STETTIN, a seaport, capital of the Prussian province of Pomerania, on the Oder, 17 m. above its entrance into the Stet tiner Haff, 3o m. from the Baltic, 84 m. N.E. of Berlin by rail, and at the junction of lines to Stargard-Danzig and Kiistrin Breslau. Pop. (1933) 269,557. Stettin is said to have existed as a Wendish settlement in the 9th century, but its first authentic appearance in history was in the 12th century, when it was known as Stedyn. From the beginning of the 12th century to 1637 it was the residence of the dukes of Pomerania, one of whom gave it municipal rights in 1243. Already a leading centre of trade it entered the Hanseatic League in 1360. The Pomeranian dynasty became extinct in 1637, and in 1648 Stettin was ceded to Sweden. In 1678 it was taken from Sweden by Frederick William, elector of Brandenburg, but it was restored in 1679, only, however, to be ceded to Prussia in 1720 by the Peace of Stockholm. It was forti fied more strongly by Frederick the Great. Stettin was the birth place of the empress Catherine II. of Russia.
The main part of the town occupies a hilly site on the left bank of the river, and is connected with the suburbs of Lastadie ("lad ing place" from lastadium, "burden,") and Silberwiese, on an island formed by the Parnitz and the Danzig. Until 1874 Stettin
was closely girdled by extensive and strong fortifications. The church of St. Peter, founded in 1124 and restored in has the distinction of being the oldest Christian church in Pom erania. Both this and the church of St. James, dating from the 14th century, are remarkable for their size. The old palace, now used as public offices, is a large but unattractive edifice. Two gateways, the Konigstor and the Berliner Tor, remains of the old fortifications, are still standing.
Stettin, regarded as the port of Berlin, is one of the principal ship-building centres of Germany and a place of much commer cial and industrial activity. There are six floating docks, and four ice breakers keep the port open in winter. A great impulse to its trade was given in 1898 by the opening of a free harbour adjoin ing the suburb of Lastadie on the east bank of the Oder; this em braces a total area of 137 acres. It has two basins, with the neces sary accompaniment of cranes, storehouses, etc., and the Oder from Stettin to the Haff is 23 ft. deep.