West
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship or West
Pomerania
Pomerania Province[1] (in Polish,
województwo zachodniopomorskie
[vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ zaˈxɔdɲɔ pɔˈmɔrskʲɛ]), is a
voivodeship (province) in northwestern Poland. It borders on
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship to the east, Greater
Poland
Poland Voivodeship to the
southeast,
Lubusz Voivodeship
Lubusz Voivodeship to the south, the German federal-states
of Mecklenburg-West
Pomerania
Pomerania and
Brandenburg
Brandenburg to the west, and the
Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea to the north. Its capital and largest city is Szczecin.
It was established on January 1, 1999, out of the former
Szczecin
Szczecin and
Koszalin
Koszalin Voivodeships and parts of other neighboring voivodeships,
pursuant to the
Polish local government reforms
Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. It is
named for the historical region of
Pomerania
Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze). In
spite of the name ("West Pomeranian"), the voivodeship does not
include the most westerly parts of historical Pomerania, which lie in
Germany's
Vorpommern
Vorpommern (see Western Pomerania).
The name "Pomerania" comes from the Slavic "po more", meaning "Land by
the Sea".[2]
Contents
1 Geography and tourism
2 Cities and towns
3 Administrative division
4 Protected areas
5 Demography
6 Education and science
7 Industrial, science and technology parks
8 Transportation
9 Gallery
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
Geography and tourism[edit]
Viking Festival in Wolin
Church of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the World, in Stargard
West
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship is the fifth largest voivodeship of Poland
in terms of area. Among the largest cities, of the region, are the
capital Szczecin, as well as Koszalin, Stargard, and Świnoujście.
This is a picturesque region of the
Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea coast, with many
beaches, lakes and woodlands. Szczecin,
Świnoujście
Świnoujście and Police are
important ports. Other major seaside towns include Międzyzdroje,
Dziwnów, Kołobrzeg, and Mielno.
West
Pomerania
Pomerania is considered one of the greenest regions of Poland,
and one of the most attractive for tourists. It is characterized by
incredible diversity of the landscape: beaches, hundreds of lakes, and
forests full of wildlife (e.g. Wkrzanska Forest), spreading mainly up
the hills of the glacial lakes areas. West
Pomerania
Pomerania is also rich in
various forms and styles of architecture that were built during the
Middle Ages as well as the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance periods.
There is a diverse repertoire of theaters, festivals, museums and
galleries. During a few-day long annual Sea Festival in Szczecin, a
number of free open-air concerts take place. In
Świnoujście
Świnoujście during
the summer, the
FAMA
.jpg/440px-FAMA_2_(cropped).jpg)
FAMA Academic Youth Arts Festival takes place – an
event with several years of tradition, which attracts not only young
people but also older alumni. In Międzyzdroje, there is a Festival Of
The Stars, which draws many popular actors. In Wolin, a Viking
Festival takes place, which draws "Vikings" from all across Europe.
Another draw to the area is a wide array of health resorts.
Brine
Brine and
peloid, discovered in the 19th century, together with geothermal water
resources, are popular attractions in Świnoujście, Kamień Pomorski
and Połczyn Zdrój.
Cities and towns[edit]
Oder River
Oder River in Szczecin
Gothic town hall, Chojna, built by Germans in 1320, when the town was
known as Königsberg in der Neumark
City Hall, Koszalin
Park, Połczyn-Zdrój
Ship in harbour, Świnoujście
Town Hall, Nowe Warpno
Oder River
Oder River in Police
Drawa National Park
Dendrological Garden, Przelewice
The voivodeship contains 64 cities and towns. These are listed below
in descending order of population (according to official figures for
2006[3]):
Szczecin
Szczecin (410,809)
Koszalin
Koszalin (107,783)
Stargard
Stargard (70,534)
Kołobrzeg
_by_Klugschnacker_in_Wikipedia.jpg/440px-Kołobrzeg,_Marienkirche,_l_(2011-07-26)_by_Klugschnacker_in_Wikipedia.jpg)
Kołobrzeg (44,794)
Świnoujście
Świnoujście (40,899)
Szczecinek
Szczecinek (38,756)
Police (34,284)
Wałcz
Wałcz (26,140)
Białogard
Białogard (24,339)
Goleniów
Goleniów (22,448)
Gryfino
Gryfino (21,478)
Nowogard
Nowogard (16,745)
Gryfice
Gryfice (16,702)
Choszczno
Choszczno (15,753)
Świdwin
Świdwin (15,637)
Darłowo
.jpg/532px-Darlowo_rynek_(1).jpg)
Darłowo (14,380)
Barlinek
.jpg/500px-BARLINEK_-_panoramio_(9).jpg)
Barlinek (14,156)
Dębno
Dębno (13,903)
Złocieniec
Złocieniec (13,377)
Sławno
Sławno (13,314)
Pyrzyce
Pyrzyce (12,642)
Myślibórz
Myślibórz (11,867)
Drawsko Pomorskie
Drawsko Pomorskie (11,465)
Łobez
Łobez (10,617)
Trzebiatów
Trzebiatów (10,113)
Kamień Pomorski
Kamień Pomorski (9,134)
Połczyn-Zdrój
Połczyn-Zdrój (8,572)
Chojna
Chojna (7,187)
Czaplinek
.jpg/500px-Czaplinek_rynek_(1).jpg)
Czaplinek (6,933)
Sianów
Sianów (6,543)
Karlino
Karlino (5,794)
Międzyzdroje
Międzyzdroje (5,436)
Wolin (4,878)
Bobolice
Bobolice (4,446)
Resko
Resko (4,377)
Borne Sulinowo
Borne Sulinowo (4,224)
Płoty
Płoty (4,142)
Lipiany
Lipiany (4,124)
Kalisz Pomorski
Kalisz Pomorski (3,989)
Barwice
Barwice (3,838)
Mieszkowice
.jpg/500px-Mieszkowice_-_panoramio_(10).jpg)
Mieszkowice (3,553)
Chociwel
Chociwel (3,285)
Maszewo
Maszewo (3,073)
Węgorzyno
.jpg/500px-Wegorzyno_kosciol_(1).jpg)
Węgorzyno (3,011)
Recz
Recz (2,995)
Polanów
Polanów (2,967)
Dziwnów
Dziwnów (2,949)
Golczewo
Golczewo (2,724)
Pełczyce
Pełczyce (2,698)
Mirosławiec
Mirosławiec (2,633)
Tychowo
Tychowo (c. 2,500)
Trzcińsko-Zdrój
.jpg/500px-Trzcińsko_Zdrój_-_panoramio_(1).jpg)
Trzcińsko-Zdrój (2,496)
Gościno
Gościno (2,430)
Dobrzany
Dobrzany (2,420)
Drawno
Drawno (2,399)
Człopa
Człopa (2,390)
Biały Bór
Biały Bór (2,127)
Dobra (2,028)
Ińsko
Ińsko (2,001)
Tuczno
Tuczno (1,965)
Cedynia
Cedynia (1,653)
Moryń
Moryń (1,570)
Suchań
Suchań (1,446)
Nowe Warpno
Nowe Warpno (1,170)
Międzywodzie
Międzywodzie (1,000)
The Polish districts of the historical region Western
Pomerania
Pomerania (the 3
westernmost districts of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship) had a
population of about 520,000 in 2012 (cities of Szczecin, Świnoujście
and
Police County
Police County combined) – while the German districts had a
population of about 470,000 in 2012 (
Vorpommern-Rügen
Vorpommern-Rügen and
Vorpommern-Greifswald
Vorpommern-Greifswald combined). So overall, about 1 million people
live in the historical region of Western
Pomerania
Pomerania today, while the
Szczecin
Szczecin agglomeration reaches even further.
Administrative division[edit]
West
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 21 counties (powiats): 3
city counties and 18 land counties. These are further divided into 114
gminas.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within
categories is by decreasing population in 2014) [4]):
English and
Polish names
Area
(km²)
Population
(2006)
Seat
Other towns
Total
gminas
City counties
Szczecin
301
407,180
1
Koszalin
84
107,783
1
Świnoujście
197
41,276
1
Land counties
Stargard
Stargard County
powiat stargardzki
1,520
120,593
Stargard
Chociwel, Dobrzany, Ińsko, Suchań
10
Gryfino
Gryfino County
powiat gryfiński
1,870
83,688
Gryfino
Chojna, Mieszkowice, Trzcińsko-Zdrój, Cedynia, Moryń
9
Goleniów
Goleniów County
powiat goleniowski
1,617
82,507
Goleniów
Nowogard, Maszewo
6
Szczecinek
Szczecinek County
powiat szczecinecki
1,765
78,858
Szczecinek
Borne Sulinowo, Barwice, Biały Bór
6
Kołobrzeg
Kołobrzeg County
powiat kołobrzeski
726
79,567
Kołobrzeg
Gościno
7
Police County
powiat policki
664
75,386
Police
Nowe Warpno
4
Myślibórz
Myślibórz County
powiat myśliborski
1,182
67,417
Myślibórz
Barlinek, Dębno
5
Koszalin
Koszalin County
powiat koszaliński
1,669
65,962
Koszalin
Koszalin *
Sianów, Bobolice, Polanów
8
Gryfice
Gryfice County
powiat gryficki
1,018
61,517
Gryfice
Trzebiatów, Płoty
6
Drawsko County
powiat drawski
1,764
58,073
Drawsko Pomorskie
Złocieniec, Czaplinek, Kalisz Pomorski
6
Sławno
Sławno County
powiat sławieński
1,044
57,489
Sławno
Darłowo
6
Wałcz
Wałcz County
powiat wałecki
1,415
54,348
Wałcz
Mirosławiec, Człopa, Tuczno
5
Choszczno
Choszczno County
powiat choszczeński
1,328
49,709
Choszczno
Recz, Pełczyce, Drawno
6
Białogard
Białogard County
powiat białogardzki
845
48,679
Białogard
Karlino, Tychowo
4
Świdwin
Świdwin County
powiat świdwiński
1,093
48,343
Świdwin
Połczyn-Zdrój
6
Kamień County
powiat kamieński
1,007
47,751
Kamień Pomorski
Międzyzdroje, Wolin, Dziwnów, Golczewo
6
Pyrzyce
Pyrzyce County
powiat pyrzycki
726
40,488
Pyrzyce
Lipiany
6
Łobez
Łobez County
powiat łobeski
1,066
37,804
Łobez
Resko, Węgorzyno, Dobra
5
NOTE: * seat not part of the county
Protected areas[edit]
Wolin National Park
Protected areas in West
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship include two National
Parks and seven Landscape Parks. These are listed below.
Drawno
Drawno
National Park
National Park (partly in Lubusz and Greater Poland
Voivodeships)
Wolin National Park
Barlinek-Gorzów Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)
Cedynia
Cedynia Landscape Park
Drawsko Landscape Park
Ińsko
Ińsko Landscape Park
Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park
Szczecin
Szczecin Landscape Park
Ujście Warty Landscape Park
Ujście Warty Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)
Demography[edit]
Until 1945 the region was part of Germany. After
World War II
World War II the
region was placed under Polish administration by the Potsdam Agreement
under territorial changes demanded by the Soviet Union. Most Germans
fled or were expelled and replaced with Poles, some of whom were
expelled from the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union.
In 1948 67 percent of the populace originated from Central Poland,
Greater
Poland
Poland and
Pomeralia
Pomeralia while 25 percent came from the Polish
areas annexed by the Soviet Union. Another 6 percent returned to
Poland
Poland from Western Europe. About 50,000
Ukrainians
Ukrainians were forcefully
resettled to West
Pomerania
Pomerania in the
Operation Vistula
Operation Vistula in 1947.[5]
Education and science[edit]
Pomeranian Medical University
Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
University of
Szczecin
Szczecin (Polish Uniwersytet Szczeciński) with 35,000
students
Technical University in
Koszalin
Koszalin with 14,000 students (Politechnika
Koszalińska)
West Pomeranian University of Technology
West Pomeranian University of Technology in
Szczecin
Szczecin with 15,300
students (Zachodniopomorski Uniwersytet Technologiczny), formed as a
result of merger of
Szczecin
Szczecin University of Technology (Politechnika
Szczecińska) and University of Agriculture in
Szczecin
Szczecin (Akademia
Rolnicza w Szczecinie)
Pomeranian Medical University
Pomeranian Medical University with 4,000 students (Pomorski
Uniwersytet Medyczny)
The
Szczecin
Szczecin Academy of Arts (Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie)
Maritime University of
Szczecin
Szczecin (Akademia Morska w Szczecinie)
The West Pomeranian Business School with 3,000 students
(Zachodniopomorska Szkoła Biznesu)
Szczeciński Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (science park in Szczecin)
Industrial, science and technology parks[edit]
Goleniowski Park Przemysłowy (industrial park in Goleniów)
Infrapark Police (industrial park in Police, Poland)
Stargardzki Park Przemysłowy (industrial park in Stargard
Szczeciński)
Szczeciński Park Naukowo-Technologiczny (science park in Szczecin)
Transportation[edit]
There are two main international road routes that pass through the
voivodship:
National road 3 (Poland)
National road 3 (Poland) Świnoujście-Szczecin-Gorzów
Wielkopolski-Zielona Góra-Legnica-Czech border (part of European
route E65 from Swedish
Malmö
Malmö to
Chaniá
Chaniá in Greece) and National road
6 (Poland) Szczecin-Koszalin-Słupsk-Gdańsk (part of European route
E28 from
Berlin
Berlin to Minsk). Most of the National road 3 in the
voivodship is in a standard of an expressway (Expressway S3 (Poland)).
The National road 6 between German border and Rzęśnica is in the
standard of autostrada (A6 autostrada (Poland)), whereas part between
Rzęścnica and
Goleniów
Goleniów and bypasses of
Goleniów
Goleniów and
Nowogard
Nowogard are
in standards of an expressway (Expressway S6 (Poland)). Other
important national roads are National road 10 (Poland) (German
border-Szczecin-Piła-Bydgoscz-Toruń-Płońsk) and National road 11
(Poland) (Kołobrzeg-Koszalin-Piła-Poznań-Bytom). Apart from the
above, some other national roads are located in the voivodship. The
voivodship possesses also a well-developed network of regional roads.
Main railways in the province are line no. 351 Szczecin-Poznań, line
no. 273 Szczecin-Wrocław (so-called “Odra railway”), line no. 202
Stargard-Gdańsk, line no. 401 Szczecin-
Świnoujście
Świnoujście and line no. 404
Kołobrzeg-Szczecinek. The main railway stations of the province are
Szczecin
Szczecin main station,
Stargard
Stargard and Koszalin. The stations are served
by fast
PKP Intercity
PKP Intercity trains which connect them with the capital
Warsaw, as well as other major Polish cities. In addition to these
fast express services, inter-regional trains and intra-regional trains
are operated by the firm Przewozy Regionalne.
Szczecin
Szczecin main station
possesses international train connections with Berlin,
Schwerin
Schwerin and
Lübeck
Lübeck (operated by DB Regio).
Świnoujście
Świnoujście has a direct train
connection with Stralsund, which is operated by Usedomer Bäderbahn.
The only domestic and international airport in West Pomeranian
Voivodeship is Szczecin-
Goleniów
Goleniów "Solidarność" Airport. Also, part
of the runway of an abandoned airport in
Bagicz
Bagicz (near Kołobrzeg) was
converted to an airport licensed to service planes carrying not more
than 20 passengers on board.
Gallery[edit]
Tychowo
Tychowo Parish
Plaque commemorating the battle of the Pomeranian Wall
Church in Spore, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Czaplinek
Czaplinek was once settled by Templars
Jarosławiec (West Province)
St. Roch's Church in Roscin, Mysliborz county
Krąg-Buszyno station ruins
Tumby relics
The historic cemetery crosses at Przyborze
Lapidarium with remains of an old German cemetery in Motaniec, Poland
Square in Kobylanka (West Pomeranian Province)
Ruins of the church in Trzęsacz
Szczecin
Szczecin - Wały Chrobrego
Gosań cliff, Wolin National Park
Lighthouse in Kołobrzeg
Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Darłowo
Dendrological Garden in Przelewice
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Kamień Pomorski
Wind turbines in Cisowo
Lake Ostrowiec
Borne Sulinowo
See also[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
Pomeranian (other)
Dukes of Pomerania
History of Pomerania
Prussia's
Province of Pomerania
Province of
Pomerania
Pomerania (1653-1815)
References[edit]
^ Arkadiusz Belczyk, Tłumaczenie polskich nazw geograficznych na
język angielski [Translation of Polish Geographical Names into
English], 2002-2006.
^ Der Name Pommern (po more) ist slawischer Herkunft und bedeutet so
viel wie „Land am Meer“. (German: Pommersches Landesmuseum)
^ "Błąd 404. Strona o podanym adresie nie istnieje" (in Polish).
Stat.gov.pl. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
^ "Ludność, ruch naturalny i migracje w województwie
zachodniopomorskim w 2014 r" (in Polish). Urząd Statystyczny w
Szczecinie. 2014. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
^ Alina Hutnikiewicz: "Proces Osadnictwa na Pomorzu Zachodnim po 1945
r" in Zeszyty Kulickie 5: Rodzinne Pomorze – dawniej i dziś, pp. 67
ff. (in Polish)
External links[edit]
Westpomeranian System of Tourist Information
The Parliament of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship
Marshal's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship
Voivode's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship
Zrot : Official Tourism Site (Polish, English, German)
Zart : Good Tourism Site (Polish, English, German)
Places adjacent to West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Baltic Sea
Hovedstaden, Denmark
Blekinge and Skåne, Sweden
Brandenburg
Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Lubusz Voivodeship
Greater
Poland
Poland Voivodeship
v
t
e
Counties of West Pomeranian Voivodeship
City counties
Szczecin
Szczecin (capital)
Koszalin
Świnoujście
Land counties
Białogard
Choszczno
Drawsko
Goleniów
Gryfice
Gryfino
Kamień
Kołobrzeg
Koszalin
Łobez
Myślibórz
Police
Pyrzyce
Sławno
Stargard
Świdwin
Szczecinek
Wałcz
v
t
e
History of Pomerania
10,000 BC – 600 AD
600–1100
1100–1300
1300–1500
1500–1806
1806–1933
1933–1945
1945–present
Administrative
Western Pomerania
Farther Pomerania
(before 1945)
Billung March
Northern March
Principality of Rügen
Duchy of Pomerania
House of Pomerania
List of Dukes
Cammin
Gützkow
Schlawe-Stolp
Lauenburg-Bütow
Partitions
Pomerania-Stolp
Swedish Pomerania
Brandenburgian
Pomerania
Pomerania (Draheim)
Province of
Pomerania
Pomerania 1815–1945
Neumark
Köslin Region
Stettin Region
Stralsund
,_by_Klugschnacker_in_Wikipedia_(7).JPG/580px-Stralsund,_Blick_von_der_Marienkirche_(2013-07-07-),_by_Klugschnacker_in_Wikipedia_(7).JPG)
Stralsund Region
Posen-West Prussia
Posen-West Prussia Region
List of placenames
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Zachodniopomorskie
(after 1945)
Szczecin
Szczecin Voivodeship
Koszalin
Koszalin Voivodeship
Słupsk Voivodeship
West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomerelia
Pomerelia (Kashubia)
Medieval duchies (Samborides)
State of the Teutonic Order
Royal Prussia
_Lob.svg/250px-Flag_of_Prussia_(1466-1772)_Lob.svg.png)
Royal Prussia (
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship 1466–1772)
Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig 1807–1814
West Prussia
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship 1919–1939 (Polish Corridor)
Free City of Danzig
Free City of Danzig 1920–1939
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Ecclesiastical
Roman Catholic
Historical
Conversion of Pomerania
Diocese of Kolberg (Congress of Gniezno)
Diocese of Cammin
Diocese of Culm
Diocese of Roskilde
Diocese of Włocławek (Leslau)
Prelature of Schneidemühl
Extant
Archdiocese of Berlin
Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień
Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg
Diocese of Pelplin
Protestant
Protestant Reformation
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland
Pentecostal Church in Poland
Evangelical State Church in Prussia
Evangelical State Church in Prussia (extinct)
Pomeranian Evangelical Church
Pomeranian Evangelical Church (extinct)
Demography
Archaeological cultures
Hamburg
Maglemosian
Ertebølle-Ellerbek
Linear Pottery
Funnelbeaker
Havelland
Corded Ware
Comb Ceramic
Nordic Bronze Age
Lusatian
Jastorf
Pomeranian
Oksywie
Wielbark
Gustow
Dębczyn (Denzin)
Peoples
Gepids
Goths
Lemovii
Rugii
Vidivarii
Vistula Veneti
Slavic Pomeranians
Prissani
Rani
Ukrani
Veleti
Lutici
Velunzani
German Pomeranians
Kashubians
Poles
Slovincians
Major demographic events
Migration Period
Ostsiedlung
WWII flight and expulsion of Germans
Post-WWII settlement of
Poles
Poles and Ukrainians
Languages and dialects
West Germanic
Low German
Low Prussian
Central Pomeranian
Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch
East Pomeranian
West Pomeranian
Standard German
West Slavic
Polabian
Polish
Pomeranian
Kashubian
Slovincian
Treaties
1200–1500
Kremmen (1236)
Landin (1250)
Kępno (1282)
Soldin (1309)
Templin (1317)
Stralsund
Stralsund (1354)
Stralsund
Stralsund (1370)
Thorn (1411)
Soldin (1466)
Thorn (1466)
Prenzlau (1448 / 1472 / 1479)
Pyritz (1493)
1500–1700
Grimnitz (1529)
Stettin (1570)
Franzburg (1627)
Stettin (1630)
Westphalia (1648)
Stettin (1653)
Labiau (1656)
Wehlau and Bromberg (1657)
Oliva (1660)
Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1679)
Lund (1679)
1700–present
Stockholm (1719 / 1720)
Frederiksborg (1720)
Kiel (1814)
Vienna (1815)
Versailles (1919)
Potsdam (1945)
v
t
e
Voivodeships of Poland
Greater Poland
Kuyavian-Pomeranian
Lesser Poland
Łódź
Lower Silesian
Lublin
Lubusz
Masovian
Opole
Podkarpackie
Podlaskie
Pomeranian
Silesian
Świętokrzyskie
Warmian-Masurian
West Pomeranian
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 140911838
LCCN: n2001105