History of the county

The country borders were fairly similar in the period from the 14th century until 1975. Before the war it consisted of 80 communes and 3 towns, covered the area of 1102 km2 and was inhabited by 52,500 citizens. After the war it was divided between 3 towns and 13 collective rural communes: Bobrówko, Drezdenko, Goszczanowo, Gościm, Górki Noteckie, Stare Kurowo, Lubicz, Mierzęcin, Niegosław, Ogardy, Słonów, Trzebicz, Zwierzyn, which in 1946 were limited to 9 communes. Goszczanowo, Górki Noteckie, Lubicz and Mierzęcin lost its status as communes. Until 1954 the county’s area was the same as before the war. In 1954 the following villages were excluded from the county: Chełst, Moczydła, Kawczyn and Nowe Bielice; they were now part of the Poznań County. Wołogoszcz, Derkacze and Grąsy were included in the Szczecin Voivodeship. The area decreased to 1065 km2 and was inhabited by 47 000 citizens. In 1973 7 communes were established: Bobrówko, Dobiegniew, Drezdenko, Gościm, Stare Kurowo, Strzelce Krajeńskie and Zwierzyn. At the beginning of 1976 – when the country was liquidated - Bobrówko was included in the Strzelce Krajeńskie commune and Gościm to Drezdenko commune. Almost all of the Radęcin commune (Szczecin Voivodeship) was joined with Dobiegniewo. By virtue of the Administrative Reform Act on 1 January 1999 the Strzelce – Drezdenko County was established, which is located in the Northern part of the Lubusz Voivodeship with the following towns and communes Strzelce Krajeńskie, Dobiegniew, Drezdenko and communes: Stare Kurowo and Zwierzyn. The seat of the county authorities is located in Strzelce Krajeńskie.

Strzelce Krajeńskie

Strzelce are located on the historical route from Aachen to Królewiec. The oldest mention about Strzelce comes from 1272 and was recorded in the Wielkopolska Chronicle. The first citizens were dealing in cuktivating soil, craft, trade, particularly fish and beer production. In 18th century, during the reign of Frederick William II and Frederick II, colonization of the Netze District took place. II World War brought great damage to the town. Consequences of war were dealt with in the 1960s and 1970s.

Drezdenko

The town’s history is the history of Poland. Drezdenko borough was established by Mieszko I in the 10th century on the communication routes from Poznań to Pomerania. During the reign of Bolesław III Wrymouth Drezdenko was the seat of castellan. For centuries Drezdenko changed hands. From 1637 for 10 years it was occupied by Swedes, then by the Russian army, which completely ruined the fortress. During Napoleon wars it was occupied by the French army. In 1945 Drezdenko was incorporated to Poland. Several years after the war, the town was seen as the industrial and administrative centre for the local farming.

Dobiegniew

In 1250 king Przemysł I gave Dobiegniew to the Cistercian monastery located near Poznań. Once a fishing village obtained municipal rights about 1298.

The town was destroyed several times with great fires. During war times, in the years 1940-45 Dobiegniewo was the place of the biggest prisoner-of-war camp Oflag II C Woldenberg, with about 6.500 officers and non-coms. In the place of the oflag a Woldenberg Museum was created. In 1945 85% of the town was destroyed.

Zwierzyn

The village itself was built and settled in the years 1765 – 1766, during colonization led by king of Prussia, Frederick the Great. 40 new settlements and farms were then established. Zwierzyn was among those new-established colonies.

Stare Kurowo

Stare Kurowo is a very old Slavic settlement, which was once subject to a borough in Drezdenko. The oldest mention of the town come from 1317. In January 1945 the area of Stare Kurowo was liberated by the 1st Belorussian Front of the Soviet Army and Polish Army and was fully restored to Poland. Since then a new period for the region has begun.