Who We Are
The St. Louis-Szczecin Sister City affiliation was formed in October, 1992. the Committee strives to provide a vehicle for exchanges between the people of Szczecin and the people of St. Louis in the fields of education, culture, commerce, sports, conservation, science, technology, medicine and municipal administration.

Szczecin, Poland

Situated in the northwest region of Poland, Szczecin sits at the point where the Oder River joins the Baltic Sea. Because of its prime location, Szczecin has been a junction for major European transit routes for centuries. The city is the capital of the newly declared Western Pomeranian Province, one which came into being as the result of the recent reform of the national administration. Szczecin remains only 7 kilometers from the German border, 65 kilometers from the Baltic Sea, and 130 kilometers from Berlin, Germany. 420,000 Polish-speaking residents claim Szczecin as home.

The climate is generally cool, not reaching a monthly average above 63 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. From December to February, temperatures range from 29 to 33 degrees. March through May, temperatures average between 47-60 degrees, and 65-77 degrees is typical from July through September. In October and November, it is common for temperatures to settle between 46 and 58 degrees.

The Szczecin-Goleniow Airport is the center of air travel for Szczecin. Its currency is the Polish Zloty, and 4.26 of its units equal one US dollar.

Economy and Industry
Shipyards, transport, wood and furniture, food processing, electric products and machinery, re-loading chemicals, along with telecommunications are major industries of Szczecin. The production of beer, bakery products, pig iron and ferro alloys is also characteristic of the city. The shipyard industry is dominant, however, and the largest employer is Szczecin Shipyard. 97.8% of companies are privately owned. The city’s steady growth, along with its increasing exports, large domestic market and liberalizing economy all combine to the advantage of the city toward the likelihood of attracting investment opportunities. Szczecin authorities actively encourage foreign investments. The new currency law is one of the marked recent changes, a movement which had greatly liberalized foreign exchange for the region.

History
Historicaland cultural achievements have been shared by more than one nationality. Slavic settlers originally established a borough during the 8th century, which is presently known as Castle Height. Far distance trade eventually led Szczecin to prosperity. During the early to mid 1600s, at the point of the Thirty Years War, Szczecin fell into Swedish rule, once the region of Pomerania was divided. In 1843, the Szczecin-Berlin railroad line was put into service, which was the first railroad connection between the Prussian capital and the seaside. Szczecin found itself home to a major center for building advanced ships, including two transatlantic liners. In the 1850s, Szczecin became an important center for the cement industry. The food processing industry gained in popularity as well. Relations with Scandinavia and Southern Europe have been especially important for its economy.

Tourism
Szczecin is currently involved in improving its transport system, such as constructing new express roads, such as the A3 motorway. The development of the maritime economy is also a current work in progress for the city. Its proximity to the coast and to major European and Scandinavian locations makes Szczecin suitable for the development of tourism.