Skuodas

Skuodas (pronunciation , Samogitian: Skouds) is a city located in Klaipėda County, in northwestern Lithuania, on the border with Latvia. The Bartuva river flows through the town.

Monument for the Pain of the Nation
Vilnius str. in Skuodas in 2013
Bartuva river in Skuodas
Skuodas
City
Sculpture for Jonas Chodkevičius (Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz)
Flag
Coat of arms
Skuodas
Location of Skuodas
Coordinates: 56°16′0″N 21°32′0″E
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionSamogitia
County Klaipėda County
MunicipalitySkuodas district municipality
EldershipSkuodas town eldership
Capital ofSkuodas district municipality
Skuodas town eldership
Skuodas eldership
First mentioned1253
Granted city rights1572
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,163
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

History

Skuodas was first mentioned in written sources in 1253. At that time it belonged to Ceklis land. In 1572 city rights were granted to Skuodas thanks to Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz who owned the city. The same year after the city rights were granted, a new part of the city started to settle on the right wing of Bartuva river. In the centre of this part there were built a new rectangular square, town hall, commercial buildings.

After Chodkiewicz's era Sapieha family got the city as a trousseau and became the owners of Skuodas. Sapieha family owned the city until 1832. In 1776 Skuodas lost city rights and became just a border city with a customs.

In 1821 present masonry Evangelical Lutheran Church was built. In 1847 current Catholic Church was built using masonry of stone and bricks. It reflects features of Romanesque Revival architecture. This church was consecrated by bishop Motiejus Valančius in 1850. In 1614 parish school was established.[1]

Railway branch line Priekule-Klaipėda was built in 1915 and printing house was established in 1911.

The town had a Jewish community in the 19th century, with 4 synagogues. By 1897,almost 2,300 Jews formed 60% of the population and dominated commerce in the town. In 1941, following the German invasion,[2] and the establishment of persecutions by Lithuanian nationalists, 500 Jews of the town were massacred.[3]

During the interwar period Skuodas had about 4410 inhabitants. It was known for its shoe factory Kontinent. Skuodas also had a new cinema with modern equipment. The city suffered severely during World War II. After the war the ruined rectangular square was rebuilt. In 1992 the coat of arms of Skuodas was approved.[4]

Nowadays Skuodas has a gymnasium, a primary school, a secondary school and a high school. There is also a museum, post office, centre of the culture, central hospital of municipality, foster home and public library in the city.

History of the name

The city's name Skuodas originated from the surname, Skuodas. Germans called the city Schoden, and Skudn.

At the end of the 16th century, the new part of the city was called Johanisberg or Johanisburg. However these names did not catch on.

Famous Residents
  • Eugenijus Gedgaudas (1924-2006), Lithuanian born USA radiologist;
  • Simonas Daukantas (1793-1864), famous Lithuanian historian, author of the first historical works in Lithuanian;
  • Vaclovas Intas (1927-2007), doctor, founder of Mosėdis Museum of Stones;
  • Vytautas Vaclovas Donėla (born 1930), Lithuanian philosopher;
  • Alvydas Duonėla (born 1976), retired Lithuanian canoeist, world champion;
  • Vygaudas Ušackas (born 1964), a Lithuanian diplomat, former Lithuania's Minister for Foreign Affairs, current European Union's special representative and the head of EU mission for Russia;
  • Remigijus Motuzas (born 1956), a Lithuanian diplomat, current ambassador of Lithuania to Russia.

Twin cities

See also
  1. http://www.skouds.lt/?zm=1238051597
  2. http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search//page/1/item/145/
  3. Shmuel Spector, ed., The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, New York University Press, 2001, p. 1197
  4. http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=2083
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