Witten

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Coordinates: 51°26′N 7°20′E / 51.433°N 7.333°E / 51.433; 7.333
From English Wikipedia @ Freddythechick
For other uses, see Witten (disambiguation).
Witten
Town
Town hall in Witten
Town hall in Witten
Flag of Witten
Flag
Coat of arms of Witten
Coat of arms
Location of Witten within Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district

<imagemap>File: Witten in EN.svg | 240x240px poly 169 29 170 36 169 36 171 47 166 58 148 59 143 62 128 64 130 66 133 75 122 90 112 99 108 110 96 112 90 114 71 106 60 107 47 113 46 109 38 112 34 106 26 101 24 104 13 96 15 92 23 87 21 77 8 64 4 65 4 61 8 58 7 50 0 41 7 33 22 27 20 14 22 11 31 15 33 11 38 7 43 12 55 8 53 5 57 6 57 -4 69 -9 69 -5 76 -8 84 -4 87 -7 91 -5 90 -9 98 -13 102 -8 102 -17 122 -15 132 -23 135 -17 139 -18 142 -17 143 -15 136 -7 137 6 146 4 146 18 149 15 150 23 154 23 155 15 163 15 166 17 166 27 169 29 Bochum poly 346 27 334 39 325 28 312 35 306 44 313 51 309 52 304 59 300 74 294 73 289 76 287 81 282 85 287 94 287 94 281 94 274 98 269 96 255 97 256 81 251 75 239 78 235 78 225 82 217 61 211 57 207 54 203 54 200 49 201 45 198 44 198 35 192 32 186 33 185 28 177 30 173 26 169 29 169 29 166 27 166 17 163 15 155 15 154 23 150 23 149 15 146 18 146 4 137 6 136 -7 143 -15 143 -14 150 -16 157 -13 160 -15 163 -18 166 -16 170 -18 177 -24 175 -29 172 -29 170 -34 166 -35 256 -35 346 -35 346 -14 344 -13 341 -10 344 9 346 12 346 27 Dortmund poly -35 18 -32 26 -26 22 -21 32 -22 39 -12 37 0 41 0 41 7 50 8 58 4 61 4 65 8 64 21 77 23 87 15 92 13 96 24 104 21 113 20 118 7 123 14 135 14 152 14 157 11 154 4 156 3 161 -2 166 -4 161 -9 164 -10 159 -19 168 -27 174 -34 168 -36 170 -35 94 -35 18 Essen poly -35 -35 8 -35 14 -33 11 -29 15 -27 13 -26 19 -12 22 -2 26 3 22 11 22 10 20 14 22 27 7 33 0 41 0 41 -12 37 -22 39 -21 32 -26 22 -32 26 -35 18 -35 -35 Gelsenkirchen poly 346 180 343 182 339 190 341 194 341 196 345 200 342 204 343 211 346 214 345 218 345 227 336 233 334 245 329 246 324 252 324 258 316 259 314 257 309 258 308 262 304 262 304 258 302 257 302 254 300 251 295 256 283 253 275 249 275 240 277 233 285 233 287 227 291 222 292 218 288 213 289 208 282 207 278 211 276 211 273 207 265 208 260 207 258 212 253 208 249 211 244 210 241 217 240 224 237 229 240 232 243 229 244 231 242 235 245 238 242 240 235 234 232 236 220 231 223 228 220 220 229 217 226 214 229 210 233 207 230 202 231 196 230 195 223 199 222 195 214 196 211 202 211 193 208 185 205 189 197 183 199 178 199 175 202 172 209 170 205 166 210 163 206 157 210 148 213 146 217 138 214 135 212 126 214 122 221 116 226 118 235 126 247 118 245 109 252 99 255 97 255 97 269 96 274 98 281 94 287 94 284 99 290 99 292 103 305 106 302 113 303 118 306 118 317 113 328 114 331 117 334 115 341 121 345 126 342 135 342 143 346 154 346 180 Hagen poly 129 -35 128 -27 128 -24 132 -23 122 -15 102 -17 102 -8 98 -13 90 -9 91 -5 87 -7 84 -4 76 -8 69 -5 69 -9 57 -4 57 6 53 5 55 8 43 12 38 7 33 11 31 15 22 11 26 3 22 -2 19 -12 13 -26 15 -27 11 -29 14 -33 7 -35 129 -35 Herne poly -35 365 -35 268 -36 170 -34 168 -27 174 -19 168 -10 159 -9 164 -4 161 -2 166 3 161 4 156 11 154 14 157 14 152 18 153 23 150 26 154 29 153 29 155 40 157 40 160 44 166 44 172 39 179 38 183 40 185 39 191 37 194 40 198 39 202 43 201 45 207 50 209 52 211 51 217 55 220 54 225 38 233 30 233 22 241 19 235 10 239 5 249 7 254 4 256 7 262 2 264 -4 266 -16 292 -30 294 -35 304 -35 313 -31 316 -29 325 -23 320 -29 328 -27 331 -32 337 -27 340 -26 342 -27 341 -23 345 -30 361 -33 362 -34 365 -35 365 Mettmann (district) poly 346 119 342 121 341 121 334 115 331 117 328 114 317 113 306 118 303 118 302 113 305 106 292 103 290 99 284 99 287 94 287 94 282 85 287 81 289 76 294 73 300 74 304 59 309 52 313 51 306 44 312 35 325 28 334 39 346 27 346 12 344 9 341 -10 344 -13 346 -14 346 119 Unna (district) poly 346 365 252 365 250 361 247 362 242 355 239 352 240 348 237 342 238 338 243 336 246 324 249 319 254 316 251 312 257 305 267 308 270 302 279 301 287 294 292 288 287 282 289 279 293 278 293 273 297 273 300 265 303 263 304 262 308 262 309 258 314 257 316 259 324 258 324 252 329 246 334 245 336 233 345 227 345 218 346 214 343 211 342 204 345 200 341 196 341 194 339 190 343 182 346 180 346 154 342 143 342 135 345 126 341 121 342 121 346 119 346 242 346 365 Märkischer Kreis poly 160 365 161 364 160 356 156 361 154 361 158 350 152 348 151 339 151 338 154 333 152 330 152 316 161 307 156 306 156 301 161 294 166 296 169 293 170 289 174 288 178 292 180 300 184 298 189 300 191 298 191 296 196 292 203 290 207 296 212 295 213 292 216 291 217 294 221 294 224 298 220 301 218 305 220 311 228 319 231 318 233 315 230 313 232 310 238 310 244 313 243 323 246 324 243 336 238 338 237 342 240 348 239 352 242 355 247 362 250 361 252 365 160 365 Oberbergischer Kreis poly 45 365 43 363 52 354 53 350 57 346 57 340 66 334 71 336 81 332 83 337 95 326 99 326 106 320 113 323 118 322 123 327 125 329 123 332 126 335 130 337 139 334 146 334 151 338 151 339 152 348 158 350 154 361 156 361 160 356 161 364 160 365 45 365 Remscheid poly -35 303 -35 303 -30 294 -16 292 -4 266 2 264 7 262 4 256 7 254 5 249 10 239 19 235 22 241 30 233 38 233 54 225 59 228 64 232 57 241 65 241 77 244 82 237 93 231 92 229 97 225 101 227 107 221 121 216 123 223 121 231 120 240 117 246 117 253 125 252 131 259 134 266 130 268 127 279 128 284 130 286 131 280 133 281 140 291 151 288 153 287 155 288 153 291 150 292 149 293 156 301 156 306 161 307 152 316 152 330 154 333 151 338 146 334 139 334 130 337 126 335 123 332 125 329 123 327 118 322 113 323 106 320 99 326 95 326 83 337 81 332 71 336 66 334 57 340 57 346 53 350 52 354 43 363 45 365 23 365 19 358 20 351 19 351 19 350 17 347 19 341 18 340 19 340 7 331 -8 333 -16 344 -27 340 -32 337 -27 331 -29 328 -23 320 -29 325 -31 316 -35 314 -35 303 Wuppertal poly 219 286 223 284 227 281 231 278 231 273 229 268 228 265 225 263 222 265 217 262 218 258 224 256 229 255 227 251 238 244 242 240 245 238 242 235 244 231 243 229 240 232 237 229 240 224 241 217 244 210 249 211 253 208 258 212 260 207 265 208 272 207 276 211 278 211 282 207 289 208 288 214 292 218 291 222 287 227 285 233 277 233 274 240 275 249 282 253 295 256 300 251 302 254 302 258 304 258 303 262 303 263 299 265 297 273 293 273 293 278 288 279 287 282 292 288 286 294 279 301 269 302 267 308 257 305 251 312 253 316 249 319 246 324 243 323 243 313 238 310 232 310 230 313 233 316 231 318 228 319 220 311 218 305 220 301 224 298 220 295 217 294 216 291 213 292 212 295 207 296 203 290 196 292 201 283 212 281 219 286 Breckerfeld poly 174 288 170 289 169 293 166 296 161 294 156 301 149 293 150 292 153 291 155 288 153 287 151 288 149 283 152 278 152 274 162 264 162 255 158 241 155 238 156 234 154 232 153 225 163 223 168 224 173 229 177 228 177 222 180 221 182 214 191 208 192 212 195 212 201 206 200 203 206 200 209 204 211 202 214 196 222 195 223 200 230 195 231 196 230 203 233 207 229 210 226 214 229 217 220 220 223 228 220 231 231 236 235 234 242 240 238 244 227 251 229 255 224 256 218 258 217 262 222 265 225 263 228 265 229 268 231 273 231 278 227 281 223 284 219 286 212 281 201 283 196 292 191 296 191 298 188 300 183 298 180 300 177 292 174 288 Ennepetal poly 211 193 211 202 209 204 206 200 200 203 201 206 195 212 192 212 191 208 182 214 180 221 177 222 177 228 173 229 168 224 163 223 153 225 147 223 147 219 148 217 145 213 146 212 146 206 154 203 157 199 154 194 147 192 146 183 154 179 151 167 154 163 165 160 177 168 173 169 180 178 192 174 192 179 198 178 197 183 205 189 208 185 211 193 Gevelsberg poly 24 104 25 101 34 106 38 112 46 109 47 113 60 107 71 106 90 114 96 112 108 110 110 114 106 118 107 122 103 123 103 131 107 132 111 143 103 152 98 151 86 159 96 170 96 185 94 192 87 194 80 203 78 208 81 211 79 216 66 222 59 228 54 225 55 220 51 217 52 211 50 209 45 207 43 201 39 202 40 198 37 194 39 191 40 185 38 183 39 179 44 172 44 166 40 160 40 157 29 155 29 153 26 154 23 150 18 153 14 152 13 135 7 123 19 118 21 113 24 104 Hattingen poly 255 97 255 98 251 99 245 109 246 118 235 127 226 118 221 116 213 122 210 123 214 117 213 116 202 123 200 131 182 123 184 122 179 115 187 109 194 107 200 101 201 95 225 82 235 78 239 78 251 75 256 81 255 97 Herdecke poly 162 255 162 264 152 274 152 278 149 283 151 288 140 291 133 281 131 280 130 286 128 284 127 279 130 268 134 266 131 259 125 252 117 253 117 246 120 240 121 231 133 224 132 219 140 219 142 216 147 219 147 223 153 225 154 232 156 234 155 238 158 241 162 255 Schwelm poly 154 194 157 199 154 203 146 206 146 212 145 213 148 217 147 219 142 216 140 219 132 219 133 224 121 231 123 223 121 216 107 222 101 228 97 225 92 229 93 231 82 237 77 244 65 241 57 241 64 232 59 228 66 222 79 216 81 211 78 208 80 203 87 194 94 192 96 185 96 170 86 159 98 151 103 152 111 143 114 140 118 145 118 150 127 157 134 154 137 146 140 149 140 153 143 154 140 167 151 167 154 179 146 183 147 192 154 194 Sprockhövel poly 217 138 213 146 210 148 206 157 210 163 205 166 209 170 202 172 199 175 198 178 192 179 192 174 180 178 173 169 177 168 165 160 154 163 151 167 140 167 143 154 140 153 140 149 148 145 149 137 154 131 152 129 152 124 156 118 160 115 160 114 163 110 171 112 174 117 182 123 200 131 202 123 213 116 214 117 210 123 213 122 212 127 214 136 217 138 Wetter (Ruhr) poly 169 29 169 29 173 27 177 31 185 28 186 33 192 32 198 35 198 45 200 45 200 49 203 54 207 54 211 57 217 61 225 82 201 95 200 101 194 107 187 109 179 115 184 122 182 123 174 117 171 112 163 110 160 114 160 115 156 118 152 124 152 129 154 131 149 137 148 145 140 149 137 146 134 154 127 157 118 150 118 145 114 140 111 143 107 132 103 131 103 123 107 122 106 118 110 114 108 110 112 99 122 91 133 75 130 66 127 64 143 62 148 59 166 58 171 47 169 37 170 36 169 29 Witten desc bottom-right

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Witten is located in Germany
Witten
Witten
Witten is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Witten
Witten
Coordinates: 51°26′N 7°20′E / 51.433°N 7.333°E / 51.433; 7.333
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionArnsberg
DistrictEnnepe-Ruhr-Kreis
Subdivisions8 districts
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Lars König[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total72.40 km2 (27.95 sq mi)
Elevation
104 m (341 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total95,724
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
58401 - 58456
Dialling codes02302, 02324 (Buchholz)
Vehicle registrationEN, WIT
Websitewitten.de

Witten (German: [ˈvɪtn̩] <phonos file="De-Witten.ogg"></phonos>) is a city with almost 100,000 inhabitants in the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis (district) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Geography

Witten is situated in the Ruhr valley, in the southern Ruhr area.

Bordering municipalities

Boroughs

Witten is divided into eight boroughs and each borough is further divided into two or more city-districts. Every district has its own district-number:

  • Witten-Mitte: 11 Innenstadt, 12 Oberdorf-Helenenberg, 13 Industriegebiet-West, 14 Krone, 15 Crengeldanz, 16 Hauptfriedhof, 17 Stadion, 18 Industriegebiet-Nord, 19 Hohenstein
  • Düren: 21 Düren-Nord, 22 Düren-Sued
  • Stockum: 31 Stockum-Mitte, 32 Dorney, 33 Stockumer Bruch, 34 Wilhelmshöhe
  • Annen: 41 Tiefendorf, 42 Wullen, 43 Annen-Mitte-Nord, 44 Annen-Mitte-Süd, 45 Kohlensiepen, 46 Wartenberg, 47 Gedern
  • Rüdinghausen: 51 Industriegebiet-Ost, 52 Rüdinghausen-Mitte, 53 Buchholz, 54 Schnee
  • Bommern: 61 Steinhausen, 62 Bommerbank, 63 Bommerfeld, 64 Wettberg, 65 Buschey, 66 Bommeregge
  • Heven: 71 Papenholz, 72 Hellweg, 73 Wannen, 74 Heven-Dorf, 75 Lake
  • Herbede: 81 Herbede-Ort, 82 Vormholz, 83 Bommerholz-Muttental, 84 Durchholz, 85 Buchholz-Kaempen

Population 1739–2020

Year Inhabitants
1739 566
1787 690
1808 1,587
1830 2,210
1 December 1840 2,987
1 December 1855 5,112
3 December 1858 6,908
3 December 1864 10,500
3 December 1867 12,200
1 December 1871 15,161
1 December 1875 18,100
1 December 1880 21,600
1 December 1885 23,879
Year Inhabitants
1 December 1890 26,310
2 December 1895 28,769
1 December 1900 33,517
1 December 1905 35,841
1 December 1910 37,450
1 December 1916 34,864
5 December 1917 35,033
8 October 1919 37,441
16 June 1925 45,519
16 June 1933 72,580
17 May 1939 73,365
31 December 1945 70,276
29 October 1946 69,384
Year Inhabitants
13 September 1950 76,312
25 September 1956 91,706
6 June 1961 96,462
31 December 1965 98,506
27 May 1970 97,379
31 December 1975 108,771
31 December 1980 105,876
31 December 1985 102,259
25 May 1987 102,902
31 December 1990 105,403
31 December 1995 104,754
31 December 2000 103,196
30 June 2005 101,019
Year Inhabitants
31 December 2011 98,330
31 December 2015 96,700
31 December 2016 96,781
31 December 2019 96,459
31 December 2020 95,876

History

The Roburit Explosion in 1906

Witten was first mentioned in historic sources in 1214, however the borough Herbede (which was incorporated into the city in 1975) dates back to 851. The city was a mining town from 1578. In 1946, it was included in North Rhine-Westphalia on its establishment. In 1975 Witten was included in the administrative district Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis and it is now its biggest city. 1975 was also the year Witten was first counted to have more than 100,000 inhabitants, the threshold to be considered a large city ("Großstadt") in Germany.

Roburit Explosion

In the late 19th century Witten was known for the Roburit dynamite. This dynamite was once used by coal mines around the world. In 1906 an explosion occurred, resulting in the deaths of 41 people.[citation needed]

Politics

Townhall and Johannis-Church

In the local elections of 2004 the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was the largest party on the council with 24 seats. It was followed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 18 and the Alliance 90/The Greens with 7, the WBG (a conservative lis) and Free Democrats with four each, FLW (also a conservative list) with three, National Democratic Party two, and the PDS/WAL (socialists) and AUF Witten (a left wing list) with one each.

From 2004 to 2020, for the first time in its history, the council was led by a female mayor: Sonja Leidemann (SPD). In the election of 2020 she lost her mandate to Lars König (CDU).

Mayor

The current mayor of Witten is Lars König of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Sonja Leidemann Social Democratic Party 12,365 34.5 11,365 40.0
Lars König Christian Democratic Union 10,595 29.6 17,036 60.0
Stefan Borggraefe Pirate Party Germany 4,005 11.2
Martin Strautz Citizens' Forum 2,276 6.4
Ursula Weiß The Left 2,227 6.2
Richard Surrey Witten Citzen's Association/Free Voters 1,793 5.0
Michael Hasenkamp CityClimate Witten 1,110 3.1
Hans-Peter Skotarzik Witten.Direct 1,052 2.9
Norman Kerner Independent 397 1.1
Valid votes 35,820 98.1 28,401 98.7
Invalid votes 709 1.9 369 1.3
Total 36,529 100.0 28,770 100.0
Electorate/voter turnout 78,110 46.8 77,920 36.9
Source: City of Witten (1st round, 2nd round)

City council

Results of the 2020 city council election.

The Witten city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 9,052 25.2 Decrease 10.0 16 Decrease 9
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 8,349 23.2 Decrease 0.3 15 Decrease 2
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 7,404 20.6 Increase 7.6 13 Increase 4
Citizens' Forum (BF) 2,182 6.1 Decrease 4.4 4 Decrease 3
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 1,681 4.7 New 3 New
Pirate Party Germany (Piraten) 1,536 4.3 Increase 2.2 3 Increase 1
The Left (Die Linke) 1,441 4.0 Decrease 2.0 3 Decrease 1
Witten Citizens' Association/Free Voters (WGB-FW) 1,120 3.1 Increase 0.9 2 ±0
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 838 2.3 Increase 0.1 2 ±0
Die PARTEI 739 2.1 New 1 New
CityClimate Witten (SKW) 631 1.8 New 1 New
Witten.Direct (W.D) 535 1.5 New 1 New
Alternative Independent Progressive Witten (AUF) 227 0.6 Decrease 0.6 0 Decrease 1
Ecological Democratic Party (ÖDP) 139 0.4 New 0 New
Grassroots Democratic List Witten (BLW) 87 0.2 New 0 New
Independent Norman Kerner 13 0.0 New 0 New
Valid votes 35,974 98.5
Invalid votes 547 1.5
Total 36,521 100.0 64 Decrease 8
Electorate/voter turnout 78,108 46.8 Decrease 0.4
Source: City of Witten

State Landtag

In the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Witten is part of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II constituency. Nadja Büteführ of the SPD was elected as representative in the 2017 state election. Verena Schäffer of the Greens also ran in the constituency and was elected to the Landtag on her party's state list.

Federal parliament

In the Bundestag, Witten is part of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II constituency. Axel Echeverria of the SPD was elected as representative in the 2021 German federal election.

Transport

Tram in Witten-Heven

Witten is connected to the Autobahn network by the A 43 and A 44 motorways. It has a central station, connecting the city to the regional-train-network of Deutsche Bahn with direct connections to Hagen, Bochum, Essen, Siegen, Wuppertal, Düsseldorf, Aachen or Dortmund. Local service is carried out by the BOGESTRA, a joint venture between the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen, to which most of the bus lines in Witten belong. There is a tram line connecting to Bochum. From mid-December on, there will be two tram lines, which will run in Witten (lines 309 and 310). When the new track to Langendreer is completed (September 2020), the tram lines will ride to the station of Bochum-Langendreer (309) or to Wattenscheid-Höntrop via Bochum main station (310). Public transport in the city is carried out according to the fare system of the VRR transport association.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Witten with its two lions once belong to the Everhards von Witten-Steinhausen and was first mentioned in 1283. The family of Witten-Steinhausen belongs to the founders of the town of Witten. Their slogan was: "Sigillum Hermanni de Wittene". Because of its long history this coat of arms was the only one in the Ruhr area, that was not forbidden by the Allies in May 1945, after the end of the Second World War.

Culture

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Witten is twinned with:[3]

Religions

St. Maria Church

Roman Catholic

When Witten was first mentioned in historical documents, it was part of the Archdiocese of Cologne. Since 1821 it has been a part of the Diocese of Paderborn; however, the borough of Herbede belongs to the Diocese of Essen. In the 19th century the Ruhr area drew up to 500,000 Poles from East Prussia and Silesia, most of whom were Catholic. Hundreds settled in Witten, leading to a growth in the Catholic community. Today, between 30 and 40 per cent of the population is Catholic.

Protestant

In the 16th century Witten was influenced by Martin Luther's Reformation, and until the late 19th century, Witten was a predominantly Protestant town with just a few Catholic inhabitants. Between 30 and 40 per cent of the population is Protestant today.

Muslims

There are four mosques in Witten, Annen and Herbede today, founded by immigrants from Turkey who arrived in the 1970s and 1980s. Between five and eight per cent of the population is Muslim.

Jews

Memorial at the place of the former synagogue

In 1815 the first Jewish community was mentioned in Witten. In 1938 the synagogue was destroyed during the so-called "Reichspogromnacht" (also known as Kristallnacht) of 9–10 November 1938. Today, only about a dozen Jews live in Witten. They belong to the Jewish community in Dortmund.

Since 1994 the place of the former synagogue is marked with a memorial.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in Deutsch). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  3. ^ "Städtepartnerschaften". win.witten.de (in Deutsch). Witten. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
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