Gartz

Gartz
Coat of arms
Gartz
Location of Gartz within Uckermark district
Coordinates: 53°12′0″N 14°23′0″E / 53.20000°N 14.38333°E / 53.20000; 14.38333Coordinates: 53°12′0″N 14°23′0″E / 53.20000°N 14.38333°E / 53.20000; 14.38333
Country	Germany
State	Brandenburg
District	Uckermark
Municipal assoc.	Gartz (Oder)
Government
• Mayor	Burkhard Fleischmann (SPD)
Area
• Total	61.69 km2 (23.82 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	2,478
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	16307
Dialling codes	03332
Vehicle registration	UM
Website	www.gartz.de

Gartz is a town in the Uckermark district in Brandenburg, Germany. It is located on the West bank of the Oder River, about 20 km south of Szczecin (Stettin).

The existence of the town was first documented in 1124. In 1249 Gartz was granted town privileges by Duke Barnim I of Pomerania. Because of its strategic location on the river, the town was frequently vulnerable during military campaigns.

Since the Oder-Neisse line was made the German-Polish border in 1945, Gartz is now a border town.

Across the river lies an industrial area of the Polish town of Gryfino (Greifenhagen). Gartz is part of Lower Oder Valley National Park.

The name derives from northern Lechitic (Proto-Polish) dialects (namely from West Pomeranian) from the word "gard" < *gord, meaning "fortified settlement".

Many Poles moved to Gartz, 32 (of 62) children in the local kindergarten have non-German parents.