[1] The town is in a marshy district between the river Stobnica and Klukom lake, 32 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of Stargard and on the main railway line between Szczecin and Poznań.

Besides the Gothic church, there are a number of historical buildings from the 19th century industrial period namely, a gasification plant and a water pressure tower which dominates the town's skyline.

Choszczno has a strong military tradition and is the home base for the 2nd Artillery Regiment, which is part of the 12th Mechanised Division headquartered in Szczecin.

[4] Under Wrymouth, the region had been included within the Greater Polish castellanies of Drzeń (Drezdenko)[6][7] and Santok,[7][8] with the area around modern Choszczno belonging to the northernmost part of the latter.

Die Kastellanei Zantoch umfaßte damals hauptsächlich das Warthebruch von der Burg flußabwärts bis zur Einmündung des Vietzer Fließes und in ihrer nördlichen Hälfte die beiden Landsberger Grundmoränenplatten, soweit diese schon besiedelt waren."

Through the later 12th and early 13th centuries, Greater Poland had lost control over the northern areas of the Drzeń and Santok castellanies, and the Pomeranians had stopped paying tribute.

[16][under discussion] The duke of Greater Poland, Władysław Odonic, donated the Choszczno area to the Cistercian Kołbacz Abbey in 1233.

[18][under discussion] Since Odonic made the donation without being in actual control of the area, the Kołbacz monks asked for recognition by the Pomeranian duke Barnim I, which was granted in 1237.

[19] The Kołbacz monks then started settlement and amelioration of the grant (Ostsiedlung),[20] including the construction of the town of Treben northwest of Sovin, which however was abandoned soon after.

[24] Among those who would have been affected by the transition of these territories was Ludwig von Wedel, an influential magnate who had just changed his allegiance from Barnim toward the margraves.

[23] In this context, the margraves founded the town of Arnswalde east of Sovin, at the site of the modern city center.

[22] The name derives from "Arn", a contracted genitive form of German Aar, an antiquated word for eagle (the margravians' heraldic beast); and "Wald(e)", also "Wold(e)", meaning woods or forest.

[27] This town, built between 1269 and 1289,[22][28] and in the beginning populated with people from Angermünde,[29] was first mentioned in 1269 as the site of the conclusion of the treaty of Arnswalde.

Medieval Arnswalde consisted of four districts enclosed by a ring of the city walls and other defensive structures[35] and the surrounding area (154 Hufen by 1455).

[39] Arnswalde became a center of opposition against the order's rule, and after the council paid tribute to the Polish king in 1433, the city was in political dependence to Poland until 1437.

[35] After receiving a guarantee of impunity for siding with Poland, the town fell again under the rule of Teutonic Knights, who, however, did not respect the agreement and carried out executions among the local populace.

The 18th century again brought difficulties, and the town experienced a number of tragedies caused by the plague, the worst in 1800 when 65 children died.

The microclimate in the region drew in weekend tourists from as far as Berlin and Brandenburg, and the new hospital next to the lake catered for convalescing patients.

[44] After the German resistance stopped on 23 February 1945, Arnswalde was handed over to the Poles for administration as a part of the Recovered Territories.

Due to the damage sustained by the town, the majority of the burnt-out buildings were dismantled and the reclaimed bricks were sent for the rebuilding of Warsaw, destroyed by the Germans.

Starting with its partnership with Fürstenwalde in 1978, the local government has been active in fostering foreign co-operation and the creation of links with different sister cities.