Menden (Sauerland)

Menden (Sauerland)
Old townhall in Menden
Menden (Sauerland)
Location of the town of Menden (Sauerland) within Märkischer Kreis district
Coordinates	51°26′0″N 7°48′0″E / 51.433333°N 7.8°E / 51.433333; 7.8Coordinates: 51°26′0″N 7°48′0″E / 51.433333°N 7.8°E / 51.433333; 7.8
Administration
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Arnsberg
District	Märkischer Kreis
Mayor	Volker Fleige (SPD)
Basic statistics
Area	86.08 km2 (33.24 sq mi)
Elevation	115 - 380 m
Population	55,496 (31 December 2010)[1]
- Density	645 /km2 (1,670 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	MK
Postal codes	58706, 58708, 58710
Area codes	02373 02378 (Halingen) 02379 (Asbeck)
Website	www.menden.de

A sculpture from Mile Prerad (2008)

Menden (Sauerland) is a town in the district Märkischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of the Sauerland near the Ruhr river.

History

Menden's first churches were built in the 9th century. From 1180 on the area around Menden was part of the Cologne region, however, as it was on the border with the County of Mark, it was often fought over. In 1276, it received city rights. Industrialization started early: in 1695 needle production was the first industry, later followed by limestone products like cement. In 1816 Menden was included within Prussia, after being part of Hesse for 13 years. In 1975 the city was merged with several previously independent municipalities, thus it grew in area as well as population.

Points of interest

The Hönnetal, a narrow valley with some beautiful cliffs carved into the limestone bedrock by the river Hönne.

Education

Primary education

In Menden (Sauerland), there are eleven (elementary schools).

Secondary schools

Besides four hauptschulen, two realschulen, there are three gymnasien:

• Heilig-Geist-Gymnasium, till 1977 only for boys
• Walburgisgymnasium
• Walramgymnasium

Culture

The theatre, managed by the city government, is the "Theater am Ziegelbrand" (TAZ). The director is Volker Fleige.

Music

A festival is Menden à la carte. It is organized by the Initiativkreis Mendener Wirtschaft.

Personalities

• Dendemann, singer
• Uli Borowka, footballer
• Augustin Henninghaus, missionary and bishop
• Violetta Körner, actor
• Wolfram Kuschke, politician
• Angelika Nützsche, actor and singer
• Mile Prerad, sculpturer
• Laura Narjes, Dancer and Greek TV host of Greek and German descent

Twin towns

• Aire-sur-la-Lys, France, since 1965
• Ardres, France, since 1974/1975
• Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium, since 1978
• Chalkida, Greece
• Delyn, Wales.
• Eisenberg, Germany
• Flintshire, Wales, since 1980
• Lestrem, France, since 1971
• Locon, France, since 1964
• Marœuil, France, since 1984
• Plungė, Lithuania, since 1992/1993
• Lee's Summit, Missouri, USA

References

1. ^ "Amtliche Bevölkerungszahlen" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. 31 December 2010. http://www.it.nrw.de/statistik/a/daten/amtlichebevoelkerungszahlen/index.html. 

External links

• Official site (German)
• Theater am Ziegelbrand (German)