Gumieńce (; German until 1945: ; ) is a municipal neighbourhood of Szczecin, Poland, located within the West district, featuring the low-rise housing. Gumieńce has an area of 10.4 km<sup>2</sup>, and in 2025, was inhabited by 23,846 people, making it the most populous neighbourhood in the city. It includes the Central Cemetery, which had over 300,000 burials, and with an area of 172.33 ha, is the largest cemetery in Poland, the third largest in Europe, and one of the largest in the world.
The first signs of human presence in the area of the modern Gumieńce date to the Neolithic period, and there were discovered signs of former settlements dating as far as the 4th century BCE. The oldest records the name of Gumieńce date to 1229, when it was a small farming community. The area began rapidly developing in the second half of the 19th century, with the construction of the housing estates in the area, as well as large brickworks and one of the largest sugar refineries in the region. In 1901, one of the largest cemeteries in Europe, now known as the Central Cemetery, was opened in its southeastern portion. The village was incorporated into the city in 1939.
Toponomy
The name of comes from Polish term , meaning the threshing floor, as it was used in construction of the first buildings in the area, due to their placement of a marshy ground. The oldest known record of the name, then spelt , comes from 1229. In German, the settlement was known as . It was a farming community, growing wheat and barley on fertile soil. The settlement was founded on a marshland. In 1899, next to it was also opened the Gumieńce Wąskotorowe () station of the narrow-gauge railway line between Pomorzany and Casekow, which operated until 1946, with most of the rail tracks being removed afterwards.
thumb|left|250px|The main gate of the [[Central Cemetery, Szczecin|Central Cemetery, built in 1903.]]
In 1901, the Central Cemetery, originally known as the Main Cemetery, was opened to the east of Gumieńce. The Romanesque Revival chapel and a monumental 77-meter-long main entrance gate, were opened in 1903. The cemetery was designed a picturesque park and a memorial garden. The cemetery had 57,000 burials by 1918, and 117,000 by 1940. In 1930, a modernist chapel was opened near the current Leszczynowa Street. It was destroyed during the Second World War, and its ruins were removed in 1984. The Romanesque Revival chapel was also damaged during the conflict, and was later destroyed in a fire in 1981, and following a long reconstruction process, it was finally reopened in 1994. Currently, with the area of 172.33 ha, it is the largest cemetery in Poland, the third largest in Europe, and one of the largest in the world, and had over 300,000 burials.
Between 1924 and 1926, an airstrip was operated near the current Cukrowa Street. In 1936, the Postal Neighbourhood (; ) was founded between the current Ku Słońcu, Miarki, Pięknej, and Sucharskiego Streets. Before 1945, it had a population of around five thousand people. Świerczewo was incorporated into Szczecin in 1911, while Gumieńce, Słowieńsko, and Ostoja, on 15 October 1939. During the Second World War, three forced labour camps were operated in Gumieńce. A garden square was developed around it, which was named the Adina Blady-Szwajger Park.
In the 1980s, a housing estate of Reda, with apartment buildings, was developed at the corner of Krakowska and Południowa Street, for the employees of Polska Żegluga Morska (Polish Maritime Shipping).
In 1999, the shopping centre Ster, was opened at 67 Ku Słońcu Street, with a floor area of 32,000 m<sup>2</sup>.
In 2013, the Western Cemetery was opened in the southwest of the neighbourhood, at the corner of Bronowicka and Janiny Smoleńskiej Streets. It did not became popular with the city inhabitants, with only around 100 burials taking place there by 2015.
In 2020, the shopping centre Rondo Hakena Park, was opened at 18 and 20 Południowa Street, with has a floor area of 10,000 m<sup>2</sup>.
Since 2020, the Saint Cyril and Methodius Church is being constructed at 6 Rajkowa Street.
Characteristics
thumb|250px|Aerial view of the [[Central Cemetery, Szczecin|Central Cemetery.]]
Gumieńce is a residential neighbourhood dominated by low-rise housing. Additionally, there is a high-rise multifamily housing estate of Reda placed at the corner of Krakowska and Południowa Street. Within its boundaries is also located the historic area of Słowieńsko, placed at the corner of Dworska and Ku Słuńcu Street.
The Szczecin Gumieńce railway station, which is part of the Berlin–Szczecin railway, is located at the corner of Cukrowa and Husarów Streets.
Boundaries
The boundaries of Gumieńce are approximately determined by Bukowa Street, Witkiewicza Street, Derdowskiego, Ku Słońcu Street, the railway line no. 406, Mieszka I Street, Białowieska Street, railway line no. 432, Krygiera Street, Cukrowa Street, Do Rajkowa Street, railway line no. 408 and 409, Okulickiego Street, Mierzyńska Street, and Welecka Streetm, and alongside the boundaries of the city of Szczecin. Gumieńce borders the neighbourhoods of Krzekowo-Bezrzecze, Pogodno, Pomorzany, Świerczewo, and Turzyn, as well as municipalities of Dobra Szczecińska and Kołbaskowo of Poliec County, with the villages of Mierzyn and Warzymice. The neighbourhood has a total area of 10.4 km<sup>2</sup>.