POMERANIA (Pommern), a province of Prussia, is situated between 52° and 54° N. lat, 12° 30' and 18° E. long. It is bounded N. by the Baltic, K by West Prussia, S. by Brandenburg, and W. by Meckleu burg. It is a long tract of coast, extending 200 miles along the Baltic, and varyiug in breadth from 30 to 80 miles. The area is 12,153 square miles. The population in 1852 amounted to 1,253,904, of whom 1,232,376 wero Protestants of various sects; 10,912 Catholics; 26 of the Greek Church ; 156 Mennonites; and 10,434 Jews. The province is divided into the three governments of CliSLIN, STermt, and STRALSUND.
Pomerania is one of the lowest and flattest countries in Germany ; only a few hills of a moderate height break its continuous level. The coasts are defended by dykes. The soil consists of sand, mixed in some places with clay. The province is crossed in its broadest part by the Oder, which, flowing through a marshy tract, divides into many arms or channels, one of which, the great Regelitz, forms, towards its mouth, the Great Demmer Lake, and, together with the main stream, falls into the extensive inland water, the FRISCIIES-HAFF. The two islands of Usedotn and Wollin separate the Haff from the Baltic, with which it is connected by three outlets. The other rivers of Pomerania are the Ucker, Peene, and Ihna. There are many small lakes; that of Madine, which is celebrated for its lampreys, is one of the largest The climate of Pomerania is cold, and the weather is changeable; storms ou the coast are not uncommon. The natural productions of the country are—horses, horned cattle, sheep, goats, swine, small game, domestic poultry (especially geese), sea and river fish, and bees ; corn, peas, and beans, potatoes, fruit, timber, flax, and tobacco; alum, bog-iron, salt, turf, and amber. The Pomeranian forests are very extensive and productive. The chief manufactures are linen and woollen stuffs, iron, and glass-wares, leather, beer, and spirits. Ship
building is carried on in the coast towns. The principal branches of industry however are agriculture and cattle breeding. The salmon and sturgeon fisheries are productive. Smoked geese are largely exported. The trade of this province in corn is very important The inhabitants are by descent partly Slavonians and partly Germans. The Slavonian language is still spoken in the north-east of the province. The nobles are numerous, chiefly consisting of German families who have settled here since the 12th century. The vassalage of the peasants was abolished by Frederick William III.
Pomerania was formerly a considerable part of the ancient kingdom of the Wends, or Vandals. From the year 1062 it had its own dukes.
The Christian religion was introduced in the 12th century. The line of the dukes became extinct on the death of Boleslane XIII., in 1637. On the death of the last Duke of Pomerania, tho electoral House of Brandenbnrg, conformably to a family compact, claimed the whole country ; but Pomerania having been occupied by the Swedes during the Thirty Years' War, Prussia was obliged to be content, at the peace of Westphalia, with Further Pomerania (to tho east of the Oder), leaving Sweden in possession of Hither Pomerania, with the inland of Rilgen. After the death of Charles XII., by the treaty of Stockholm in 1720, the southern part of Pomerania and the islands of Unedom and Wollin were ceded to Frederick William L, king of Prussia. Sweden ceded her part of Pomerania to Denmark as a compensation for Norway. About a seventh part of Pomerania, forming the western part of the country, was still held by the Swedes and was called Swedish Pomerania. At the general settlement of the conti nental states in 1814, and finally by a convention dated June 4, 1815, Denmark gave Swedish Pomerania to Prussia in exchange for tho duchy of Lauenburg (which had been received from Hanover in exchange for East Friesland) and a large enm of money.