Herford (district)

Infobox German district
name=Herford
state=North Rhine-Westphalia
capital=Herford
regierungsbezirk=Detmold
area=449.95
population=253,751
population_as_of=31/12/2006
density=564
carsign=HF
url=http://www.kreis-herford.de

Herford (IPA2|ˈhɛʁfɔʁt) is a "Kreis" (district) in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Minden-Lübbecke, Lippe, the urban district of Bielefeld, and the districts Gütersloh and Osnabrück.

History

The region is also known as "Wittekind's land", as the last fights of Wittekind's Saxon tribes against Charlemagne took place here. He is believed to be buried in the town of Enger.

When the area became part of the Prussian province Westphalia, the first district Herford was created in 1816. In 1832 it was merged with the district Bünde. In 1911, the city of Herford left the district; however, it lost its status as an independent urban district in 1969. The district reached its current size in 1973 when the municipality Uffeln, which was formerly in the district Minden, was merged into the city Vlotho.

Geography

The district is located between the two mountain chains of the Wiehengebirge in the north and the Teutoburg Forest in the south. To the northeast it is bounded by the Weser river.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

* [http://www.kreis-herford.de Official website] (German)
* [http://www.herforder-pils.de/ Herforder Pils]