Hildesheim (district)

Infobox German district noregbez
name=Hildesheim
state=Lower Saxony
capital=Hildesheim
area=1206
population=292,900
population_as_of=2002
density=243
carsign=HI
url= [http://www.landkreishildesheim.de www.landkreishildesheim.de]

Hildesheim is a district ("Landkreis") in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Hanover, Peine, Wolfenbüttel, Goslar, Northeim, Holzminden and Hamelin-Pyrmont.

History

In 1885 the Prussian government established districts within the Province of Hanover. The present territory of the district was occupied by four districts: Hildesheim, Alfeld, Gronau and Marienburg. In 1932 the district of Gronau joined Alfeld, and the number of districts was reduced to three.

When the state of Lower Saxony was founded in 1946, the districts were reorganised: Hildesheim became an urban district, the remaining district of Hildesheim and Marienburg were merged to the new district of Hildesheim-Marienburg. The district of Alfeld remained in its former borders.

In 1974 the city of Hildesheim lost its status as an urban district and became part of the surrounding district, which was renamed to Hildesheim. The districts of Hildesheim and Alfeld were merged in 1977.

Geography

The district is located southeast of Hanover, and the northernmost parts border the Hanover metropolitan area. The northern half of the district is highly urbanised, while the south is covered with forests. The River Leine enters the district in the south, runs through the towns of Alfeld and Gronau and leaves in the northwest towards Hanover; a small affluent, the Innerste, joins the Leine from the east after flowing through the city of Hildesheim. Between Leine and Innerste there are the forested hill chains of the Hildesheimer Wald ("Hildesheim Forest") and the Sieben Berge ("Seven Mountains", see Alfeld for more details).

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

* [http://www.landkreishildesheim.de Official website] de icon