Großräschen

Großräschen

Coat of arms
Großräschen

Coordinates: 51°34′59″N 14°00′00″E / 51.58306°N 14.00000°ECoordinates: 51°34′59″N 14°00′00″E / 51.58306°N 14.00000°E
Country Germany
State Brandenburg
District Oberspreewald-Lausitz
Government
  Mayor Thomas Zenker (SPD)
Area
  Total 81.29 km2 (31.39 sq mi)
Population (2012-12-31)[1]
  Total 9,010
  Density 110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 01983
Dialling codes 035753
Vehicle registration OSL
Website www.grossraeschen.de

Großräschen (Sorbian: Rań) is a town in Lower Lusatia, in Germany. Administratively, it is part of the district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz, in the state of Brandenburg.

Geographical situation

Großräschen is situated south of the Niederlausitzer Landrücken, a sandy stretch of land grown with pine forests in the centre of Lusatia. The small river Rainitza used to take its source in meadows north of the town centre. South of the town, Lake Ilse (now an open-cast lignite mine) will be completed around 2020. The town proper comprises the historical core, Kleinräschen, as well as Großräschen. The southernmost quarter, Bückgen, was pulled down due to mining. Outside the town proper, the villages of Freienhufen (historically Dobristroh) with Bulldorf, Dörrwalde, Wormlage, Saalhausen, Woschkow, and Schmogro (Großräschen-Ost).

History

Both Großräschen and Kleinräschen were first mentioned in an official document in 1370. Form of settlement and the name suggest that Kleinräschen is older than Großräschen. The villages developed slowly; the Wendish population depended almost entirely on agriculture. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, heavy industry developed, and the villages grew rapidly. In 1965, they were granted the status of a town, having been incorporated into one community in 1925. The 1980s brought the destruction of Bückgen, whose inhabitants (4000 of them had to leave their homes) were moved into blocks of flats. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the decline of the industries (glass manufacturing, brick production, mining and agriculture used to be presented in the town's coat of arms) caused heavy unemployment.

Demography

Großräschen:
Population development since 1875 within the current boundaries
[2]
Year Inhab.
1875 2975
1890 4843
1925 14414
1933 15136
1939 15024
1946 16332
1950 16282
1964 16210
1971 17006
1981 14306
Year Inhab.
1985 14023
1989 14285
1990 14476
1991 14342
1992 14308
1993 14672
1994 14576
1995 14296
1996 14066
1997 13785
Year Inhab.
1998 13399
1999 13042
2000 12693
2001 12402
2002 12049
2003 11785
2004 11537
2005 11335
2006 11148
2007 10873
Year Inhab.
2008 10697
2009 10428
2010 10262
2011 9200
2012 9010

Detailed data sources are to be found in the Wikimedia Commons.[3]

Sights

Infrastructure

Partner cities

References

External links