View source for West Pomeranian Voivodeship

{{short description|Voivodeship of Poland}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = West Pomeranian Voivodeship
| native_name              = Województwo zachodniopomorskie
| settlement_type          = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| image_skyline            = 
| image_blank_emblem       = Pomorze Zachodnie.png
| blank_emblem_type        = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size        = 120px
| image_flag               = POL_województwo_zachodniopomorskie_flag.svg
| image_shield             = POL województwo zachodniopomorskie COA.svg
| image_map                = West Pomeranian in Poland (+rivers).svg
| map_caption              = Location within [[Poland]].
| image_map1               = Woj zachodniopomorskie adm.svg
| map_caption1             = Division into [[Powiat|counties]].
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{POL}}
| seat_type                = Capital
| seat                     = [[Szczecin]]
| parts_type               = [[Powiat|Counties]]
| parts                    = 3 city counties 18 land counties
| p1                       = [[Koszalin]]
| p2                       = [[Świnoujście]]
| p3                       = [[Szczecin]]
| p4                       = [[Białogard County]]
| p5                       = [[Choszczno County]]
| p6                       = [[Drawsko County]]
| p7                       = [[Goleniów County]]
| p8                       = [[Gryfice County]]
| p9                       = [[Gryfino County]]
| p10                      = [[Kamień County]]
| p11                      = [[Kołobrzeg County]]
| p12                      = [[Koszalin County]]
| p13                      = [[Łobez County]]
| p14                      = [[Myślibórz County]]
| p15                      = [[Police County]]
| p16                      = [[Pyrzyce County]]
| p17                      = [[Sławno County]]
| p18                      = [[Stargard County]]
| p19                      = [[Świdwin County]]
| p20                      = [[Szczecinek County]]
| p21                      = [[Wałcz County]]
| governing_body           = [[Voivodeship executive board|Executive board]]
| leader_title1            = [[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|Voivode]]
| leader_name1             = [[Adam Rudawski]]
| leader_title2            = [[Voivodeship marshal|Marshal]]
| leader_name2             = [[Olgierd Geblewicz]]
| leader_title3            = [[European Parliament|EP]]
| leader_name3             = [[Lubusz and West Pomeranian (European Parliament constituency)|Lubusz and West Pomeranian]]
| coor_pinpoint            = Szczecin
| coordinates              = {{coord|53|25|N|14|35|E|region:PL|display=inline,title}}
| area_total_km2           = 22892.48
| total_type               = 
| population_total         = 1682003
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_urban         = 
| population_blank1_title  = 
| population_blank1        = 
| timezone                 = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset               = +1
| timezone_DST             = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST           = +2
| demographics_type1       = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1     = Total
| demographics1_info1      = €26.498 billion (2023)
| demographics1_title2     = Per capita
| demographics1_info2      = €16,700 (2023) 
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec2          = 0.869<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/POL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Global Data Lab|website=globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2021-12-13|publisher=[[Radboud University Nijmegen]]}}</ref><br/>{{color|Green|very high}} · [[List of Polish voivodeships by Human Development Index|11th]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = Primary airport
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]]
| blank2_name_sec2 = [[Highways in Poland|Highways]]
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[File:A6-PL.svg|32px|link=A6 autostrada (Poland)]] [[File:S3-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S3 (Poland)]] [[File:S6-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S6 (Poland)]] [[File:S10-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S10 (Poland)]] [[File:S11-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S11 (Poland)]]
| iso_code                 = [[ISO 3166-2:PL|PL-32]]<Br>[[ISO 3166-1:PL|PL-ZP]]
| registration_plate       = [[Polish car number plates|Z]]
| website                  = [http://www.szczecin.uw.gov.pl szczecin.uw.gov.pl]
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''West Pomeranian Voivodeship'''{{efn|{{langx|pl|województwo zachodniopomorskie}}, {{IPA|pl|vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ zaˌxɔdɲɔpɔˈmɔrskʲɛ|pron|LL-Q809 (pol)-Poemat-województwo zachodniopomorskie.wav}}.}} is a [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] ([[province]]) in northwestern [[Poland]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Szczecin]].<ref name=dzu98/> Its area equals  {{convert|22892.48|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},<ref>''[http://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2014-r-,7,11.html Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2014 r. (stan z 31 grudnia 2013)]''. Warsaw: Główny Urząd Statystyczny, 2014.</ref> and in 2021, it was inhabited by 1,682,003 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://demografia.stat.gov.pl/BazaDemografia/StartIntro.aspx|title=Baza Demografia|website=demografia.stat.gov.pl}}</ref>

It was established on 1 January 1999, out of the former [[Szczecin Voivodeship (1975–1998)|Szczecin]] and [[Koszalin Voivodeship (1975–1998)|Koszalin Voivodeships]] and parts of [[Gorzów Voivodeship|Gorzów]], [[Piła Voivodeship|Piła]] and [[Słupsk Voivodeship]]s, pursuant to the [[Polish local government reforms]] adopted in 1998. It borders on [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]] to the east, [[Greater Poland Voivodeship]] to the southeast, [[Lubusz Voivodeship]] to the south, the [[Germany|German]] [[States of Germany|federal-states]] of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Mecklenburg-West Pomerania]] and [[Brandenburg]] to the west, and the [[Baltic Sea]] to the north.<ref name=dzu98>Ustawa z dnia 24 lipca 1998 r. o wprowadzeniu zasadniczego trójstopniowego podziału terytorialnego państwa (Dz.U. z 1998 r. nr 96, poz. 603).</ref>

==Geography and tourism==
[[File:Festiwal Słowian i Wikingów 2009 12.jpg|thumb|left|Viking Festival in [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]]]]
West Pomeranian Voivodeship is the fifth largest voivodeship of Poland in terms of area. The largest cities in the region are the capital [[Szczecin]], as well as [[Koszalin]], [[Stargard]], [[Kołobrzeg]] and [[Świnoujście]].

This is a picturesque region of the [[Baltic Sea]] coast, with many beaches, lakes and woodlands. Szczecin, [[Świnoujście]] and [[Port of Police|Police]] are important [[port]]s. Other major seaside towns include [[Międzyzdroje]], [[Dziwnów]], [[Kołobrzeg]], and [[Mielno]].

[[File:Stargard Kolegiata6.JPG|thumb|left|Church of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the World, in [[Stargard]]]]
West Pomerania is also rich in various forms and styles of architecture that were built during the Middle Ages as well as the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]], and [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] periods. [[Darłowo]], the birthplace of [[Eric of Pomerania]], King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, contains a preserved old town with the Gothic Our Lady of Częstochowa church, which holds the king's sarcophagus. The [[St. Mary's Church, Stargard|St. Mary's Church]] in Stargard and Saint John Co-Cathedral in [[Kamień Pomorski]] are considered two of the most precious Gothic churches of entire Poland, and as such are listed as [[Historic Monument (Poland)|Historic Monuments of Poland]],<ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 17 września 2010 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Stargard Szczeciński - zespół kościoła pod wezwaniem Najświętszej Marii Panny Królowej Świata oraz średniowieczne mury obronne miasta"|year=2010|volume=184|number=1236}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 25 sierpnia 2005 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Kamień Pomorski - zespół katedralny"|year=2005|volume=167|number=1401}}</ref> whereas the Saint Stanislaus Kostka church in [[Chwarszczany]] is a nationally unique former [[Knights Templar]] church. In [[Cedynia]], the westernmost town of Poland, there is a memorial commemorating the [[Battle of Cedynia]] of 972, the oldest recorded battle in the history of Poland. The [[Świnoujście Lighthouse]] is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. The War Cemetery in Stargard is the burial place of over 5,000 Allied soldiers and prisoners of war from both world wars, including Polish, French, Serbian/Yugoslav, Russian/Soviet, Italian, Romanian, Belgian, British, Moroccan, Portuguese and Dutch. There are also numerous World War II memorials, including memorials to [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] POWs from World War II at the former Oflag II-B, [[Oflag II-D]] and [[Stalag Luft IV]] German POW camps in [[Choszczno]], [[Kłomino]] and [[Tychowo]], and a memorial to British pilots of the [[No. 617 Squadron RAF]] shot down by Germany in [[Karsibór]], [[Świnoujście]].

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 concert]]s take place. In [[Świnoujście]] during the summer, the [[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 (town)|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]] and [[peloid]], discovered in the 19th century, together with [[Geothermal activity|geothermal]] water resources, are popular attractions in Świnoujście, [[Kamień Pomorski]] and [[Połczyn Zdrój]].

A notable phenomenon on a worldly scale is the [[Crooked Forest]] outside the town of [[Gryfino]].

== Cities and towns ==
[[File:Szczecin Zamek Ksiazat Pomorskich (od pln-zach).jpg|thumb|Ducal Castle, [[Szczecin]]]]
[[File:Budynek poczty autor adrian bober.JPG|thumb|Main post office, [[Koszalin]]]]
[[File:Ratusz Miejski w Stargardzie - Nr rejestru zabytku A-1475+A1469.jpg|thumb|Market Square and City Hall, [[Stargard]]]]
[[File:Kołobrzeg, Strand, a (2011-07-26) by Klugschnacker in Wikipedia.jpg|thumb|Beach, [[Kołobrzeg]]]]
[[File:Świnoujście, Polska, ul. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|Historic townhouses, [[Świnoujście]]]]
[[File:42-Szczecinek-ratusz(pischmak).jpg|thumb|Town Hall, [[Szczecinek]]]]
[[File:0905 Odra Domiąża ZP.JPG|thumb|[[Oder River]] in [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]]]]
The voivodeship contains five cities and 61 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019):<ref name="population">{{Cite web|last=GUS|title=Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June|url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-division-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|access-date=2020-09-11|website=stat.gov.pl|language=en}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
'''Cities (governed by a city mayor or ''prezydent miasta''): '''
# [[Szczecin]] (402,067)
# [[Koszalin]] (107,225)
# [[Stargard]] (67,795)
# [[Kołobrzeg]] (46,309)
# [[Świnoujście]] (40,883)

'''Towns''':
# [[Szczecinek]] (40,016)
# [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]] (32,575)
# [[Wałcz]] (25,312)
# [[Białogard]] (24,250)
# [[Goleniów]] (22,284)
# [[Gryfino]] (21,221)
# [[Nowogard]] (16,603)
# [[Gryfice]] (16,524)
# [[Świdwin]] (15,533)
# [[Choszczno]] (15,213)
# [[Dębno]] (13,775)
# [[Barlinek]] (13,752)
# [[Darłowo]] (13,710)
# [[Złocieniec]] (12,901)
# [[Pyrzyce]] (12,581)
# [[Sławno]] (12,511)
# [[Drawsko Pomorskie]] (11,597)
# [[Myślibórz]] (11,151)
# [[Łobez]] (10,167)
# [[Trzebiatów]] (9,986)
# [[Kamień Pomorski]] (8,807)
# [[Połczyn-Zdrój]] (8,073)
# [[Chojna]] (7,375)
# [[Czaplinek]] (7,109)
# [[Sianów]] (6,621)
# [[Karlino]] (5,945)
# [[Międzyzdroje]] (5,376)
# [[Borne Sulinowo]] (5,116)
# [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]] (4,878)
# [[Kalisz Pomorski]] (4,366)
# [[Resko]] (4,217)
# [[Bobolice]] (3,991)
# [[Płoty]] (3,965)
# [[Lipiany]] (3,922)
# [[Barwice]] (3,715)
# [[Mieszkowice]] (3,647)
# [[Maszewo]] (3,357)
# [[Chociwel]] (3,177)
# [[Mirosławiec]] (3,081)
# [[Mielno]] (2,956)
# [[Polanów]] (2,917)
# [[Recz]] (2,898)
# [[Węgorzyno]] (2,816)
# [[Dziwnów]] (2,663)
# [[Golczewo]] (2,660)
# [[Pełczyce]] (2,583)
# [[Tychowo]] (2,520)
# [[Stepnica]] (2,465)
# [[Gościno]] (2,430)
# [[Człopa]] (2,322)
# [[Dobra, Łobez County|Dobra]] (2,307)
# [[Drawno]] (2,280)
# [[Dobrzany]] (2,267)
# [[Trzcińsko-Zdrój]] (2,263)
# [[Biały Bór]] (2,185)
# [[Tuczno]] (1,934)
# [[Ińsko]] (1,924)
# [[Moryń]] (1,630)
# [[Cedynia]] (1,555)
# [[Suchań]] (1,471)
# [[Nowe Warpno]] (1,190)
}}

The Polish districts of the historical region [[Western Pomerania]] (the three westernmost districts of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship) had a population of about 520,000 in 2012 (cities of [[Szczecin]], [[Świnoujście]] and [[Police County]] combined) – while the [[Vorpommern|German districts]] had a population of about 470,000 in 2012 ([[Vorpommern-Rügen]] and [[Vorpommern-Greifswald]] combined). Overall, about 1 million people live in the historical region of Western Pomerania today, while the [[Szczecin agglomeration]] reaches even further.

== Administrative division ==
West Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 21 counties ([[powiat]]s): three city counties and 18 land counties. These are further divided into 114 [[gmina]]s.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population in 2019):<ref name="population"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-  style="background:#d0d8dd; text-align:center;"
||'''English and<br /> Polish names'''
||'''Area<br /> <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>'''
||'''Population<br /> <small>(2019)</small>'''
||'''Seat'''
|  style="width:30%; "|'''Other towns'''
||'''Total<br /> [[gmina]]s'''
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6|'''City counties'''
|-
| [[Szczecin]]
| style="text-align:right;"|301
| style="text-align:right;"|402,067
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Koszalin]]
| style="text-align:right;"|84
| style="text-align:right;"|107,225
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Świnoujście]]
| style="text-align:right;"|197
| style="text-align:right;"|40,883
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6|'''Land counties'''
|-
|[[Stargard County]]<br /> powiat stargardzki
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,520
| style="text-align:right;"|120,088
|[[Stargard]]
|[[Chociwel]], [[Dobrzany]], [[Ińsko]], [[Suchań]]
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
|[[Gryfino County]]<br /> powiat gryfiński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,870
| style="text-align:right;"|82,258
|[[Gryfino]]
|[[Chojna]], [[Mieszkowice]], [[Trzcińsko-Zdrój]], [[Cedynia]], [[Moryń]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|[[Goleniów County]]<br /> powiat goleniowski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,617
| style="text-align:right;"|82,418
|[[Goleniów]]
|[[Nowogard]], [[Maszewo]], [[Stepnica]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Szczecinek County]]<br /> powiat szczecinecki
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,765
| style="text-align:right;"|77,731
|[[Szczecinek]]
|[[Borne Sulinowo]], [[Barwice]], [[Biały Bór]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Kołobrzeg County]]<br /> powiat kołobrzeski
| style="text-align:right;"| 726
| style="text-align:right;"|79,470
|[[Kołobrzeg]]
|[[Gościno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|[[Police County]]<br /> powiat policki
| style="text-align:right;"| 664
| style="text-align:right;"|79,967
|[[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]]
|[[Nowe Warpno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|[[Myślibórz County]]<br /> powiat myśliborski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,182
| style="text-align:right;"|65,999
|[[Myślibórz]]
|[[Barlinek]], [[Dębno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Koszalin County]]<br /> powiat koszaliński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,669
| style="text-align:right;"|66,373
|[[Koszalin]] *
|[[Sianów]], [[Bobolice]], [[Polanów]], [[Mielno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|[[Gryfice County]]<br /> powiat gryficki
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,018
| style="text-align:right;"|60,474
|[[Gryfice]]
|[[Trzebiatów]], [[Płoty]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Drawsko County]]<br /> powiat drawski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,764
| style="text-align:right;"|57,171
|[[Drawsko Pomorskie]]
|[[Złocieniec]], [[Czaplinek]], [[Kalisz Pomorski]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Sławno County]]<br /> powiat sławieński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,044
| style="text-align:right;"|56,231
|[[Sławno]]
|[[Darłowo]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Wałcz County]]<br /> powiat wałecki
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,415
| style="text-align:right;"|53,325
|[[Wałcz]]
|[[Mirosławiec]], [[Człopa]], [[Tuczno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Choszczno County]]<br /> powiat choszczeński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,328
| style="text-align:right;"|48,419
|[[Choszczno]]
|[[Recz]], [[Pełczyce]], [[Drawno]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Białogard County]]<br /> powiat białogardzki
| style="text-align:right;"| 845
| style="text-align:right;"|47,697
|[[Białogard]]
|[[Karlino]], [[Tychowo]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
|[[Świdwin County]]<br /> powiat świdwiński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,093
| style="text-align:right;"|46,997
|[[Świdwin]]
|[[Połczyn-Zdrój]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Kamień County]]<br /> powiat kamieński
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,007
| style="text-align:right;"|47,115
|[[Kamień Pomorski]]
|[[Międzyzdroje]], [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]], [[Dziwnów]], [[Golczewo]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Pyrzyce County]]<br /> powiat pyrzycki
| style="text-align:right;"| 726
| style="text-align:right;"|39,482
|[[Pyrzyce]]
|[[Lipiany]]
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Łobez County]]<br /> powiat łobeski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,066
| style="text-align:right;"|36,954
|[[Łobez]]
|[[Resko]], [[Węgorzyno]], [[Dobra, Łobez County|Dobra]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|- style="background:#f0f8ff;"
|colspan=6 style="font-size:90%"|&nbsp; &nbsp;NOTE: * seat not part of the county
|}

==Protected areas==
[[File:Wpn szlak rowerowy.jpg|thumb|[[Wolin National Park]]]]
[[File:Drawienski Park Narodowy - ptactwo wodne.jpg|thumb|[[Drawa National Park]]]]

[[Protected area]]s in West Pomeranian Voivodeship include two [[National Park]]s and seven [[Landscape Park (Poland)|Landscape Parks]]. These are listed below.
*[[Drawno National Park]] (partly in [[Lubusz Voivodeship|Lubusz]] and [[Greater Poland Voivodeship]]s)
*[[Wolin National Park]]
*[[Barlinek-Gorzów Landscape Park]] (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)
*[[Cedynia Landscape Park]]
*[[Drawsko Landscape Park]]
*[[Ińsko Landscape Park]]
*[[Lower Odra Valley Landscape Park]]
*[[Szczecin Landscape Park]]
*[[Ujście Warty Landscape Park]] (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship)

==Cuisine==
Apart from nationwide [[Polish cuisine]], the region has its local [[traditional food]]s and beverages. The voivodeship is notable for production of honey, with several varieties listed as traditional foods by the [[Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Poland)|Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland]].

As a coastal province, there are several local fish dishes, including the Szczecin-style and Kołobrzeg-style [[herring]]. [[Szczecinek]] [[krówki]], Szczecin [[gingerbread]] and [[Choszczno]] strucla (type of [[poppy seed roll]]) are local delicacies.

Traditional beverages include [[Mead in Poland|mead]], produced in [[Cedynia]] and [[Wolin]], [[Beer in Poland|beer]] from [[Lipiany]] and [[Szczecin]] and [[nalewka]] from [[Dębina, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Dębina]].

== Demographics ==
{{historical populations|1988|1662563|2002|1698214|2011|1722885|2021|1657716|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>}}After Germany's defeat in [[World War II]], the region became again part of Poland by way of the [[Potsdam Agreement]], which created territorial changes demanded by the [[Soviet Union]]. German settlement  in Pomerania dates back to the 12th century. In 1945 with the defeat of Nazi Germany, any German-speaking communities located east of the Oder-Neisse Line were expelled abruptly changing the demographic makeup of much of the region.

In 1948, 67 percent of the populace originated from central Poland, [[Greater Poland]] and [[Pomerelia]] while 25 percent came from the [[Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union]]. Another 6 percent returned to Poland from Western Europe. About 50,000 [[Ukrainians]] were forcefully resettled to West Pomerania in the [[Operation Vistula]] in 1947.<ref>Alina Hutnikiewicz: ''"Proces Osadnictwa na Pomorzu Zachodnim po 1945 r"'' in Zeszyty Kulickie 5: Rodzinne Pomorze – dawniej i dziś, pp. 67 ff. {{in lang|pl}}</ref>

In the 16th and 17th centuries, some [[Scottish diaspora|Scots]] settled in several towns of the current West Pomeranian Voivodeship, i.e. [[Wałcz]], [[Biały Bór]], [[Człopa]] and [[Gryfice]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Wijaczka|first=Jacek|editor-last1=Kopczyński|editor-first1=Michał|editor-last2=Tygielski|editor-first2=Wojciech|year=2010|title=Pod wspólnym niebem. Narody dawnej Rzeczypospolitej|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=Muzeum Historii Polski, Bellona|chapter=Szkoci|isbn=978-83-11-11724-2|pages=202, 204}}</ref> whereas in the 17th and 18th centuries [[French people|French]] [[Huguenots]] settled in [[Stargard]], [[Kołobrzeg]], Szczecin and [[Gryfino]].<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=95|chapter=Z okresu wojny i pokoju – "francuskie" miejsca w Szczecinie z XVIII i XIX wieku|isbn=978-83-61233-45-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gryfino.pl/chapter_289146.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602110845/https://gryfino.pl/chapter_289146.asp|title=Kalendarium|website=Gryfino.pl|access-date=26 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2023|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Muret|first=Eduard|title=Geschichte der Französischen Kolonie in Brandenburg-Preußen, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Berliner Gemeinde. Aus Veranlassung der Zweihundertjährigen Jubelfeier am 29. Oktober 1885|year=1885|location=Berlin|pages=208, 266}}</ref>

==Education and science==
[[File:Pomeranian Medical Academy in Szczecin.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Pomeranian Medical University]] in [[Szczecin]]]]

* [[University of Szczecin]] (Polish ''Uniwersytet Szczeciński'') with 35,000 students
* [[Technical University in Koszalin]] with 14,000 students ({{lang|pl|Politechnika Koszalińska}})
* [[West Pomeranian University of Technology]] in Szczecin with 15,300 students ({{lang|pl|Zachodniopomorski Uniwersytet Technologiczny}}), formed as a result of merger of [[Szczecin University of Technology]] ({{lang|pl|Politechnika Szczecińska}}) and [[University of Agriculture in Szczecin]] ({{lang|pl|Akademia Rolnicza w Szczecinie}})
* [[Pomeranian Medical University]] with 4,000 students ({{lang|pl|Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny}})
* [[The Szczecin Academy of Arts]] ({{lang|pl|Akademia Sztuki w Szczecinie}})
* [[Maritime University of Szczecin]] ({{lang|pl|Akademia Morska w Szczecinie}})
* [[The West Pomeranian Business School]] with 3,000 students ({{lang|pl|Zachodniopomorska Szkoła Biznesu}})
* [[Szczeciński Park Naukowo-Technologiczny]] ([[science park]] in [[Szczecin]])

== Economy ==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 18.3 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 3.7% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,700 euros or 59% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 67% of the EU average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

The [[Świnoujście LNG terminal]], Poland's main liquefied natural gas import terminal, is located in the province.

==Industrial, science and technology parks==
*[[Goleniowski Park Przemysłowy]] ([[industrial park]] in [[Goleniów]])
*[[Infrapark Police]] ([[industrial park]] in [[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police, Poland]])
*[[Stargardzki Park Przemysłowy]] ([[industrial park]] in [[Stargard]])
*[[Szczeciński Park Naukowo-Technologiczny]] ([[science park]] in [[Szczecin]])

== Transportation ==
[[File:S3 Goleniow.jpg|thumb|[[Expressway S3 (Poland)|Expressway S3]] near [[Goleniów]]]]
There are two main international road routes that pass through the voivodeship: [[National road 3 (Poland)]] Świnoujście-Szczecin-Gorzów Wielkopolski-Zielona Góra-Legnica-Czech border (part of [[European route E65]] from Swedish [[Malmö]] to [[Chaniá]] in Greece) and [[National road 6 (Poland)]] Szczecin-Koszalin-Słupsk-Gdańsk (part of [[European route E28]] from [[Berlin]] to [[Minsk]]). 
Most of the National road 3 in the voivodeship 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 and bypasses of [[Goleniów]] and [[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 voivodeship. The voivodeship 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 and line no. 404 Kołobrzeg-Szczecinek.
The main railway stations of the province are Szczecin main station, Stargard and Koszalin. The stations are served by fast [[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 main station possesses international train connections with [[Berlin]], [[Schwerin]] and [[Lübeck]] (operated by [[DB Regio]]). 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 "Solidarność" Airport]]. Also, part of the runway of an abandoned airport in [[Bagicz]] (near [[Kołobrzeg]]) was converted to an airport licensed to service planes carrying not more than 20 passengers on board.

==Sports==
[[File:Szczecin Stadion Miejski dron (1).jpg|thumb|[[Florian Krygier Stadium]], home venue of [[Pogoń Szczecin]]]]
[[Association football|Football]] and [[basketball]] enjoy the largest following in the voivodeship.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|+ Professional sports teams
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Trophies
|-
|[[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]]
|Basketball (men's)
|[[Polish Basketball League]]
|1 Polish Championship ([[2022–23 PLK season|2023]])
|-
|[[Spójnia Stargard]]
|Basketball (men's)
|[[I Liga (basketball)|I Liga]]
|0
|-
|[[SKK Kotwica Kołobrzeg]]
|Basketball (men's)
|I Liga
|1 [[Polish Basketball Cup|Polish Cup]] (2009)
|-
|[[KPS Chemik Police]]
|[[Volleyball]] (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Volleyball League|Tauron Liga]]
|11 Polish Championships<br>10 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cups]]
|-
|[[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]])
|-
|[[Świt Szczecin]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[AZS Politechnika Koszalin]]
|[[Handball]] (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Superliga (women's handball)|Superliga]]
|1 Polish Cup (2008)
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin (women's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]]
|[[Handball]] (women's)
|Liga Centralna
|3 Polish Championships (1983, 1986, 1991)<br>4 Polish Cups
|-
|[[Pogoń Szczecin (men's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]]
|[[Handball]] (men's)
|Liga Centralna
|0
|}

==Curiosities==
{{trivia|section|date=October 2024}}
*In the 10th and 11th centuries, [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]] was one of five largest cities of Poland, and the largest port city on the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://naukawpolsce.pl/aktualnosci/news%2C97825%2Czachodniopomorskie-xxviii-festiwal-slowian-i-wikingow-od-czwartku.html|title=Zachodniopomorskie/ XXVIII Festiwal Słowian i Wikingów – od czwartku|website=Nauka w Polsce|language=pl|date=3 August 2023|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref>
*[[Darłowo]], [[Sławno]], [[Szczecin]] and [[Szczecinek]] were medieval ducal seats of the [[House of Griffin]].
*The West Pomeranian Voivodeship is one of four first-level administrative divisions containing the name of the region of Pomerania, the other being the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]] and [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]] in Poland, and [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] in Germany.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Gora Czcibora pomnik.jpg|[[Battle of Cedynia]] Monument, [[Cedynia]]
File:Golce Wal Pomorski 2007-05b.jpg|Plaque commemorating the battle of the Pomeranian Wall
File:Baltivia2.jpg|Beach in [[Mielno]]
File:Czaplinek rynek (1).jpg|[[Czaplinek]] was once settled by [[Templars]] 
File:Jarosławiec, widok z latarni morskiej (2018).jpg|Jarosławiec
File:Saint Stanislaus Kostka church in Chwarszczany (6).jpg|Saint Stanislaus Kostka church, [[Chwarszczany]]
File:Połczyn Zdrój - panoramio (13).jpg|Sanatorium Gryf, [[Połczyn-Zdrój]]
File:SM Nowe Warpno Ratusz 2019 (4).jpg|Town Hall, [[Nowe Warpno]]
File:Miedzyzdroje plaza (1).jpg|Beach and pier, [[Międzyzdroje]]
File:Ogród Japoński-Przelewice.JPG|[[Dendrological Garden in Przelewice|Dendrological Garden]], [[Przelewice, Pyrzyce County|Przelewice]]
File:Gryfino kosciol NNMP zzewnatrz (1).jpg|Church of the Nativity, [[Gryfino]]
File:Trzesącz.JPG|[[Ruins of the church in Trzęsacz]]
File:Szczecin muzeum narodowe.jpg|[[National Museum in Szczecin]]
File:Szczecin filharmonia (1).jpg|[[Szczecin Philharmonic]]
File:Klif-gosan-070620056.jpg|Gosań cliff, [[Wolin National Park]]
File:Kolobrzeg latarnia.jpg|[[Kołobrzeg Lighthouse|Lighthouse]] in [[Kołobrzeg]]
File:Darlowo3.jpg|Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in [[Darłowo]]
File:Crooked Forest 3.jpg|[[Crooked Forest]]
File:Kamień Pomorski, kościół katedralny p.w. śś. Wojciecha i Jana Chrzciciela.jpg|Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in [[Kamień Pomorski]]
File:Wind turbines Cisowo 01.jpg|Wind turbines in [[Cisowo]]
File:Jezioro Ostrowiec niedaleko Głuska.JPG|Lake Ostrowiec
File:Stuchowo.JPG|[[Stuchowo]] Palace
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Commons category|West Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
* [[Dukes of Pomerania]]
* [[History of Pomerania]]
* [[Karwowo Lake]]
* [[Pomeranian (disambiguation)]]
* [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]'s [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]]
* [[Province of Pomerania (1653-1815)]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070702164257/http://mapa.zachodniopomorskie.pl/portal.php?lang=en Westpomeranian System of Tourist Information]
* [http://www.sejmik-zachodniopomorskie.pl/ The Parliament of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070618120956/http://www.um-zachodniopomorskie.pl/szczecin-en/ Marshal's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship]
* [http://bip.szczecin.uw.gov.pl Voivode's Office of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724101934/http://bip.szczecin.uw.gov.pl/ |date=2008-07-24 }}
* [http://www.zrot.pl Zrot : Official Tourism Site] (Polish, English, German)
* [http://www.zart.com.pl Zart : Good Tourism Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601030143/http://zart.com.pl/ |date=2020-06-01 }} (Polish, English, German)

{{Geographic location
| Northwest = 
| North     = ''[[Baltic Sea]]''<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Capital Region of Denmark.svg}} [[Capital Region of Denmark|Hovedstaden]], {{flag|Denmark}}<br>{{flagicon image|Blekinge län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Blekinge County|Blekinge]] and {{flagicon image|Skåne län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Skåne County|Skåne]], {{flag|Sweden}}
| Northeast = 
| West      = {{flag|Brandenburg}} and {{flag|Mecklenburg-Vorpommern}}, {{flag|Germany}}
| Centre    = {{flag|West Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
| East      = {{flag|Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
| Southwest = 
| South     = {{flag|Lubusz Voivodeship}}
| Southeast = {{flag|Greater Poland Voivodeship}}
}}
{{West Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
{{pomeranian history|adm}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Pomeranian Voivodeship| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:Pomerania]]