View source for Słupsk

{{Short description|City in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland}}
{{redirect|Stolp|the island in Aurora, Illinois|Stolp Island|the music notation|Znamenny chant}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Słupsk
| settlement_type = [[City with powiat rights|City county]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 266
| image_style = border:1
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Słupsk, ratusz (HB1).jpg{{!}}City Hall
| image2 = Słupsk, Brama Młyńska (HB4).jpg{{!}}Medieval Brama Młyńska (Mill Gate)
| image3 = Castle (36070244405).jpg{{!}}Pomeranian Dukes' Castle
| image4 = Slupsk starostwo.jpg{{!}}Słupsk County Office
| caption1 = [[Słupsk Town Hall|City Hall]]
| caption2 = Mill Gate
| caption3 = [[Słupsk Castle]]
| caption4 = Słupsk County Office}}
| image_flag = POL Słupsk flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Słupsk COA 1.svg
| blank_emblem_type = [[Brandmark]]
| pushpin_map = Poland
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|54|27|57|N|17|1|45|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pomeranian Voivodeship|name=Pomeranian}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties of Poland|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = ''city county''
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 10th century
| established_title3 = City rights
| established_date3 = 1265
| leader_title = City mayor
| leader_name = {{Ill|Krystyna Danilecka-Wojewódzka|pl|Krystyna Danilecka-Wojewódzka}} ([[The Left (Poland)|L]])
| area_total_km2 = 52.7
| elevation_m = 22
| population_as_of = 31 December 2021
| population_total = 88,835 {{decrease}}<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/teryt/jednostka|title=Local Data Bank|access-date=11 August 2022|publisher=Statistics Poland}} Data for territorial unit 2263000.</ref>
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 76-200 to 76-210, 76-215, 76-216, 76-218, 76-280
| area_code = +48 059
| blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]]
| blank_info = GS
| website = [https://www.slupsk.pl www.slupsk.pl]
}}
'''Słupsk''' ({{IPA|pl|swupsk|lang|Pl-Słupsk.ogg}}; {{Langx|csb|Stôłpsk}} {{IPA|csb|stɞwpsk|}}; {{langx|de|Stolp}} {{IPA|de|ʃtɔlp|}}) is a [[city with powiat rights]] located on the [[Słupia River]] in the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]] in northern [[Poland]],{{TERYT}} in the historical region of [[Pomerania]] or more specifically in its part known in contemporary Poland as [[Central Pomerania]] ({{lang|pl|Pomorze Środkowe}}) within the wider West Pomerania ({{lang|pl|Pomorze Zachodnie}}). According to [[Statistics Poland]], it has a population of 88,835 inhabitants while occupying {{convert|43.15|km2|sqmi|2}}, thus being one of the most densely populated cities in the country as of December 2021.<ref name="population"/><ref>{{Cite book|author=Collaborative work|title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2007|year=2007|publisher=Central Statistical Office|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Collaborative work|title=Gminy w Polsce|publisher=Central Statistical Office|language=pl|year=1999}}</ref> In addition, the city is the administrative seat of [[Słupsk County]] and the rural [[Gmina Słupsk]], despite belonging to neither.

Słupsk had its origins as a Pomeranian settlement in the early [[Middle Ages]]. In 1265, it was given [[city rights]]. By the 14th century, the city had become a centre of local administration and trade and a [[Hanseatic League]] associate. Between 1368 and 1478, it was a residence of the [[Duchy of Słupsk|Dukes of Słupsk]], until 1474 vassals of the [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Kingdom of Poland]]. According to the [[Peace of Westphalia|peace treaty]] of 1648, Słupsk became part of [[Brandenburg-Prussia]]. In 1815, it was incorporated into the newly formed Prussian [[Province of Pomerania (1653–1815)|Province of Pomerania]]. After [[World War II]], the city again became part of Poland, and from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of [[Słupsk Voivodeship]]. It is a railway junction located on the main railroad between the [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] and [[Szczecin]].

Słupsk contains the oldest preserved industrial structure in Poland and a [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] [[Słupsk Castle|Ducal Castle]], which houses the [[Museum of Middle Pomerania]] with the largest collection of paintings by popular early-20th-century artist [[Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz]].<ref name=bz/> It is also home to the Pomeranian University in Słupsk and notable basketball club [[Czarni Słupsk]].

==Etymology==
{{anchor|Names}}Slavic names in [[Pomeranian language|Pomeranian]] — ''Stolpsk'',<ref name="etymology">{{Cite web|url=http://www.slupsk.pl/info.php?id=20|title=Słupsk.pl: ''Informacje ogólne''|access-date=April 12, 2008|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013100355/http://www.slupsk.pl/info.php?id=20|archive-date=October 13, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Stôłpsk'', ''Słëpsk'', ''Słëpskò'', ''Stôłp''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naszekaszuby.pl/modules/artykuly/article.php?articleid=196|title=Nasze Kaszuby: Zestawienie kaszubskich i polskich nazw miejscowości na Kaszubach, z wariantami, z wyszczególnieniem powiatów|language=pl, csb|access-date=April 12, 2008}}</ref> — and [[Polish language|Polish]] — ''Słupsk'' — may be etymologically related to the words ''słup'' 'pole' and ''stołp'' 'keep'. There are two hypotheses about the origin of those names: that it refers to a specific way of constructing buildings on boggy ground with additional pile support, which is still in use, or that it is connected with a tower or other defensive structure on the banks of the Słupia River.<ref name="etymology" />

Later, under German administration, the town was named ''Stolp'', to which the suffix ''in Pommern'' was attached in order to avoid confusion with other places similarly named. The Germanised name comes from one of five Slavic Pomeranian names of this settlement.<ref name="etymology" /> The city was occasionally called ''Stolpe'', referring to the [[Słupia River]], whose German name is ''Stolpe''. ''Stolpe'' is also the [[Latin language|Latin]] exonym for this place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uni-mannheim.de/mateo/camenaref/hofmann/s/books/s_4559.html |title=Lexicon Universale |language=la |access-date=April 12, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== History ==

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Słupsk stele stone slab slavic art.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.65|Medieval Slavic stele from Słupsk, [[National Museum in Szczecin]]]]
Słupsk developed from a few [[Middle Ages|medieval]] settlements located on the banks of the [[Słupia River]], at the unique [[ford (crossing)|ford]] along the [[trade route]] connecting the territories of modern [[Pomeranian Voivodeship|Pomeranian]] and [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West Pomeranian]] Voivodeships. This factor led to the construction of a [[grad (Slavic settlement)|grod]], a [[Slavic peoples|West Slavic]] or [[Lechites|Lechitic]] fortified settlement, on an islet in the middle of the river. Surrounded by swamps and mires, the fortress had perfect defence conditions. Archaeological research has shown that the grod was situated on an artificial hill and had a natural [[moat]] formed by the branches of the Słupia, and was protected by a [[palisade]]. Records confirm that the area of Słupsk was part of the Polish realm during the reign of [[Mieszko I]] and in the 11th century.<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945">[http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/114.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826014354/http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/114.html|date=2010-08-26}} Historia Słupska do roku 1945. Official webpage of the city. (in Polish)</ref>
[[File:Slupsk mlyn zamkowy.jpg|thumb|right|Castle mill, the oldest industrial structure in Poland]]

According to several sources, the first historic reference to Słupsk comes from the year 1015 when the king of Poland [[Boleslaus I the Brave]] took over the town, incorporating it into the Polish state. In the 12th century, the town became one of the most important castellanies in Pomerania alongside [[Gdańsk]] and [[Świecie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/113.html |title=Nasze miasto - Słupsk |access-date=2009-08-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220200848/http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/113.html |archive-date=2014-12-20 }} Historia. Official webpage of the city</ref> However, several historians stated that the first mention was in two documents dating to 1227, signed by the [[Duchy of Pomerania|Pomeranian dukes]] [[Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania|Wartislaw III]] and [[Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania|Barnim I]] and their mothers, confirming the establishment of an abbey in 1224 and donating estates, among them a village "in Stolp minore" or "in parvo Ztolp", respectively, to that abbey.<ref name=Schmidt140>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|page=140}}</ref> Another document dated to 1180, which mentions a "castellania Slupensis" and would thus be the oldest surviving record, has been identified as a late 13th-century or 14th-century duplicate.<ref name=Schmidt140/>

The [[House of Pomerania|Griffin dukes]] lost the area to the [[Samborides]] during the following years, and the next surviving documents mentioning the area concern donations made by Samboride [[Świętopełk II, Duke of Pomerania|Świętopełk II]], dating to 1236 (two documents) and 1240.<ref name=Schmidt142>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|page=142}}</ref> In the earlier of the two 1236 documents, a Johann "castellanus de Slupcz" is mentioned as a witness,<ref name=Schmidt142147>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|pages=142, 147}}</ref> Schmidt considers this to be the earliest mention of the gard, since a castellany required the existence of a gard.<ref name=Schmidt147>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|page=147}}</ref> The first surviving record explicitly mentioning the gard is from 1269: it notes a "Christianus, castellanus in castro Stolpis, et Hermannus, capellanus in civitate ante castrum predictum", thus confirming the existence of a fortress ("castrum") with a suburbium ("civitas").<ref name=Schmidt147/> Schmidt further says that the office of a capellanus required a church, which he identifies as Saint Peter's.<ref name=Schmidt147/> This church is mentioned by name for the first time in a 1281 document of Samboride [[Mestwin II]], which also mentions Saint Nicolai church and a Saint Mary's chapel in the fortress.<ref name=Schmidt148>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|page=148}}</ref> The oldest mention of Saint Nicolai church dates to 1276.<ref name=Schmidt148/>

Słupsk possibly received its [[city rights]] in 1265.<ref name="prawa">{{Cite web|url=http://www.slupsk.pl/info.php?id=63|title=Słupsk.pl: ''Historia Słupska do roku 1945''|access-date=April 12, 2008|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718121132/http://www.slupsk.pl/info.php?id=63|archive-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Historians argue that city rights were granted for the first time<ref name=Schmidt148/> in a document dated 9 September 1310 when [[Margraviate of Brandenburg|Brandenburgian margraves]] [[Waldemar, Margrave of Brandenburg|Waldemar]] and Johann V granted those privileges under [[Lübeck law]], which was confirmed and extended in a second document, dated 2 February 1313.<ref name="Schmidt148"/> The margraves had acquired the area in 1307. [[Mestwin II, Duke of Pomerania|Mestwin II]] accepted them as his superiors in 1269, confirmed in 1273,<ref name=Schmidt143144>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|pages=143–144}}</ref> but later on, in 1282, Mestwin II and Polish Duke [[Przemysł II]] signed the [[Treaty of Kępno]], which transferred the suzerainty over [[Gdańsk Pomerania]] including Słupsk to Przemysł II. After Mestwin II's death the city was reintegrated with Poland and remained Polish until 1307, when the [[Margraviate of Brandenburg]] took over, while leaving local rule in the hands of the [[Swienca family]], whose members were castellans in Słupsk.<ref name=Schmidt144145>{{cite book|last=Schmidt|first=Roderich|title=Das historische Pommern. Personen, Orte, Ereignisse|volume=41|series=Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Pommern|edition=2|publisher=Böhlau|location=Köln-Weimar|year=2009|isbn=978-3-412-20436-5|language=de|pages=144–145}}</ref> In 1337, the governors of Słupsk (''Stolp'') had purchased the village of [[Ustka|Stolpmünde]] (modern Ustka)<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/> and then constructed a port there, enabling a maritime economy to develop. After the [[Treaty of Templin]] in 1317 the city passed to the [[Duchy of Pomerania|Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast]].<ref>Friedrich Wilhelm Barthold, ''Geschichte von Rügen und Pommern'', 1842, p. 156</ref>

[[File:Zamek ksiazat Pomorskich w Slupsku IMG 4148.jpg|thumb|right|[[Słupsk Castle|Castle of Pomeranian Dukes]], 1507]]
In the 14th–16th centuries, the city reached the height of its political and economic importance.<ref name=shp>{{cite book|title=Słownik historii Polski|year=1973|publisher=Wiedza Powszechna|location=Warszawa|language=pl|page=441}}</ref> It maintained trade links with various countries via the port of Ustka.<ref name=shp/> In 1368 [[Pomerania-Stolp]] (''Duchy of Słupsk'') was split off from Pomerania-Wolgast due to the [[Partitions of the Duchy of Pomerania]]. The grandson of Polish King [[Casimir III the Great]] and his would-be successor [[Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania|Casimir IV]] became duke of Słupsk as a Polish [[vassal]] in 1374, after he failed to take the Polish throne. The succeeding dukes were also vassals of the Kings of Poland: [[Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania|Wartislaw VII]] paid homage in 1390 (to King [[Władysław II Jagiełło]]),<ref>Juliusz Bardach, ''Historia państwa i prawa Polski, Volume 1'', Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe, 1964, p. 589</ref> [[Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania|Bogislaw VIII]] paid homage in 1410 (also to King Władysław II).<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/> Słupsk remained within Polish sphere of political influence until 1474. It became part of the [[Duchy of Pomerania]] in 1478.

===Modern ages===
The [[Protestant Reformation]] reached the town in 1521, when Christian Ketelhut preached in the town. Ketelhut was forced to leave Stolp in 1522 due to an intervention by [[Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania]]. Peter Suawe, a Protestant from Stolp, however, continued his practices. In 1524, Johannes Amandus from [[Königsberg]] and others arrived and preached in a more radical way. As a consequence, Saint Mary's Church was profaned, the monastery's church was burned, and the clergy were treated poorly.<ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.211, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> The inhabitants of the town began the process of conversion to [[Lutheranism]]. In 1560 Polish pastor Paweł Buntowski preached in the town, and in 1586 Polish religious literature spread locally.<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/>

[[File:Lubinus Stolpe.png|thumb|left|View of "Stolpe" from 1618, by [[Eilhard Lubinus]]]]
The [[House of Griffins]], which ruled Pomerania for centuries, died out in 1637. King [[Władysław IV Vasa]] of Poland made unsuccessful attempts to regain the city,<ref name=shp/> and after the [[Peace of Westphalia]] (1648) and the [[Treaty of Stettin (1653)]], it came under [[Margraviate of Brandenburg|Brandenburgian]] control. In 1660, the [[Kashubian language|Kashubian dialect]] was allowed to be taught, but only in religious studies.<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/> The Polish language in general, however, was experiencing very unfavourable conditions due to depopulation of the area in numerous wars and implied [[Germanization]].<ref>Język polski, Tomy 19-20 Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego, page 194, W Drukarni Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, 1999</ref>
[[File:Fragmenty zapisów dot. polskiej szkoły w Słupsku w latach 1648-1649.jpg|thumb|Notes on the Polish school from {{circa|1648}}]]

After the [[Thirty Years' War]], Stolp lost much of its former importance&mdash;despite the fact that [[Szczecin]] was then [[Swedish Pomerania|ruled by Sweden]], the province's capital was situated not in the second-largest city of the region, but in the one closest to the former ducal residence&mdash;[[Stargard]]. However, the local economy stabilized. The constant dynamic development of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] and good economic conditions saw the city develop. After the major state border changes (modern [[Western Pomerania|Vorpommern]] and Stettin joined the Prussian state after a conflict with [[Sweden]]) Stolp was only an administrative centre of the ''[[Districts of Prussia|Kreis]]'' (district) within the ''[[Regierungsbezirk]]'' of [[Koszalin|Köslin]] (Koszalin). However, its geographical location led to rapid development, and in the 19th century, it was the second city of the province in terms of both population and industrialization.

In 1769, [[Frederick II of Prussia]] established a military school in the city, according to [[Stanisław Salmonowicz]] its purpose was the [[Germanisation of Poles during the Partitions|Germanization]] of local Polish nobility.<ref>''Polacy i Niemcy wobec siebie'' [[Stanisław Salmonowicz]], Ośrodek Badań Naukowych im. W. Kętrzyńskiego 1993, page 43</ref>

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the city was taken by 1,500 Polish soldiers under the leadership of general [[Michał Sokolnicki]] in 1807.<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/> In 1815 Słupsk became one of the cities of the [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]], in which it remained until 1945. In 1869 a railway from [[Gdańsk|Danzig]] (Gdańsk) reached Stolp.

[[File:Brama Nowa Słupsk, New Gate.jpg|thumb|Old Town view towards the New Gate in the early 20th-century]]
During the 19th century, the city's boundaries were significantly extended towards the west and south. The new railway station was built about 1,000 metres from the old city. In 1901, the construction of a new city hall was completed, followed by a local administration building in 1903. In 1910 a tram line was opened. The football club [[Viktoria Stolp]] was formed in 1901. In 1914, before the [[First World War]], Stolp had approximately 34,340 inhabitants.

===Interwar period===
Stolp was not directly affected by the fighting in the [[First World War]]. The trams did not operate during the war, returning to the streets in 1919. Demographic growth remained high, although development slowed, because the city became peripheral, the ''Kreis'' (district) being situated on post-war Germany's border with the so-called [[Polish Corridor]]. Polish claims to Stolp and its neighbouring area were refused during the [[Treaty of Versailles]] negotiations. The city, having become the regional center of the eastern part of Eastern Pomerania, thrived, becoming known as ''Little Paris''. A cultural highlight was an annual art exhibition.<ref>{{cite book|author=Edda Gutsche |title=Mit Ausblick auf Park und See. Zu Gast in Schlössern und Herrenhäusern in Pommern und der Kaschubei |place=Elmenhorst/Vorpommern |publisher=edition Pommern |isbn=978-3-939680-41-3|year=2018|pages=63|language=de}}</ref>

From 1926 the city became an active point of [[Nazi]] supporters, and the influence of [[NSDAP]] grew rapidly.<ref name="Historia Słupska do roku 1945"/> The party with Hitler received 49.1% of the city's vote in the [[German federal election, March 1933|German federal election of March 1933]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stolp.html |title=Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichtevon der Reichseinigung 1871 bis zur Wiedervereinigung 1990 von Dr. Michael Rademacher M.A. |access-date=2011-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723075122/http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stolp.html |archive-date=2011-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> when however, the election campaign was marked by Nazi terror.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Richard J. |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781594200045 |title=The coming of the Third Reich |date=2004 |publisher=New York : The Penguin Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-59420-004-5}}</ref> During the [[Kristallnacht]], the night of 9/10 November 1938, the local [[Stolp Synagogue|synagogue]] was burned down.<ref name=mp/>

===Second World War===
{{multiple image|align=left|caption_align=center|perrow=2|total_width=260
|image1 = Słupsk Nowobramska Pomnik Polskiego Państwa Podziemnego DSC 1824.jpg
|image2 = Słupsk Kołłątaja pomnik DSC 1680.jpg
|footer = Memorials to the [[Polish Underground State]] and victims of the local subcamp of [[Stutthof]]}}
The beginning of the [[Second World War]] halted the development of the city. In 1941, the Nazis created a [[labour camp]] for people brought from various German-occupied territories, who were maltreated physically and psychologically and forced to undertake exhausting work while being subject to starvation.<ref name=mp>{{cite web|url=http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/1505.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826014414/http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/1505.html|title=Słupsk po wybuchu II wojny światowej|author=Marta Patyna|archive-date=2010-08-26|language=pl}}</ref> In 1944, the Germans established a subcamp of the [[Stutthof concentration camp]] at the local railway repair works, and a forced labour camp for women and children at a local school.<ref name=ushm>{{cite book|last=Megargee|first=Geoffrey P.|year=2009|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume I|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|pages=1481–1482|isbn=978-0-253-35328-3}}</ref><ref name=ktk/> Prisoners of the former were over 600 Jews from various German-occupied countries, mostly [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]], both men and women, and from October 1944 also 20 Jewish boys aged 10 and 11 brought from the [[Łódź Ghetto]], with the prisoners, especially women, being subjected to exhausting work, starvation and arbitrary beatings.<ref name=ushm/> Prisoners of the latter were women with children (around 2,000 people), mainly Polish, but also Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian, who were exposed to poor sanitary and nutritional conditions, lack of warming even in winter and no medical care, resulting in epidemics, and also regular violence.<ref name=ktk>{{cite web|url=https://www.przystanekhistoria.pl/pa2/teksty/105151,Zbrodnie-popelnione-na-dzieciach-polskich-robotnic-przymusowych-osadzonych-w-obo.html|title=Zbrodnie popełnione na dzieciach polskich robotnic przymusowych osadzonych w obozie w Słupsku i w Gogolewku|website=Przystanek Historia|author=Karolina Trzeskowska-Kubasik|language=pl|date=18 January 2024|access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref> Over 200 children, mostly Polish, died in the other camp.<ref name=ktk/> In February 1945, the Germans marched some 400 women and children from the latter camp to a newly established camp in nearby [[Gogolewko, Pomeranian Voivodeship|Gogolewko]],<ref name=ktk/> and sent the prisoners of the subcamp of Stutthof on a [[Death marches during the Holocaust|death march]] to an emptied camp in [[Kokoszki]].<ref name=ushm/> The Germans also operated nine [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour]] subcamps of the [[Stalag II-B]] [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|prisoner-of-war camp]] in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stalag2b.free.fr/leskommandos.htm|title=Les Kommandos|website=Stalag IIB Hammerstein, Czarne en Pologne|access-date=18 October 2024|language=fr}}</ref>

[[File:Słupsk, Kościół Mariacki (1945).jpg|thumb|right|Ruins of the Old Town in 1945]]
The [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|Polish resistance movement]] conducted espionage of German activity and distributed [[Polish underground press]] in the city.<ref>{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Encyklopedia konspiracji Wielkopolskiej 1939–1945|year=1998|location=Poznań|language=pl|publisher=Instytut Zachodni|page=625|isbn=83-85003-97-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Chrzanowski|first=Bogdan|year=2022|title=Polskie Państwo Podziemne na Pomorzu w latach 1939–1945|language=pl|location=Gdańsk|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=57|isbn=978-83-8229-411-8}}</ref>

The [[Schutzstaffel]] (SS) committed a massacre of 24 Polish [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labourers]] (23 men and one woman) on 7 March 1945, just before the [[Red Army]] took over the city without any serious resistance on 8 March 1945.<ref name=mp/> In fear of Soviet repression, up to 1,000 inhabitants committed suicide.<ref name=lakotta>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/spiegelspecial/d-39863564.html|title=Tief vergraben, nicht dran rühren|last=Lakotta|first=Beate|magazine=[[Der Spiegel|SPON]]|date=2005-03-05|access-date=2010-08-16|language=de|archive-date=2020-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417021755/https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/spiegelspecial/d-39863564.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
Thousands remained in the city; the others had fled and the German soldiers abandoned it. However, the Soviet soldiers were ordered to set fire to the historical central Old Town, which was almost completely destroyed.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} The war resulted in the destruction of approximately 28% of residential buildings and 16% of industrial facilities.<ref name=shp/>

===Post-war period===
After the war, the city became again part of Poland and most of the German population either fled or [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|was expelled]] in accordance with the [[Potsdam Agreement]]. The city was settled by Poles, most of whom were expelled from the [[Kresy|former Polish eastern territories annexed by the Soviet Union]] (around 80% at the end of 1945) and the rest were mainly repatriates from the [[Soviet Union]] and Poles returning from Germany.<ref name="SLU"/> Also [[Ukrainians]] and [[Lemkos]] settled into the town during [[Operation Vistula]].

[[File:Slupsk, rynek 1945 (66046638).jpg|thumb|''Rynek'' (Market Square) after WWII in 1945]]
The town's name was changed into the historic Polish version of ''Słupsk'' by the [[Commission for the Determination of Place Names]] on 23 April 1945. It was initially part of ''[[Okręg]] III'', comprising the whole territory of the former [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]] east of the [[Oder River]]. Słupsk later became part of [[Szczecin Voivodeship (1946–1975)|Szczecin Voivodeship]] and then [[Koszalin Voivodeship (1950–1975)|Koszalin Voivodeship]], and in 1975 became the capital of the new province of [[Słupsk Voivodeship]].

Life in the devastated city was organized anew. In 1945, the first post-war craft workshops and public schools were opened, trams and a regional railway started to operate, and the amateur Polish Theater was established.<ref name="SLU">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/115.html |title=Nasze miasto - Słupsk |access-date=2019-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506002216/http://www.slupsk.pl/miasto/dokumenty/115.html |archive-date=2014-05-06 |url-status=bot: unknown }} Historia Słupska po roku 1945. Official webpage of the city (in Polish)</ref> In September 1946, the first [[Warsaw Uprising]] Monument in Poland was unveiled.<ref name="SLU"/> From April 1947, the local Polish newspaper ''Kurier Słupski'' was published.<ref name="SLU"/> The city became a cultural centre. In the 1950s, the Puppet Theater ''Tęcza'', the Teachers' College and the Baltic Dramatic Theater were established.<ref name="SLU"/> The puppet theatre ''Tęcza'' used to collaborate with the similar institution called ''Arcadia'' in [[Oradea]], [[Romania]], but the partnership ceased after 1989. The Millennium Cinema was one of the first in Poland to have a [[cinerama]]. The first Polish [[pizzeria]] was established in Słupsk in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pizzaslupsk.info/#pierwsza-pizzeria|title=Pizza Słupsk Info|access-date=June 9, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806032155/http://pizzaslupsk.info/#pierwsza-pizzeria|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the [[Polish 1970 protests|1970 protests]] there were minor strikes and demonstrations. None were killed during the [[Milicja Obywatelska|militia]]'s interventions.

===After 1989===
[[File:Słupsk Wojska Polskiego DSC 1537.jpg|thumb|right|Wojska Polskiego Avenue with heritage architecture]]
Major street name changes were made in Słupsk after the [[Revolutions of 1989]]. Also, a process of major renovations and refurbishments began, beginning in the principal neighbourhoods. According to the [[Voivodeships of Poland|administrative reform of Poland]] in 1999, [[Słupsk Voivodeship]] was dissolved and divided between two larger regions: [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]] and [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]. Słupsk itself became part of the former. The reform was criticized by locals, who wanted to create a separate Middle Pomeranian Voivodeship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc5.nsf/projekty/312_p.htm|title=Legislative proposal of July 24, 1998, regarding the introduction of the three-level administrative division of Poland|language=pl|access-date= April 22, 2008}}</ref> In 1998 a major [[Słupsk street riots 1998|riot]] took place after a basketball game.

In 2014, Słupsk elected Poland's first openly gay mayor, [[Robert Biedroń]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gera |first1=Vanessa |title=Poland elects first openly gay mayor in elections |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/33beca4f07c648d6911fd1397553a664/first |access-date=1 December 2014 |work=The Big Story |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=1 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203204336/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/33beca4f07c648d6911fd1397553a664/first |archive-date=3 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, the city was awarded the [[Europe Prize]] by the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|Parliamentary Assembly]] of the [[Council of Europe]] for having made exceptional efforts to spread the ideal of European unity.<ref>[https://website-pace.net/web/apce/the-europe-prize The Europe Prize]</ref>

==Geography==

===Boundaries===
Administratively, the city of Słupsk has the status of both an urban [[gmina]] and a city [[powiat|county]] (''powiat''). The city boundaries are generally artificial, with only short natural boundaries around the villages of [[Kobylnica, Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kobylnica]] and [[Włynkówko]] on the [[Słupia River]]. The boundaries have remained unchanged since 1949, when Ryczewo became a part of the city.

Słupsk shares about three-quarters of its boundaries with the rural district called [[Gmina Słupsk]], of which Słupsk is the administrative seat (although it is not part of the district). The city's other neighbouring district is [[Gmina Kobylnica]], to the south-west. The [[Słupsk Special Economic Zone]] is not entirely contained within the city limits: a portion of it lies within Gmina Słupsk, while some smaller areas are at quite a distance from Słupsk ([[Debrzno]]), or even in another voivodeship ([[Koszalin]], [[Szczecinek]], [[Wałcz]]).
[[File:Słupsk boundnary scheme.png|thumb|270px|The neighbourhoods and suburbs of Słupsk]]
The city has a fairly irregular shape, with its central point at ''Plac Zwycięstwa'' ("Victory Square") at {{Coord|54|27|51|N|17|01|42|E}}.

===Topography===
[[File:POL-Rezerwat przyrody Buczyna nad Słupią DSC 0158.JPG|thumb|Słupia River, which flows through Słupsk]]
Słupsk lies in an ''[[Urstromtal|pradolina]]'' of the [[Słupia River]]. The city centre is situated significantly lower than its western and easternmost portions. Divided into two almost equal parts by the river, Słupsk is hilly when compared to other cities in the region. About {{convert|5|km2|sqmi}} of the city's area is covered by forests, while {{convert|17|km2|sqmi}} is used for agricultural purposes.

Słupsk is rich in natural water bodies. There are more than twenty [[pond]]s, mostly former meanders of the Słupia, within the city limits. There are also several [[stream]]s, irrigation [[canal]]s (generally unused and abandoned) and a [[leat]]. Except in the city centre, all these watercourses are unregulated.

There is generally little human influence on landform features visible within the city limits. However, in the northwestern part of the city there is a huge [[Copse|hollow]], a remnant of a former [[sand mine]]. Although there were once plans to build a [[waterpark]] in this area,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gp24.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/SLUPSK/70923013|title=Gp24.pl: ''Coraz bliżej aquaparku''|date=23 September 2007 |access-date=April 13, 2008|language=pl}}</ref> they were later abandoned and the site remains unused.

===Climate===
Słupsk has a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate|marine climate]], like the rest of the Polish coastal regions.<ref name="ilustrowana geografia polski">{{Cite book|title=Ilustrowana Geografia Polski|author=Kaczmarek, T., Kaczmarek, U., Sołowiej D., Wrzesiński, D.|year=2002|publisher=Świat Książki|language=pl}}</ref> The city lies in a zone where the [[continental climate]] influences are very weak compared with other regions of Poland.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Altas geograficzny dla szkół średnich|author=Collaborative work|year=2000|publisher=PPWK|language=pl}}</ref> The warmest month is July, with an average temperature range of {{convert|11|to|21|C|F}}. The coolest month is February, averaging {{convert|-5|to|0|°C|F}}. The wettest month is August with average precipitation of {{convert|90|mm|in}}, while the driest is March, averaging only {{convert|20|mm|in}}. Snowfalls are always possible between December and April.

{{Weather box
| location = Słupsk (1951–1980 normals, extremes 1951–1965 and 1987–1992)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 12.3
| Feb record high C = 18.1
| Mar record high C = 21.3
| Apr record high C = 26.7
| May record high C = 30.6
| Jun record high C = 33.9
| Jul record high C = 36.0
| Aug record high C = 34.9
| Sep record high C = 29.8
| Oct record high C = 22.7
| Nov record high C = 17.3
| Dec record high C = 13.7
| year record high C = 36.0
| Jan avg record high C = 7.0
| Feb avg record high C = 7.8
| Mar avg record high C = 12.9
| Apr avg record high C = 21.1
| May avg record high C = 25.1
| Jun avg record high C = 29.2
| Jul avg record high C = 30.0
| Aug avg record high C = 28.9
| Sep avg record high C = 26.6
| Oct avg record high C = 19.7
| Nov avg record high C = 12.6
| Dec avg record high C = 9.7
| year avg record high C = 31.3
| Jan high C = 1.4
| Feb high C = 1.2
| Mar high C = 4.9
| Apr high C = 11.5
| May high C = 16.2
| Jun high C = 20.7
| Jul high C = 21.6
| Aug high C = 21.3
| Sep high C = 18.2
| Oct high C = 12.9
| Nov high C = 6.6
| Dec high C = 3.0
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = -1.1
| Feb mean C = -1.8
| Mar mean C = 1.0
| Apr mean C = 6.4
| May mean C = 11.0
| Jun mean C = 15.6
| Jul mean C = 16.8
| Aug mean C = 16.3
| Sep mean C = 12.9
| Oct mean C = 8.6
| Nov mean C = 3.9
| Dec mean C = 0.7
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -4.1
| Feb low C = -5.1
| Mar low C = -2.7
| Apr low C = 1.9
| May low C = 5.7
| Jun low C = 9.8
| Jul low C = 12.0
| Aug low C = 11.9
| Sep low C = 8.5
| Oct low C = 4.9
| Nov low C = 1.3
| Dec low C = -1.8
| year low C = 
| Jan avg record low C = -15.9
| Feb avg record low C = -15.4
| Mar avg record low C = -11.7
| Apr avg record low C = -3.7
| May avg record low C = -0.6
| Jun avg record low C = 3.4
| Jul avg record low C = 6.5
| Aug avg record low C = 6.5
| Sep avg record low C = 1.7
| Oct avg record low C = -1.2
| Nov avg record low C = -5.7
| Dec avg record low C = -11.4
| year avg record low C = -19.2
| Jan record low C = -31.2
| Feb record low C = -28.6
| Mar record low C = -19.8
| Apr record low C = -6.8
| May record low C = -2.8
| Jun record low C = -0.6
| Jul record low C = 4.5
| Aug record low C = 2.8
| Sep record low C = -0.6
| Oct record low C = -7.3
| Nov record low C = -13.7
| Dec record low C = -19.6
| year record low C = -31.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 53.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 43.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 39.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 46.8
| May precipitation mm = 57.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 58.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 98.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 85.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 77.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 74.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 72.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 64.0
| year precipitation mm = 771.2
| Jan snow depth cm = 
| Feb snow depth cm = 
| Mar snow depth cm = 
| Apr snow depth cm = 
| May snow depth cm = 
| Jun snow depth cm = 
| Jul snow depth cm = 
| Aug snow depth cm = 
| Sep snow depth cm = 
| Oct snow depth cm = 
| Nov snow depth cm = 
| Dec snow depth cm = 
| year snow depth cm = 
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 18.1
| Feb precipitation days = 15.2
| Mar precipitation days = 12.9
| Apr precipitation days = 13.0
| May precipitation days = 13.1
| Jun precipitation days = 10.9
| Jul precipitation days = 14.7
| Aug precipitation days = 13.6
| Sep precipitation days = 14.8
| Oct precipitation days = 15.1
| Nov precipitation days = 17.3
| Dec precipitation days = 17.8
| year precipitation days = 176.5
| unit snow days = 0 cm
| Jan snow days = 
| Feb snow days = 
| Mar snow days = 
| Apr snow days = 
| May snow days = 
| Jun snow days = 
| Jul snow days = 
| Aug snow days = 
| Sep snow days = 
| Oct snow days = 
| Nov snow days = 
| Dec snow days = 
| year snow days = 
| Jan humidity = 85.3
| Feb humidity = 84.1
| Mar humidity = 80.8
| Apr humidity = 79.4
| May humidity = 76.6
| Jun humidity = 75.9
| Jul humidity = 81.0
| Aug humidity = 82.5
| Sep humidity = 83.7
| Oct humidity = 85.7
| Nov humidity = 87.2
| Dec humidity = 86.5
| year humidity = 
| Jan sun = 86.8
| Feb sun = 90.4
| Mar sun = 164.3
| Apr sun = 270.0
| May sun = 279.0
| Jun sun = 291.0
| Jul sun = 285.2
| Aug sun = 306.9
| Sep sun = 243.0
| Oct sun = 145.7
| Nov sun = 111.0
| Dec sun = 86.8
| year sun = 
| Jan dew point C = -3
| Feb dew point C = -2
| Mar dew point C = 0
| Apr dew point C = 3
| May dew point C = 7
| Jun dew point C = 11
| Jul dew point C = 14
| Aug dew point C = 14
| Sep dew point C = 11
| Oct dew point C = 6
| Nov dew point C = 4
| Dec dew point C = 0
| Jan uv =2
| Feb uv =2
| Mar uv =2
| Apr uv =4
| May uv =4
| Jun uv =5
| Jul uv =5
| Aug uv =5
| Sep uv =4
| Oct uv =3
| Nov uv =1
| Dec uv =1
| source 1 = Meteomodel.pl<ref name=slupsk19501977>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=254179998&par=tm&max_empty=2
| title = Średnie i sumy miesięczne
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 July 2022}}</ref><ref name=slupsk19781992>
{{cite web
| url = https://meteomodel.pl/dane/srednie-miesieczne/?imgwid=254179999&par=tm&max_empty=2
| title = Średnie i sumy miesięczne
| date = 6 April 2018
| publisher = Meteomodel.pl
| language = pl
| access-date = 22 July 2022}}</ref>
| source 2 = Weather Atlas (UV),<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/poland/slupsk-climate
| title = Slupsk, Poland – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast
| publisher = Weather Atlas
| access-date = 1 August 2022}}</ref> Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/poland/slupsk/climate
| title = Climate & Weather Averages in Słupsk
| publisher = Time and Date
| access-date = 24 July 2022}}</ref>}}

===Neighbourhoods===
[[File:Slupsk Stary Rynek IMG 2846.JPG|thumb|right|Market Square, part of ''Stare Miasto'' (Old Town) neighbourhood]]
[[File:Słupsk Sienkiewicza 9 DSC 1728.jpg|thumb|right|Sienkiewicz Street, part of ''Centrum'']]
The neighbourhoods ({{lang|pl|osiedla}}, singular ''[[osiedle]]'') of Słupsk do not have any administrative powers. Their names are used for traffic signposting purposes and are shown on maps. The neighbourhoods are as follows:
* '''Nadrzecze''' ("Riverside") — situated in the southern part of the city, this district is a major industrial area. It is bounded by the railroad to the west, [[Jadwiga Łuszczewska|Deotymy]] and [[Pope John Paul II|Jana Pawła II]] streets to the north, the Słupia river to the east and the city boundary to the south.
* '''Osiedle Akademickie''' ("Academic Neighbourhood") — a neighbourhood of [[detached house|detached]] and [[semi-detached]] houses around the Pomeranian University and its [[hall of residence|halls of residence]].
* '''Osiedle Bałtyckie''' ("Baltic Neighbourhood") — the northernmost neighbourhood of Słupsk, a large part of which belongs to the [[Słupsk Special Economic Zone]].
* '''Osiedle Niepodległości''' ("Independence Neighbourhood") (before 1989 called ''Osiedle Budowniczych Polski Ludowej'' or "Neighbourhood of the Builders of People's Poland", and still popularly referred to as ''BPL'') and '''Osiedle Piastów''' ("[[Piast dynasty|Piast]] Neighbourhood") — these neighbourhoods make up the largest residential area of the city, inhabited by about 40,000 people.
* '''Osiedle Słowińskie''' ("[[Slovincians|Slovincian]] Neighbourhood") — the easternmost part of Słupsk, similar in character to Osiedle Akademickie. It adjoins the Northern Wood (''Lasek Północny'') and is close to the city's boundary with [[Redzikowo]], the planned site of the [[National missile defense|US national missile defense]] interceptors.
* '''Ryczewo''' — brought within the city limits in 1949, this is the youngest neighbourhood of Słupsk. Before the [[Second World War]] it was a villa district. It has retained much of its village character.
* '''Stare Miasto''' ("Old Town"; also known as '''Śródmieście''' or '''Centrum''' — "the City Centre") — the central district of Słupsk containing the historic centre of the city including the city hall and the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle.
* '''Westerplatte''' (known also as '''Osiedle Hubalczyków-Westerplatte''') — a large and fast-developing area in the south-east of Słupsk, including the city's highest point. Currently both detached houses and blocks of flats are being built here.
* '''Zatorze''' (usually further subdivided into '''Osiedle [[Jan III Sobieski|Jana III Sobieskiego]]''' and '''Osiedle [[Stefan Batory|Stefana Batorego]]''') — the second largest residential area, with 10,000 inhabitants. According to police statistics, it is the most dangerous area of the city.

===Parks===
Słupsk has many green areas within its boundaries. The most important are the Park of Culture and Leisure (''Park Kultury i Wypoczynku''), the Northern Wood (''Lasek Północny'') and the Southern Wood (''Lasek Południowy''). There are also many small parks, squares and boulevards.

==Transport==

===Railways===
{{Main|Słupsk (PKP station)}}
[[File:Stolpsk 2.jpg|thumb|right|Trams in Słupsk operated between 1910 and 1959]]
Słupsk is a railway junction, with four lines running north, west, east and south from the city.<ref name="kolej">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kolej.one.pl/index.php?dzial=stacje&id=91&okno=start|title=Kolej.One.Pl: ''Słupsk''|access-date=April 22, 2008|language=pl}}</ref> Currently, one station, opened January 10, 1991 serves the whole city. This is a class B station according to [[Polish State Railways|PKP]] (Polish Railways) criteria.<ref name="pkp1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pkp.pl/zrodlo/plan_operacyjny/zal1.pdf|title=List of stations maintained by Dworce Kolejowe|access-date=April 22, 2008|language=pl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109183600/http://www.pkp.pl/zrodlo/plan_operacyjny/zal1.pdf |archive-date=January 9, 2006}}</ref> The city has rail connections with most major cities in Poland: [[Białystok]], [[Gdańsk]], [[Gdynia]], [[Katowice]], [[Kraków]], [[Lublin]], [[Łódź]], [[Olsztyn]], [[Poznań]], [[Szczecin]], [[Warsaw]] and [[Wrocław]], and also serves as a junction for local trains from [[Kołobrzeg]], [[Koszalin]], [[Lębork]], [[Miastko]], [[Szczecinek]] and [[Ustka]].

The first railway reached Słupsk (then Stolp) from the east in 1869. The first rail station was built north of its current location. The line was later extended to Köslin ([[Koszalin]]), and further lines were built connecting the city with Neustettin ([[Szczecinek]]), Stolpmünde ([[Ustka]]), Zezenow ([[Cecenowo]]) (narrow gauge) and Budow ([[Budowo]]) (narrow gauge). The narrow-gauge tracks were rebuilt as standard gauge by 1933, but were demolished during the Second World War. After the war, the first train connection to be restored was that with [[Lębork]], reopened May 27, 1945. Between 1988 and 1989 almost all of the lines traversing the city were electrified. From 1985 to 1999 Słupsk had a [[Trolleybuses in Słupsk|trolleybus system]].

===Roads===
[[File:Słupsk - "witacz".JPG|thumb|right|An entry sign seen from Gdańska Street]]
Słupsk used to be traversed east–west by [[European route E28]], which is known as [[National route 6 (Poland)|National route 6]] in Poland until a bypass running to the south of the town to carry the 6/E28 traffic was built. The bypass is a part of [[Expressway S6 (Poland)|Expressway S6]] which, when completed some time after 2015, will give Słupsk a fast road connection to [[Szczecin]] and [[Gdańsk]]. The city can also be accessed by the [[National route 21 (Poland)|National route 21]] from [[Miastko]], [[Voivodeship route 210]] from [[Ustka]] to [[Unichowo]] and [[Voivodeship route 213]] from [[Puck, Poland|Puck]]. Local roads of lesser importance connect Słupsk with surrounding villages and towns.

The city's network of streets is well developed, but many of them require general refurbishment. The city is currently investing significant sums of money in road development.

===Air===
[[Słupsk-Redzikowo Airport]] is now defunct, however, it once worked as a regular passenger airport of local significance. Several plans to eventually reopen it failed because of lack of funds. The facility was earmarked for use within the [[US missile defense complex in Poland|US missile defense complex]] as a missile launch site, which became operational in December 2023. Nowadays, the nearest airports are in [[Gdańsk]] ([[Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport]]) and [[Szczecin]] ([[Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]]).

==Monuments==
{{multiple image |align=right |caption_align=center |perrow=2 |total_width=370
|image1 = Słupsk Łukasiewicza Poczta Główna DSC 1765.jpg
|image2 = Słupsk Rynek Rybacki 1 Spichlerz Richtera A-360 (1).jpg
|image3 = Slupsk Nowa Brama 3.jpg
|image4 = BaDSC 0063.JPG
|caption1 = Main post office
|caption2 = Richter Granary, now museum
|caption3 = Medieval New Gate
|caption4 = Medieval Witch Tower}}
* Pomeranian Dukes Castle, now housing the Museum of Middle Pomerania
* Castle Mill, the oldest industrial structure in Poland
* New Gate, built in the 14th century, served as the main entrance to the Old Town
* Mill Gate
* [[Słupsk Town Hall]]
* New Town Hall
* County Office
* Municipal Public Library
* Post-Dominican church of St. Hyacinth
* Church of Virgin Mary
* Church of the Holiest Heart of Jesus
* Church of the Holy Cross
* Monastery Church 
* Richter's granary
* Defensive walls
* Old Brewery in Słupsk
* 'Słowiniec' Department Store, with the oldest wooden lift in Europe
* ''Baszta Czarownic'', one of the few remaining [[witch tower]]s in Europe
* Main Post Office

==Culture==
[[File:Park Kultury i Wypoczynku IMG 0161.JPG|thumb|Park of Culture]]
Słupsk is the regular venue for a number of festivals, most notably:
* the "Solidarity" International [[Contract Bridge]] Festival (''Międzynarodowy Festiwal Brydża Sportowego "Solidarność"'')
* the [[Komeda Jazz Festival]]
* the "Performance" International Art Festival (''Międzynarodowy Festiwal Sztuki "Performance"'')
* an International Piano Festival
For a long time here lived [[Anna Łajming]] (1904–2003), [[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] and Polish author.

The [[Museum of Middle Pomerania]] in Słupsk holds the world's biggest collection of paintings by [[Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz]].<ref name=bz>{{cite web|url=https://muzeum.slupsk.pl/zbiory/witkacy/witkacy-w-zbiorach-muzeum/|title=Witkacy w zbiorach muzeum|website=Muzeum Pomroza Środkowego w Słupsku|author=Beata Zgodzińska|language=pl|access-date=2 March 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Polska Filharmonia Sinfonia Baltica w Słupsku 89.jpg|thumb|Polish Philharmonic ''Sinfonia Baltica'' based in Słupsk]]

=== Theatres ===

Słupsk currently has three theatres:
* the ''Tęcza'' ("Rainbow") Theatre
* the ''Rondo'' ("Roundabout") Theatre
* the New Theatre, reopened after a 13-year absence
In the 1970s the Tęcza Theatre collaborated with the ''Arcadia'' Theatre from [[Oradea]], [[Romania]]. This partnership ended after 1989 for political reasons.

=== Cinemas ===
At one time Słupsk had five functioning cinemas, but only one, which belongs to the cinema chain [[Multikino]] remains open today, which is located in the [[Jantar Shopping Centre]]. There is also a small specialist cinema called "Rejs" on 3 Maja street. There was a cinema called 'Milenium', which has now been replaced by the [[Biedronka]] chain of supermarkets.

==Economy==
Słupsk has a developing economy based on a number of large [[factory|factories]]. The [[footwear]] industry has been particularly successful in the region, expanding its exports to many countries.

The [[Scania (company)|Scania]] commercial vehicles plant also plays a very significant role in Słupsk's economy, generating the highest revenue out of all companies currently based in Słupsk. Most of the [[bus]]es currently manufactured there are exported to [[Western Europe]].

{{multiple image|align = right|perrow = 3|total_width=450
| image1 = Mariacki slupsk.JPG|height1=300
| image2 = Kościół św. Jacka Słupsk.JPG |height2=300
| image3 = Kosciol sw. Ottona w Slupsku 0074.jpg |height3=300
| footer = Selected historic churches, from the left: St. Mary, Saint Hyacinth, Saint Otto
}}

==Demographics==
Following the medieval Christianization of the region, the vast majority of the town's population was composed of [[Catholics]], then after the [[Reformation]] until the end of World War II of [[Protestants]].

{{Historical populations|align=left|cols=2|1740|2599|1782|3744|1794|4335|1812|5083|1816|5236|1831|6581|1843|8540|1852|10714|1861|12691|1905|31154|1925|41605|1933|45307|1939|48060
|source=<ref name="K">Kratz (1865), [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_g2sRAAAAYAAJ/page/n524 p. 430]</ref><ref>''Meyers Konversations-Lexikon''. 6th edition, vol. 19, Leipzig and Vienna 1909, p. 60 {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>Gunthard Stübs und Pommersche Forschungsgemeinschaft: ''[http://stadt-stolp.de/ Die Stadt Stolp im ehemaligen Stadt Stolp in Pommern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109005830/http://stadt-stolp.de/ |date=2013-01-09 }}'', 2011. {{in lang|de}}</ref><ref>[http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stolp.html verwaltungsgeschichte.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723075122/http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/stolp.html |date=2011-07-23 }} {{in lang|de}}</ref>}}
{{clear|left}}

In 1994 the number of inhabitants reached the highest level.

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== Sports clubs ==
[[File:PLK Energa Czarni-Trefl.jpg|thumb|right|[[Polish Basketball League]] match between [[Czarni Słupsk]] and [[Trefl Sopot]] in Słupsk in 2013]]
The city's most notable sports club is [[basketball]] team [[Czarni Słupsk]], which competes in the [[Polish Basketball League]] (top division), where they finished 3rd four times (as of 2022). They are based in [[Hala Gryfia]].

Other clubs include:
* Akademia Tenisa Oxford: [[tennis]]
* [[Gryf Słupsk]]: [[association football|football]]
* Słupia Słupsk: [[team handball|handball]]
* Słupski Klub Sportowy Piast-B: [[badminton]]
* SKB Czarni Słupsk: [[boxing]]
* TPS Czarni Słupsk: women's [[volleyball]]
* Towarzystwo Pływackie Skalar Słupsk: [[swimming (sport)|swimming]]
* AML Słupsk: [[track and field|athletics]]
* LKS Fenix: [[track and field|athletics]]
* STS Gryf 3 Słupsk : [[judo]]

==Education==
[[File:Szkoła Policji w Słupsku.JPG|thumb|Police Academy in Słupsk]]
The city is home to the Pomeranian University in Słupsk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upsl.edu.pl|title=Uniwersytet Pomorski w Słupsku|language=pl|access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref> and a police academy.

== US missile defense complex ==
{{Main|US missile defense complex in Poland}}

The European Interceptor Site (EIS) of the US was planned in nearby [[Redzikowo]], forming a [[Ground-Based Midcourse Defense]] system in conjunction with a US narrow-beam midcourse tracking and discrimination radar system in the [[Czech Republic]]. It was supposed to consist of up to 10 [[missile silo|silo]]-based interceptors, a two-stage version of the existing three-stage Ground Based Interceptor (GBI), with [[Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle]] (EKV).

The missile shield has received much local opposition in the area, including several protests. This included a protest in March 2008, when an estimated 300 protesters marched on the proposed site of the missile base.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/29/europe/EU-GEN-Poland-Missile-Defense.php Protesters March on Proposed US Missile Base]</ref> The planned installation was later scrapped by President Obama on 17 September 2009.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/world/europe/18shield.html?_r=1&hp President Obama announces scrapping the planned missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic] [[New York Times]] Retrieved on 09-17-09</ref>

On February 12, 2016, the US Army has awarded AMEC Foster Wheeler a $182.7 million contract with an option to support the [[Aegis Ashore]] missile defense system in Poland. The contract comes as part of Phase III of the European Phased Adaptive Approach program, which aims to boost land-based missile defense systems for NATO allies against ballistic missile threats. The project is located in Redzikowo.<ref>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/sm-3-bmd-04986/] [https://www.army.mil/article/160459/US_military_construction_set_to_ramp_up_in_Poland/] [[Defense Industry Daily]] Retrieved on 02-18-16</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Georg Barlösius Heinrich von Stephan.jpg|140px|thumb|[[Heinrich von Stephan]], 1897]]
[[File:MJK32010 Bazon Brock (See-Conference 2017).jpg|140px|thumb|[[Bazon Brock]], 2017]]
[[File:Sarsa 2017.jpg|140px|thumb|[[Sarsa (singer)|Sarsa]], 2017]]
[[File:Milena Rosner 2012 01.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Milena Rosner]], 2012]]

===Early times===
* [[Erdmuthe of Brandenburg]] (1561–1623), Princess of Brandenburg, died in Stolp
* [[Michael Brüggemann]] (1583–1654), German Lutheran pastor, preacher and translator
* [[Matthias Palbitzki]] (1623–1677), Swedish diplomat and art-connoisseur
* [[Andrzej Stech]] (1635–1697), Polish Baroque painter
* [[Eduard von Bonin]] (1793–1865), Prussian General, minister of war

===19th century===
* [[Heinrich von Stephan]] (1831–1897), German official, founder of the [[Universal Postal Union]]<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Stephan, Heinrich von |volume=25 |page=879}}</ref>
* [[Berthold Suhle]] (1837–1904), German chess master
* [[Wilhelm Dames]] (1843–1898), German paleontologist 
* [[Otto Liman von Sanders]] (1855–1929), German general
* [[Georg von der Marwitz]] (1856–1929), German general
* [[Hedwig Lachmann]] (1865–1918), German author, translator and poet
* [[Hans Schrader]] (1869–1948), German classical archaeologist and art historian
* [[Erwin Bumke]] (1874–1945), German jurist
* [[Oswald Bumke]] (1877–1950), German psychiatrist, neurologist
* [[Otto Freundlich]] (1878–1943), German painter and sculptor, an abstract artist
* [[Walter Lichel]] (1885–1969) German general
* [[George Grosz]] (1893–1959), German artist, satirical caricaturist

===20th century===
* [[Paul Mattick]] (1904–1981), American Marxist political writer 
* [[Flockina von Platen]] (1905–1984), German actress
* [[Mieczysław Kościelniak]] (1912–1993), Polish painter, graphic designer and draftsman
* [[Bronisław Kostkowski]] (1915–1942), Polish Roman Catholic seminarian
* [[Odo Marquard]] (1928–2015), German philosopher, a member of the [[Joachim Ritter|Ritter School]]
* [[Christian Meier (historian)|Christian Meier]] (born 1929), German historian
* [[Edgar Wisniewski]] (1930–2007), German architect
* [[Bazon Brock]] (born 1936), German art theorist, critic and artist; member of [[Fluxus]] 
* [[Dieter Stöckmann]] (born 1941), German general
* [[Jörg Schmeisser]] (1942–2012), German printmaker
* [[Simone Barck]] (1944–2007), German contemporary historian and literary scholar
* [[Ulrich Beck]] (1944–2015), German sociologist
* [[Grażyna Auguścik]] (born 1955), Polish jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger
* [[Jolanta Szczypińska]] (1957–2018), Polish politician
* [[Edward Müller]] (born 1958), Polish politician and trade union activist
* [[Przemysław Gosiewski]] (1964–2010), Polish politician, deputy chair of Law and Justice party
* [[Tomasz Malinowski]] (born 1965), Polish-American diplomat and U.S. Congressman and politician
* [[Agnieszka Frydrychowicz-Tekieli]] (born 1974), Polish diplomat
* [[Sarsa (singer)|Sarsa Markiewicz]] (born 1989), Polish singer, songwriter and record producer

;Sport
* [[Heinz Radzikowski]] (1925–2017) a German field hockey player, competed in the [[1956 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Harry Klugmann]] (born 1940) a German equestrian and Olympic medallist at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Halina Aszkiełowicz-Wojno]] (1947–2018) Polish volleyball player, bronze medalist [[1968 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Darius Grala]] (born 1964) an endurance sports car racing driver in the USA
* [[Robert Kraskowski]] (born 1967) a Polish sport shooter, competed at the [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] and [[1996 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Mirosława Sagun-Lewandowska]] (born 1970) air gun champion, participant in three Olympic Games
* [[Tomasz Iwan]], (born 1971) Polish football (soccer) player
* [[Dariusz Ulanowski]], (born 1971) Polish former football (soccer) player
* [[Maciej Stolarczyk]], (born 1972), Polish former football (soccer) player, and currently [[Manager (association football)|football manager]]
* [[Paweł Kryszałowicz]] (born 1974), Polish footballer, represented Poland in 33 matches scoring 10 goals
* [[Milena Rosner]] (born 1980), volleyball player, participant in the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Kamila Augustyn]] (born 1982), Polish badminton player, competed at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Wojciech Jarmuż]] (born 1984), Polish footballer
* [[Miłosz Bernatajtys]] (born 1982), Polish rower, silver medallist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]

==Twin towns and cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}

Słupsk is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bari]], Italy
* {{flagicon|UZB}} [[Bukhara]], Uzbekistan
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[City of Carlisle|Carlisle]], United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carlisle.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/tourism_and_travel/town_twinning.aspx|publisher=carlisle.gov.uk|author=Carlisle City Council|access-date=2009-06-24|title=Town twinning|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202055741/http://www.carlisle.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/tourism_and_travel/town_twinning.aspx|archive-date=2008-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carlisletwins.org.uk/eng/frame.htm|publisher=carlisletwins.org.uk|title=Town Twinning at Carlisle City Council|access-date=2009-06-24|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827153515/http://www.carlisletwins.org.uk/eng/frame.htm|archive-date=2007-08-27}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|POR }} [[Cartaxo]], Portugal
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Flensburg]], Germany
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Ustka]], Poland
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Vantaa]], Finland
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Vordingborg, Denmark|Vordingborg]], Denmark

Former twin towns:
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Arkhangelsk]], Russia (terminated in 2022 due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]])<ref name=ending>{{cite web| url = https://www.portalsamorzadowy.pl/polityka-i-spoleczenstwo/slupsk-zakonczyl-wspolprace-z-rosyjskim-archangielskiem-i-bialoruskim-grodnem,357482.html |language=pl |title=Słupsk zakończył współpracę z rosyjskim Archangielskiem i białoruskim Grodnem |date=2 March 2022 |access-date = 9 March 2022}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|BLR}} [[Grodno]], Belarus (terminated in 2022 due to the country's [[Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine|involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine]])<ref name=ending/>

==See also==
* [[Słupsk (PKP station)]]

==References==
;Literature
* {{in lang|de}} Helge Bei der Wieden and Roderich Schmidt, eds.: ''Handbuch der historischen Stätten Deutschlands: Mecklenburg/Pommern'', Kröner, Stuttgart 1996, {{ISBN|978-3-520-31501-4}}, pp.&nbsp;287–290.
* {{in lang|de}} Haken, Christian Wilhelm: ''Drei Beiträge zur Erläuterung der Stadtgeschichte von Stolp'' (''Three Contributions to Explaining the History of the Town of Stolp'') (1775). Newly edited by F. W. Feige, Stolp, 1866 ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_J9oAAAAAcAAJ online])
* {{in lang|de}} Kratz, Gustav: ''Die Städte der Provinz Pommern, Abriss ihrer Geschichte, zumeist nach Urkunden'' (''The Towns of the Province of Pomerania - Sketch of their History, Mainly According to Historical Records''). Berlin, 1865 (reprinted in 2010 by [[Kessinger Publishing]], {{ISBN|1-161-12969-3}}), pp.&nbsp;413–439 ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_g2sRAAAAYAAJ/page/n507 <!-- pg=413 --> online])
* {{in lang|de}} Pagel, Karl-Heinz: ''Stolp in Pommern - eine ostdeutsche Stadt''. Lübeck, 1977 (with extensive bibliography, [http://bibliotekacyfrowa.eu/dlibra/docmetadata?id=297&from=&dirids=1 online])
* {{in lang|de}} Reinhold, Werner: ''Chronik der Stadt Stolp'' (''Chronicle of the Town of Stolp''). Stolp, 1861 ([https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_GOAAAAAAcAAJ online])
;Notes
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Słupsk}}
{{Commons|Słupsk|Ulice Słupska}}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Stolp|volume=25 |page=955 |short=x}}
* [http://www.slupsk.pl/index.php?lang=en Municipal website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909123623/http://www.slupsk.pl/index.php?lang=en |date=2008-09-09 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051109234952/http://www.muzeum.slupsk.pl/i1uk.htm Museum of Central Pomerania]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111003103838/http://www.ssi.slupsk.pl/en/history_slupsk.html History of Slupsk]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070816064556/http://www.bridgefestival.hg.pl/eng/index.php Solidarity International Bridge Festival]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080201123653/http://www.m29.bzzz.net/ March 29th, 2008: Demonstration Against U.S. Missile Defence Shield]

{{Cities of Poland}}
{{Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
{{Słupsk County}}
{{Pomerania}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Słupsk| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Pomeranian Voivodeship]]
[[Category:City counties of Poland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 9th century]]
[[Category:Members of the Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]]
[[Category:Sites of massacres of Poles in World War II]]
[[Category:Capitals of former countries]]