Olsberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Olsberg | |
|---|---|
 Kroppsches Haus in Olsberg | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Olsberg within Hochsauerlandkreis district  | |
  Olsberg  Olsberg | |
| Coordinates: 51°21′N 8°29′E / 51.350°N 8.483°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Arnsberg |
| District | Hochsauerlandkreis |
| Subdivisions | 15 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–25) | Wolfgang Fischer[1] (CDU) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 117.97 km2 (45.55 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 843 m (2,766 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 313 m (1,027 ft) |
| Population (2022-12-31)[2] | |
| • Total | 21,483 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 59939 |
| Dialling codes | 02962 |
| Vehicle registration | HSK |
| Website | www.olsberg.de |
Geography edit
It is situated on the river Ruhr, approx. 15 km east of Meschede. It is bordered by Arnsberg Forest Nature Park, on the northern fringe of the Rothaargebirge. The town's setting is dominated by heavily wooded ridges and valleys formed by the Ruhr and three of its tributaries.
A notable feature situated within the town's limits are the Bruchhauser Steine, four large porphyry rocks located on a mountain near the village of Bruchhausen.
The Langenberg, the highest mountain of north-west Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia, is located on the eastern town border, the peak being just inside the town's limits.
Neighbouring towns and municipalities edit
Clockwise from the north, Olsberg is bordered by:
Division of the town edit
The town of Olsberg comprises twelve villages. The town's core consists of Olsberg itself and Bigge, which have physically merged since the 1950s.
- Antfeld
- Assinghausen
- Bigge
- Olsberg
- Bruchhausen
- Brunskappel
- Elleringhausen
- Elpe/Heinrichsdorf
- Gevelinghausen
- Helmeringhausen
- Wiemeringhausen
- Wulmeringhausen
History edit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2010) |
The town was formed on January 1, 1975 in the course of the municipal reorganization of North Rhine-Westphalia. Before that date all villages (except Bigge and Olsberg, which had been merged already been merged into a single municipality in 1969) have been independent municipalities.
Politics edit
The town council is currently headed by mayor Wolfgang Fischer (CDU), re-elected in 2020. The composition of the town council is, since 2020:
| Party | Seats[3] |
|---|---|
| CDU | 16 |
| SPD | 9 |
| Green | 4 |
| FDP | 2 |
| Left | 1 |
Economy edit
Traditionally dominated by agriculture (especially dairy farming) and small scale wood and metal craft, the town's economical base today relies on the tertiary sector, especially tourism. Industry consists primarily of metallurgy and sawmills.
Transport edit
Rail edit
The town has two train stations.
- Olsberg railway station is situated on the railway line between Hagen and Kassel and receives a generally hourly service in both direction.
- Bigge railway station is on the line between Dortmund and Winterberg and has a one train in each direction every two hours.
Bus edit
Buses connect the town core to the neighbouring villages and towns, generally with hourly services. Most bus services meet at Olsberg railway station to connect with train services.
Road edit
The Bundesstraße 480 runs through the town from north to south, and meets the Bundesstraße 7 just north of the town in the village of Altenbüren. The current end of the A46 motorway is 5 km to the Northwest.
Town bypass edit
Construction on a southern bypass road started in 2005 and is scheduled for opening in 2010. It will take the Bundesstrasse 480 to a new route bypassing the town core to the west and the south.[4]
Education edit
Children are allocated to four primary schools according to their place of residence. Additionally there are three secondary schools, one of which caters for children with physical disabilities. While the town does not have a Gymnasium (higher education school), it maintains a vocational college.[5]
International relations edit
Olsberg is twinned with:
Olsberg, Canton of Aargau (Switzerland) -- since 1974
Fruges (France) -- since 1965
Jöhstadt (Germany) -- since 1990
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2022 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Endgültiges Ergebnis für die Stadt-/Gemeinderatswahl: Olsberg, Stadt, Kommunalwahlen 2020, accessed 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Press release (German)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ College web site (German)
External links edit
- Official site (in German)