Middle Franconia
| Middle Franconia (district) Mittelfranken | |
|---|---|
| Regierungsbezirk | |
 Map of Bavaria highlighting the Regierungsbezirk of Middle Franconia (district) | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Bavaria |
| Region seat | Ansbach |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,245.70 km2 (2,797.58 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2015)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,738,686 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| Website | regierung.mittelfranken.bayern.de |
Middle Franconia (German: Mittelfranken) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach but the most populated city is Nuremberg.
Subdivisions
The region is divided into seven Landkreise (districts) and five Kreisfreie Städte ('district-free cities'):
- Landkreise
- Kreisfreie Städte
History
After the founding of the Kingdom of Bavaria the state was totally reorganised and, in 1808, divided into 15 administrative government regions (German: Regierungsbezirke (singular Regierungsbezirk)), in Bavaria called Kreise (singular: Kreis). They were created in the fashion of the French departements, quite even in size and population, and named after their main rivers.
In the following years, due to territorial changes (e. g. loss of Tyrol, addition of the Palatinate), the number of Kreise was reduced to 8. One of these was the Rezatkreis (Rezat District). In 1837 king Ludwig I of Bavaria renamed the Kreise after historical territorial names and tribes of the area. This also involved some border changes or territorial swaps. Thus the district name of Rezatkreis changed to Upper Franconia.
Main sights
Next to the major city Nuremberg, the capital Ansbach and the former residene city Erlangen the cities of the Romantic Road Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl belong to the major tourist attractions. The Lichtenau Fortress, Rothenberg Fortress, Hohenstein and Cadolzburg belong to the most important castles of Middle Franconia. The Franconian Jura and the northern valley of the River Altmühl are among the scenic attractions.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms displays:
|
Population
| Year | Inhabitants |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 815,895 |
| 1910 | 930,868 |
| 1939 | 1,065,122 |
| 1950 | 1,273,030 |
| 1961 | 1,371,144 |
| 1970 | 1,486,389 |
| 1987 | 1,521,484 |
| 2002 | 1,703,869 |
| 2005 | 1,712,275 |
| 2006 | 1,712,622 |
| 2008 | 1,714,453 |
| 2010 | 1,710,876 |
See also
- Upper Franconia (Oberfranken)
- Lower Franconia (Unterfranken)
References
- ↑ "Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes". Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung (in German). June 2016.
- ↑ County of Hohenzollern
- ↑ Franconia
- ↑ File:Wappen Deutscher Bund.svg
External links
Administrative regions (Regierungsbezirk) of Bavaria | |||
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.svg.png){kind=small} | Regions |  | |
| Former region |
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