Stargard

Stargard is a town in northwestern Poland, located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It serves as the seat of Stargard County and of the urban-rural Gmina Stargard. The town lies in the historical region of Western Pomerania, on the Ina River, roughly 40 kilometers east of Szczecin. It has a population in the tens of thousands, reflecting its role as a regional center.

Stargard traces its origins to the medieval period and developed as a trade and crafts center in the Pomeranian duchies. Over the centuries it changed hands among various states, including periods under Brandenburg-Prussia and then Germany, before becoming part of Poland after World War II. In 1946 the town was renamed Stargard Szczeciński to distinguish it from other places with the same name; in 2015 the name was shortened to Stargard.

The town retains a historic core with remnants of its medieval fortifications and several historic civic and religious buildings. Today Stargard functions as an administrative, economic, and transport hub for the surrounding region, with railway and road connections linking it to Szczecin and other cities in the voivodeship.

Cultural and educational institutions, local media, and a range of services serve residents and visitors. Stargard participates in regional development programs and has a growing emphasis on tourism anchored by its historic old town and waterfront areas along the Ina.