Meschede (German: [ˈmɛʃədə] ⓘ) is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

One of the five branches of South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences (also: Fachhochschule Südwestfalen (FH SWF)) is located here.

In February, 1945, the town was destroyed by Allied air raid bombings, because of its strategically important railway station, but rebuilt after the war.

[citation needed] In 1970, Meschede's St. Walburga Hospital was the site of a smallpox outbreak, as described in the book The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston.

[citation needed] Meschede is the seat of three major companies: An industrial zone is located near the crossing of the A 46 with the B 55 (see below).