (Polish: ''Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny'')
* [[Art Academy of Szczecin]] (Polish: ''Akademia Sztuki'')
* [[Maritime University of Szczecin]] (Polish: ''Akademia Morska w Szczecinie'')
* [[WSB Merito Universities]] – WSB Merito University in Poznań,<ref>[http://www.wsb.pl/english/about-wsb-group/wsb-poznan WSB University in Poznań] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301124949/http://www.wsb.pl/english/about-wsb-group/wsb-poznan |date=1 March 2016 }} – WSB Universities</ref> departments of Economics
* The West Pomeranian Business School (Polish: ''Zachodniopomorska Szkoła Biznesu'')
* Higher School of Public Administration in Szczecin (Polish: ''Wyższa Szkoła Administracji Publicznej w Szczecinie'')
* High Theological Seminary in Szczecin (Polish: ''Arcybiskupie Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Szczecinie'')
* Higher School of Applied Arts (Polish: ''Wyższa Szkoła Sztuki Użytkowej'')
* Academy of European Integration (Polish: ''Wyższa Szkoła Integracji Europejskiej'')
*''Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczno-Turystyczna''
*''Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna'' TWP
*''Wyższa Szkoła Języków Obcych''
*''Wyższa Szkoła Techniczno-Ekonomiczna''
*''Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa'' - Collegium Balticum
*''Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa'' "OECONOMICUS" PTE
*''Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania''
*[[Bangor University]]
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Universities in Szczecin">
File:Szczecin akademia medyczna.jpg|[[Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin|Pomeranian Medical University]]
File:37 Sikorskiego Street in Szczecin, 2022.jpg|[[West Pomeranian University of Technology]]
File:Szczecin Akademia Morska dron (1).jpg|[[Maritime University of Szczecin]]
File:Faculty of Humanities, University od Szczecin, Piastów Avenue, January 2023.jpg|[[University of Szczecin]], Faculty of Humanities
</gallery>
=== Scientific and regional organisations ===
*Western Pomeranian Institute (Polish: ''Instytut Zachodnio-Pomorski'')
*[[Szczecin Scientific Society]] (Polish: ''Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Naukowe'')
*local branches of Polish scientific societies in many disciplines, including [[Polish Philosophical Society]], [[Polish Historical Society]], Polish Philological Society, [[Polish Mathematical Society]], Polish Economic Society, Polish Geographical Society, [[Polish Copernicus Society of Naturalists]], Polish Phytopathological Society, Polish Parasitological Society and many medical societies
*local branches of students' societies, e.g., [[AIESEC]], [[International Federation of Medical Students' Associations]] (IFMSA) and Polish Association of Dental Students
== Famous people ==
[[File:Katharina-II-von-Russland.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Catherine the Great was born in the city.]]
{{Main|List of people of Szczecin}}
Over the long course of its history Szczecin has been a place of birth and of residence for many famous individuals, including Empress [[Catherine the Great]] of Russia, composer [[Carl Loewe]], writer [[Alfred Döblin]], actress [[Dita Parlo]], mathematician [[Hermann Günther Grassmann]], Roman Catholic priest [[Carl Lampert]], poet [[Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński]], [[Helena Majdaniec]] – "the queen of Polish [[Twist (dance)|Twist]]", and singer [[Violetta Villas]].
==International relations==
===Consulates===
{{multiple image|align=right|caption_align=center|perrow=2|total_width=330
| image1 = Szczecin al Wojska Polskiego 65 willa.jpg
| image2 = 23 Rayskiego Street in Szczecin, July 2023 10.jpg
| footer = Honorary consulates of Italy and Lithuania}}
There are 15 honorary consulates in Szczecin, of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Cyprus]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Lithuania]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Moldova]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/dyplomacja/misje-dyplomatyczne-urzedy-konsularne-i-organizacje-miedzynarodowe-w-polsce|title=Misje dyplomatyczne, urzędy konsularne i organizacje międzynarodowe w Polsce|website=Portal Gov.pl|language=pl|access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}
Szczecin is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Miasta partnerskie Miasta Szczecin|url=https://bip.um.szczecin.pl/chapter_11296.asp|website=szczecin.pl|publisher=Szczecin|language=pl|access-date=2023-01-14}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Bari]], Italy
*[[Bremerhaven]], Germany
*[[Dnipro]], Ukraine
*[[Esbjerg Municipality|Esbjerg]], Denmark
*[[Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg|Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (Berlin)]], Germany
*[[Greifswald]], Germany
<!--Jinan - friendship, not twinning-->
*[[Kingston upon Hull]], United Kingdom
*[[Klaipėda]], Lithuania
<!--Lübeck - friendship, not twinning-->
*[[Malmö Municipality|Malmö]], Sweden
*[[Rostock]], Germany
*[[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], United States
{{div col end}}
== See also ==
{{Portal|Poland|European Union}}
* Towns near Szczecin: [[Stargard]], [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]], [[Gryfino]], [[Goleniów]], [[Pyrzyce]], [[Cedynia]], [[Chojna]], [[Mieszkowice]], [[Moryń]], [[Trzcińsko-Zdrój]], [[Nowe Warpno]], [[Penkun]] (Germany), [[Pasewalk]] (Germany), [[Eggesin]] (Germany), [[Gartz]] (Germany)
* Villages near Szczecin: [[Kołbacz|Kolbacz]], [[Przęsocin]], [[Kołbaskowo]]
*[[Szczecin Lagoon]]
*[[Międzyodrze-Wyspa Pucka]]
*[[Ueckermünder Heide|Wkrzanska Forest]]
*[[Central Cemetery in Szczecin]]
*[[Ostrów Grabowski]], an [[Oder]] river island in Szczecin
*[[Bystry Rów]], a stream in [[Niebuszewo]]
*[[Gacek]], a popular cat from Szczecin
==
{{notelist}}
==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Bibliography ==
{{See also|Timeline of Szczecin#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Szczecin}}
* ''Encyclopedia of Szczecin''. Vol. I, A–O. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1999. {{ISBN|83-87341-45-2}} (pl).
* ''Encyclopedia of Szczecin''. Vol. II, P–Ż. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 2000. {{ISBN|83-7241-089-5}} (pl).
* Jan M. Piskorski, Bogdan Wachowiak, Edward Włodarczyk, ''A short history of Szczecin'', Poznań, 2002. {{ISBN|83-7063-332-3}} (pl).
* [[Francis Loraine Petre|Petre, F. Loraine]]. ''Napoleon's Conquest of Prussia 1806''. London: Lionel Leventhal Ltd., 1993 (1907). {{ISBN|1-85367-145-2}}.
* {{in lang|de}} Jan Musekamp: ''Zwischen Stettin und Szczecin{{snds}}Metamorphosen einer Stadt von 1945 bis 2001'' (Between Stettin and Szczecin{{snds}}a town's metamorphoses from 1945 to 2005). Wiesbaden, 2010 ([https://books.google.com/books?id=Tey6mM1RCs0C&pg=PR1 restricted online preview]), there is also a Polish edition ''Między Stettinem a Szczecinem. Metamorfoza miasta od 1945 do 2005''.
* {{in lang|de}} Martin Wehrmann: ''Geschichte der Stadt Stettin''. Stettin, 1911 (reprinted in 1993 by Weltbild Verlag, Augsburg. {{ISBN|3-89350-119-3}}).
* {{in lang|de}} W. H. Meyer: ''Stettin in alter und neuer Zeit'' (Stettin in ancient and modern times). Stettin, 1887.
* {{in lang|de}} Gustav Kratz: ''Die Städte der Provinz Pommern{{snds}}Abriss ihrer Geschichte, zumeist nach Urkunden'' (The towns of the Province of Pomerania{{snds}}Sketch of their history, mostly according to historical records). Berlin, 1865 (reprinted in 2010 by [[Kessinger Publishing]], U.S.A., {{ISBN|1-161-12969-3}}), pp.{{nbsp}}376–412 ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_g2sRAAAAYAAJ/page/n470 <!-- pg=376 --> online]).
* {{in lang|de}} Fr. Thiede: ''Chronik der Stadt Stettin{{snds}}Bearbeitet nach Urkunden und bewährtesten historischen Nachrichten'' (Chronicle of the town of Stettin{{snds}}Worked out according to documents and reliable historical records). Stettin, 1849 ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_E_wAAAAAcAAJ online]).
== External links ==
{{Commons|Szczecin}}
{{Wikivoyage inline|Szczecin}}
*[http://www.szczecin.eu/ Szczecin City Official website (in Polish, some material available in English, German)]
*[https://tripycal.com/posts/Mesmering-Szczecin-One-day-city-exploring-651471fa70e1f6e7669f5f81 Mesmering Szczecin. One day city exploring]
*[https://polnische-ostsee-urlaub.de/stettin/ Szczecin Info Page in German]
{{Principal cities of Poland}}
{{West Pomeranian Voivodeship|state=autocollapse}}
{{Pomerania}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Szczecin| ]]<!--leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Poland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea]]
[[Category:City counties of Poland]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]
[[Category:Members of the Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:Magdeburg rights]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 8th century]]
[[Category:Populated riverside places in Poland]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
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