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 / 56.26667°N 21.53333°E / 56.26667; 21.53333Coordinates: 56°16′0″N 21°32′0″E / 56.26667°N 21.53333°E / 56.26667; 21.53333
Country	Lithuania
Ethnographic region	Samogitia
County	Klaipėda County
Municipality	Skuodas district municipality
Eldership	Skuodas town eldership
Capital of	Skuodas district municipality Skuodas town eldership Skuodas eldership
First mentioned	1253
Granted city rights	1572
Population (2005)
• Total	7,598
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

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

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 rectungalar 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.

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