CROSSEN

crossen, or krossen, a town of germany, in the kingdom of prussia, on the oder, here crossed by a bridge, at the influx of the bober, 31 m. s.e. of frankfort-on-oder by rail. pop. (1900) 7369. of the churches in the town three are protestant and one roman catholic. besides the modern school (realprogymnasium), there are a technical school for viniculture and fruit-growing and a dairy school. there are manufactories of copper and brass ware, cloth, &c., while in the surrounding country the chief industries are fruit and grape growing. there is a brisk shipping trade, mainly in wine, fruit and fish. crossen was founded in 1005 and was important during the middle ages as a point of passage across the oder. it attained civic rights in 1232, was for a time the capital of a silesian duchy, which, on the death of barbara of brandenburg, widow of the last duke, passed to brandenburg (1482). in may 1886 the town was devastated by a whirlwind.