Old Czarnowo

Stare Czarnowo is a rural municipality located in the western part of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, within the Gryfino County. Its administrative seat is the village of Stare Czarnowo. The municipality ranks 69th in terms of area and 95th in terms of population in the voivodeship. As of the end of 2019, it was inhabited by 3,828 people, accounting for 4.7% of the county's population. The municipality lies on the Pyrzyce-Stargard Plain and within the Beech Forest (Puszcza Bukowa) and the Szczecin Landscape Park, making it an area of significant natural appeal. Forests cover 44% of the municipality's area, while lakes such as Glinna, Binowskie, and Będgoszcz are important elements of the local ecosystem. The municipality boasts rich tourist resources, including hiking and recreational trails in the Beech Forest and opportunities for water sports on the Płonia River. It is also home to valuable historical monuments, with the most significant historical locality being Kołbacz, known for its historic monastery. The German war cemetery in Glinna, a burial site for victims of World War II, is also located within the municipality. The area is well-connected, with the provincial road No. 120 and a historic railway line that was closed after 1966. In 2007, the mayor of Szczecin proposed incorporating the municipality into the city limits, but the idea was not accepted. In 2016, the municipal budget amounted to PLN 16.1 million, with revenues of PLN 16.2 million and public debt at PLN 1.7 million. The municipality consists of 12 village administrative districts (sołectwa), including Binowo, Dębina, Glinna, and Żelewo. An interesting fact is that Stare Czarnowo Municipality covers 8.2% of the county's area, highlighting its regional importance.