Stepnica

The commune of Stepnica, located in the western part of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, is an urban-rural commune with its seat in the town of Stepnica. It was established in 1945 and until the end of 1998 was part of the Szczecin Voivodeship. The area is characterized by its picturesque location on the Goleniów Plain and in the Lower Odra Valley, with access to the Szczecin Lagoon. The commune, which constitutes 18.1% of the area of Goleniów County, is adjacent to various communes, including Świnoujście and Police. Data from 2016 shows that Stepnica had 4,919 inhabitants, making it one of the areas with the lowest population density in the region. The commune's architecture features notable landmarks such as a Classicist church and a half-timbered tavern. The commune attracts tourists due to its rich nature, including protected areas like the Białodrzew Kopicki, Czarnocin, and Wilcze Uroczysko nature reserves, which are habitats for many rare species of plants and animals. Here, you can find low peatland coasts and swamp forests, which are a destination for nature lovers. Stepnica also offers various tourist attractions, such as a guarded beach with catering infrastructure, a yacht marina, and kayaking routes on the Gowienica River. Equestrian tourism is developing in the commune, and localities like Czarnocin and Gąsierzyno offer a wide range of accommodation services and opportunities for water sports. The commune's economy is based mainly on fishing, agriculture, and forestry, with a fishing port and a sawmill as key infrastructure elements. The commune has a well-developed road network, while maritime and water transport are used to a limited extent. In 2016, the commune was in good financial condition, with expenditures amounting to PLN 19.1 million. Stepnica consists of 16 village administrative districts (sołectw), which fosters local self-government and community activity. Its territory includes both rural settlements and forest areas, which are excellent places for hiking, cycling, and gathering mushrooms and berries. Interestingly, due to its location, this commune has the potential for further development in tourism and transport, which could contribute to its future attractiveness.