Marijampole is the capital of Marijampole County (similar to a county seat in the US). It is located in the southwest of Lithuania. The town was first written about in 1667 as the name Pasesupe. The city changed names a few times through it's history. It was then Staropole, named for Prienai starost's guards in 1739. (starosta is the name of the head of county administration).
Staropole was destroyed by a fire in 1765 and when the area was rebuilt, it was named Maryampol after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Following World War I the town was given its current name, Marijampole. From 1955 to 1989, the town was called Kapsukas after the founder of the Lithuanian Communist Party. The historical name was returned as Lithuania regained it's independence.
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