Stettin

a city of northern Germany. It is the capital of the province of Pomerania. Stettin is situated on the Oder at the head of deep-water navigation. It is one of the chief seaports of Germany. Over 5,000 ships tie up at its wharves yearly. There is a large trade in wood, herrings, coal, petroleum, grain, potatoes, cement, spirits, and wine. There are manufactures of sugar, chemicals, and machinery. There are important shipyards. The city had a population in 1905 of 224,119. Stettin when first known was a settlement of the Wends. It was a Hanseatic town in the Middle Ages. Sweden claimed the city, 648-720, since which time Stettin has been a city of Prussia. There are several buildings of importance including a castle and churches notable for their architectural features.