Halver

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Wappen = Stadtwappen der Stadt Halver.pnglat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 11 | lat_sec=0
lon_deg = 07 |lon_min = 28 | lon_sec=0
Lageplan =
Bundesland = North Rhine-Westphalia
Regierungsbezirk = Arnsberg
Kreis = Märkischer Kreis
Höhe = 440
Fläche = 77.37
Einwohner = 17593
Stand = 2004-03-31
PLZ = 58553
Vorwahl = 02353
Kfz = MK
Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 9 62 012
Straße = Thomasstraße 18
Website = [http://www.halver.de/ www.halver.de]
Bürgermeister = Bernd Eicker
Partei = CDU

Halver is a town in the Märkischer Kreis district, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has a population of 18,083 (2004) and covers an area of 77.37 km², of which 51% are used for agricultural purposes and 35% are forest. It is located in the hills of the Sauerland; at its highest elevation it is 440 m above sea level.

History

Around 950 the "Oberhof Halvara" was first mentioned in the "Werdener Probsteiregister". For more than 500 years Halver was the seat of a Fehmic court, the earliest definite evidence of which is in 1243; it ceased to exist in 1753. This court was most famous because of the trial of duke Henry XVI the Rich of Bavaria-Landshut and the knight of Toerring on May 2 1430.

With effect from October 1 1912 the municipality Halver was split, Schalksmühle becoming an independent municipality. Both were administered together in the "Amt Halver". As part of the communal reforms of the district of Altena the "Amt" was dissolved on January 1 1969, and Halver was granted city rights.

Coat of arms

The red and white checked base refers to the fess from the arms of the Counts of the Mark. The stone judgement table under a linden tree represents the "Feme" court. It was designed by Otto Hupp, and was granted on March 29 1935.

The "Amt Halver" had a separate coat of arms, which was also designed by Otto Hupp. It combined elements from the two member municipalities Halver and Schalksmühle: in the upper part is a linden branch symbolizing Halver, in the bottom the upper half of a black mill wheel as the symbol of Schalksmühle. Separating the two is the red and white checked fess, as above. The coat of arms was granted on June 8 1936, and expired with the dissolving of the Amt in 1969.

Twin towns

The twinning with the Swedish city Katrineholm originated from the connection between a music group from Halver and a traditional dancing group from Katrineholm. It was officially signed on September 30 1963.

On April 25 1975 the twinning agreement with the French city Hautmont was signed. There has also been a city friendship with Pardess-Hanna in Israel since 1989.

External links

*http://www.halver.de