Dingolfing

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Dingolfing (Dingolfing)


Country	Germany
State	Bavaria (Bayern)
Administrative region	Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern)
District	Dingolfing-Landau
Population	18,623 (June 2006)
Area	44.04 km²
Population density	422 /km²
Elevation	365 m
Coordinates	48°38′ N 12°30′ E
Postal code	84130
Area code	08731
Licence plate code	DGF
Mayor	Josef Pellkofer (UWG)
Website	www.dingolfing.de

Dingolfing is a town in Southern Bavaria. It is the seat of the Landkreis (district) Dingolfing-Landau.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Coat of arms
5 External links

[edit] History

The area now called Dingolfing was first mentioned in Tinguluinga in the year 833.

In the year 1251 the Duke of Bavaria, Otto II awarded municipal rights to the town.

Dingolfing's large growth took place during the years of about 1315 to 1600. During this time the city prospered mostly through trade, fishing, leather craft and the production of wool cloths. The duke promoted these works, causing Dingolfing to prosper even more.

The war of Austrian succession caused very heavy damage to the city and decimated the population by epidemics. The city became nothing more than debris and ash on May 16, 1743 after being fired upon by Austrian troops. Greater parts of the city were burnt in a large fire. Many of the town's records were destroyed in this fire.

Between 1802 and 1803 the local courts were dissolved. Between 1816 and 1817 there were many economic and harvest failures. There was also a period of large price increases. This period is thought to be the lowest point in the long history of the city.

A railroad track leading from Munich to Prague and many new roads were built in the mid 1800s, which began a major turn-around for the city. Many new industries formed in Dingolfing around this time too. The region began to paint a new picture of itself.

In 1905 a new machine shop opened to repair broken farming equipment. After the Second World War this shop changed its business and began producing scooters and automobiles. In the 1950s this plant began producing automobiles under the Glas car company. These cars were called the Goggomobils. In 1967 this plant was bought by the Bavarian Motor Works (BMW), from which the city prospers greatly today.

After 1945 and especially since the 1970s Dingolfing intensified its investments in its urban infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and housing for the elderly.

[edit] Geography

Dingolfing is located on the Isar river. It is about 17 miles east of Landshut and 18 miles south of Straubing. Dingolfing is about 62 miles northeast of Munich, the capitol of the state of Bavaria. The Isar divides the city into the older historical section of the city and the newer section.

There are three main parts of the historical city, Upper, Middle, and Lower Dingolfing.

[edit] Economy

The most important industry in this town and the region Dingolfing-Landau depends on the automobile industry. In Dingolfing, you can find the largest BMW Plant in the world. Every year about 270.000 cars (BMW 5, 6, 7 series and also the M5 and M6) leave this plant.

[edit] Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays:

The blue and white checkered pattern of Bavaria
Three gold stars, representing the upper and lower town of Dingolfing and the parts on the left bank of the Isar river.