Warstein ([ˈvaːɐ̯ˌʃtaɪn] ) is a municipality with town status in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of Sauerland.

Warstein
View of Warstein with St. Pancratius and the Old Church
View of Warstein with St. Pancratius and the Old Church
Coat of arms of Warstein
Location of Warstein within Soest district
North Rhine-WestphaliaPaderborn (district)Soest (district)Warendorf (district)HammUnna (district)Märkischer KreisHochsauerlandkreisSoestEnseWelverAnröchteLippstadtWerlGesekeLippetalBad SassendorfRüthenWickedeWarsteinErwitteMöhnesee
Warstein is located in Germany
Warstein
Warstein
Warstein is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Warstein
Warstein
Coordinates: 51°27′N 8°21′E / 51.450°N 8.350°E / 51.450; 8.350
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionArnsberg
DistrictSoest
Subdivisions9
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Thomas Schöne[1] (Ind.)
Area
 • Total157.91 km2 (60.97 sq mi)
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total24,464
 • Density150/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
59581
Dialling codes02902 (Warstein),
02925 (Allagen)
Vehicle registrationSO
Websitewww.warstein.de

Geography

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Map of the nine districts of Warstein

Warstein is located north of the Arnsberger Wald (forest), at a brook called Wäster. The area south of the city is mostly forested; the lightly forested Haarstrang mountain is to the north. The river Möhne flows between these two areas. The highest elevation is 581 m (1,906 ft) in the south of the city near a hill called Stimm Stamm; the lowest elevation is 216 m (709 ft) in the village Waldhausen in the north.

Neighbouring municipalities

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The following municipalities, some with town status, border Warstein (clockwise, beginning in the north): Anröchte, Rüthen (town), Bestwig, Meschede (town), Arnsberg (town), Möhnesee, Bad Sassendorf. Of these, Bestwig and Meschede are in the district of Hochsauerlandkreis, on Warstein's (and, thus, Soest district's) southern border.

Subdivisions

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While named for the main settled portion within its 157.91 square kilometres (60.97 sq mi) total area, the town can be roughly divided into the following subdivisions (German: Ortsteil):

  • Allagen
  • Belecke
  • Hirschberg
  • Mülheim
  • Niederbergheim
  • Sichtigvor
  • Suttrop
  • Waldhausen
  • Warstein

History

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The evidence of human life was found in the Bilstein Cave [de] between Warstein and Hirschberg.

Warstein was first mentioned officially in the year 1072. Historians once thought Warstein was organized as an official town in 1276, but its exact charter date is unclear. Likely, it was founded between 1276 and 1296 by the Archbishop of Cologne, Siegfried von Westerburg.[3]

In the Middle Ages, Warstein was part of the Hanseatic League, a trade association for guilds, a very important international trading association at that time.

A fire in 1802 destroyed a significant portion of the town. After the 1802 fire the town centre was moved to the Wester brook. In 1844, the Amt Warstein was founded.

In 1975, Warstein and the other eight independent villages merged to form the new borough of Warstein.

The decrease of population in Warstein since 1998:

  • 1998: 29,102
  • 1999: 29,084
  • 2000: 29,028
  • 2001: 29,007
  • 2002: 29,012
  • 2003: 28,762
  • 2004: 28,629

List of mayors

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  • 1999–2004: Georg Juraschka (SPD)
  • 2004–2015: Manfred Gödde (BG)
  • 2015–incumbent: Thomas Schöne (CDU)

International relations

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Warstein is twinned with:

Economy

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Warsteiner Brewery in Warstein

The largest employer in Warstein is the Warsteiner brewery, founded in 1753. It is one of the largest breweries in Germany. Second largest employer is steel mill operator Siepmann-Werke, founded in 1891. In addition to its mills, the overall Siepmann Group head office is located in Warstein.[4]

Notable people

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Literature

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  • Heppekausen, Wolfgang; Clewing, Christian: Warstein: Bilder einer sauerländischen Stadt. Selbstverlag, Warstein 2001. ISBN 3-00-008520-3
  • Gerte, Franz im Auftrag der Volkshochschule Möhne-Lippe: Wie war das?: Belecke 1923–1948. Selbstverlag, Belecke 2001.
  • Bamberg, Fritz: Die neue Stadt Warstein in alten Ansichten. Europäische Bibliothek, Zaltbommel 1986. ISBN 90-288-3363-3
  • Bender, Josef: Geschichte der Stadt Warstein. Stein, Werl 1973. ISBN 3-920980-03-4
  • Sandgathe, Günther: Die Stadt Warstein im Dreissigjährigen Krieg. Selbstverlag, Warstein 1971.

References

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