Erkelenz

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Name = Erkelenz
image_photo = Erkelenz altes rathaus.jpg
imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Old town hall in Erkelenz
Wappen = Wappen_erkelenz.jpg
lat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 05
lon_deg = 6 |lon_min = 19
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Nordrhein-Westfalen
Regierungsbezirk = Köln
Kreis = Heinsberg
Höhe = 92
Fläche = 117.35
Einwohner = 45502
Stand = 2006-05-01
PLZ = 41812
Vorwahl = 02431
Kfz = HS
Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 3 70 004
Gliederung = 9
Straße = Johannismarkt 17
Website = [http://www.erkelenz.de/ www.erkelenz.de]
Bürgermeister = Peter Jansen
Partei = CDU

Erkelenz is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located in the Rhineland region of Germany.

Geography

Erkelenz is situated in the lowland of the "Niederrheinische Bucht". The area is covered by loess, a very fertile soil. The landscape is called "Börde" and is plain. The agriculture is very productive.

River

The Niers River has its sources at Kuckum and Keyenberg.

Neighbouring towns

From North to West to south to East:
* Town of Wegberg (district Heinsberg)
* District-free city Mönchengladbach
* Municipality of Jüchen (district Rhein-Kreis Neuss)
* Municipality of Titz (district Düren)
* Town of Linnich (district Düren)
* Town of Hückelhoven (district Heinsberg)
* Town of Wassenberg (district Heinsberg)

Villages and hamlets of the town

Within the area of the city there are 45 villages and hamlets.

Lignite open-pit mining

In the future the Garzweiler II lignite open-pit mining will expand from the area of the towns Juechen and Grevenbroich (district Rhein Kreis Neuss) and begin to excavate in the area of Erkelenz. Several villages will have to resettle.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is parted horizontally. The upper part is blue, and contains the golden lion of the duchy of Guelders ("Geldern"). In the silver (white) lower part is a red medlar, also called rose of Geldern. The coat of arms shows the centuries old connection to the duchy. The colours from the shield became the colours of the city: blue and white.

History

*966: Erkelenz was first mentioned in a document as Herclinze, 1118 as Erkelenze.

*1326: Erkelenz received town rights from the count of Guelders. (1339 the noble man became duke.) The area of Erkelenz was an exclave of the duchy of Guelders in the duchy of Jülich. The town belonged to the Upper Quarter Roermond.

*1543: The Spanish Netherlands (Spanish Habsburg) got Erkelenz.

*1713: After the War of the Spanish succession the duke of Jülich, who was also prince of palatine (Pfalz-Neuburg) received the town.

*1794: France invaded the area, Erkelenz belonged to this state and became the capital of the district Canton Erkelenz in the Roer (département).

*1815: After the defeat of Napoleon Erkelenz became part of Prussia. The district was now called Kreis Erkelenz.

*1818/1819: The medieval walls and gates of the town were demolished.

*1852: The railway Aachen-Düsseldorf was built

*1897: The engineer Anton Raky established a drilling machine factory, today WIRTH Group.

*1938: The synagogue was desecrated.

*26 February 1945: Erkelenz was captured by the 407th infantry regiment of the U.S. 102nd Infantry Division (Ozarks), US Ninth Army.

*1945: The machine factory Hegenscheidt relocated from Ratibor to Erkelenz.

*1972: The district Kreis Erkelenz was abolished, it became part of the Kreis Heinsberg. The area of the town Erkelenz was enlarged from 25,3 Km² to 117,35 km².

Twin Towns

Saint James in France, on the border between Brittany and Normandy, near to Mont St. Michel.

Education

In Erkelenz there are ten primary schools, two secondary schools (Hauptschule), 1 secondary modern school (Realschule), two high schools (Cornelius-Burgh Gymnasium, Cusanus Gymnasium) and one school for persons with learning disabilities.

Transportation

* Motorway Bundesautobahn 46
* Motorway Bundesautobahn 61
* Railway station of the Deutsche Bahn

Buildings

* "Alte Rathaus" - The old cityhall (1546 AD)

* "Kirchturm" - The steeple of the catholic church St. Lambertus (1458 AD)

* "Burg" - The castle (1377 AD)

Museum

There is a Fire museum in the village of Loevenich .

External links

* [http://www.erkelenz.de Official site] de icon en icon fr icon nl icon
* [http://www.erkelenz-online.de Private, informative website] de icon en icon}
* [http://www.bilder-aus-erkelenz.de Photos and information] de icon
* [http://www.rheinisches-feuerwehrmuseum.de/ Firebrigade museum] de icon