Arnsberg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Arnsberg


Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Administrative region	Arnsberg
District	Hochsauerland
Population	76,330 (2005)
Area	193.43 km²
Population density	396 /km²
Elevation	212 m
Coordinates	51°23′ N 8°5′ E
Postal code	59755-59759, 59821, 59823
Area code	02931, 02932, 02935, 02937
Licence plate code	HSK
Mayor	Hans-Josef Vogel (CDU)
Website	arnsberg.de

Arnsberg

Arnsberg is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the north-east of the Sauerland in the Ruhr river valley, at 51°23′N 8°3′E. Population: 76,330 (2005). Area: 193.44 km². It belongs to the district Hochsauerland, in the administrative region of Arnsberg. It is twinned with the London Borough of Bexley in the U.K..

[edit] History

Arnsberg was built from the counts of Werl in the 11th century. They built a castle there whose remains can still be visited and are occasionally used for public celebrations. It was completely destroyed in the Seven years war in 1769.

In the 12th century old Arnsberg became the seat of Westphalian jurisdiction. Later, the city lost its independence and belonged to the Cologne area when their archbishops reigned the area.

The current city of Arnsberg was created in 1975 by merging 14 cities and municipalities into one city. Old Arnsberg itself and Neheim-Hüsten are the two urban parts, while the other parts are very rural. Neheim and Hüsten had been merged in 1941.

Finally in 1816 it went to Prussia and became seat of the local administration.

In the Second World War, dozens of Arnsberg citizens were killed in several British air raids aimed at destroying the railway viaduct. The target was finally destroyed on March 19, 1945 using a Grand Slam bomb.

In the late 20th century, the town was twinned with the London Borough of Bexley in England.