Reichshof is a North Rhine-Westphalian municipality in the Oberbergischer Kreis in Germany, about 40 km east of Cologne. It is a health resort, known for its good climate. The municipality consists of 106[1] villages and hamlets. The most important villages are Denklingen (population about 2000), Eckenhagen (1900), Brüchermühle (1700) and Wildbergerhütte (1600).

Reichshof
Coat of arms of Reichshof
Location of Reichshof within Oberbergischer Kreis district
Rhein-Sieg-KreisOberbergischer KreisRheinisch-Bergischer KreisNorth Rhine-WestphaliaRemscheidWuppertalEnnepe-Ruhr-KreisMärkischer KreisOlpe (district)Siegen-WittgensteinRhineland-PalatinateWaldbrölMorsbachNümbrechtWiehlReichshofGummersbachMarienheideBergneustadtEngelskirchenLindlarHückeswagenWipperfürthRadevormwald
Reichshof is located in Germany
Reichshof
Reichshof
Reichshof is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Reichshof
Reichshof
Coordinates: 50°58′N 7°42′E / 50.967°N 7.700°E / 50.967; 7.700
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionKöln
DistrictOberbergischer Kreis
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Rüdiger Gennies[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total114.67 km2 (44.27 sq mi)
Highest elevation
342 m (1,122 ft)
Lowest elevation
289 m (948 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total18,454
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
51580
Dialling codes02296, 02297, 02265, 02261
Vehicle registrationGM
Websitereichshof-online.de

History edit

While sources on the early history of the area are scarce, the name of the city[clarification needed] suggests it was first founded during the reign of Charlemagne. It was first officially mentioned on August 1, 1167, when it was granted as a gift by Friedrich I (Barbarossa) to Archbishop Rainald of Cologne.

As a consequence of the municipal reorganization of 1969, the formerly independent municipalities Denklingen and Eckenhagen were consolidated into the municipality of Reichshof. The management of the municipality of Reichshof takes place in Denklingen.

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1991 17,394—    
1992 17,641+1.42%
1993 18,277+3.61%
1994 18,521+1.34%
1995 18,860+1.83%
1996 19,109+1.32%
1997 19,366+1.34%
1998 19,587+1.14%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1999 19,805+1.11%
2000 20,019+1.08%
2001 20,242+1.11%
2008 20,185−0.04%
2019 18,600−0.74%
2020 19,025+2.28%
2021 18,993−0.17%
2022 19,128+0.71%

Features of interest edit

The area has swimming pools and various sporting facilities (tennis, horse racing, shooting galleries, a gymnasium and a bicycle park). There are also several elementary schools.

The Denklingen Railway Bridge is a protected heritage site, part of the Wiehl Valley Railway (Wiehltalbahn). Various museums, churches and parks are open to visitors, along with historic mills and Denklingen Castle.

Companies in the new industrial area of Wehnrat include Ralf Bohle GmbH, producers of Schwalbe bicycle tires, SCEMTEC Transponder Technology GmbH, and Stahlbau GmbH (textiles).

Twin towns edit

References edit

  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 29 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2021" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2022.

Notes edit

1.^ Originally counted as 107, the village of Nothausen is no longer included in the count due to having a population of 0 since 2008.

External links edit