Meldorf

Meldorf
Meldorf
Location of the town of Meldorf within Dithmarschen district
Coordinates	54°5′N 9°4′E / 54.08333°N 9.06667°E / 54.08333; 9.06667Coordinates: 54°5′N 9°4′E / 54.08333°N 9.06667°E / 54.08333; 9.06667
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
District	Dithmarschen
Municipal assoc.	Mitteldithmarschen
Mayor	Reinhard Pissowotzki
Basic statistics
Area	21.25 km2 (8.20 sq mi)
Elevation	4 - 12 m
Population	7,416 (31 December 2010)[1]
- Density	349 /km2 (904 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	HEI
Postal codes	25697–25704
Area code	04832
Website	www.meldorf.de

Meldorf is a city in western Schleswig-Holstein, in the district of Dithmarschen, and straddling the Miele river. It was first mentioned in writing before 1250 ad, and it served as the capital of the Dithmarschen, a peasant republic with Allies in the Hanseatic league dating from 1468. The city was sacked in 1500 AD when King John of the Kalmar Union attempted to conquer the republic—his forces were self-assured and sloppy, and were routed by a force of poor arms and far inferior numbers in the Battle of Hemmingstedt. However, in 1559, the republic was conquered, and the city lost its municipal rights, and wouldn’t regain them until 1869. Over time, it lost the capitalship to the town of Heide, which developed a larger economy.

Meldorf is the birthplace of mathematician Olaus Henrici.

Meldorf is the seat of the Amt ("collective municipality") Mitteldithmarschen.

References

1. ^ "Statistikamt Nord: Bevölkerung in Schleswig-Holstein am 31. Dezember 2010 nach Kreisen, Ämtern, amtsfreien Gemeinden und Städten" (in German). Statistisches Amt für Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein. 31 December 2010. http://www.statistik-nord.de/uploads/tx_standocuments/A_I_2_vj104_S.pdf. 

External links

• (German) www.meldorf.de
• (author uncertain) (visited 20 November 2005)
• E F Robertson, J.J. O'Connor (visited 21 November 2005)