Güstrow Rural District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Güstrow
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| Country |  Germany |
| State | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| Capital | Güstrow |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,058 km2 (795 sq mi) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 111,200 |
| • Density | 54.03/km2 (139.94/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | GÜ |
| Website | http://www.kreis-gue.de |
Güstrow is a district in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. A district is like a county or a region that groups together several towns and villages. The main town and capital of this district is also called Güstrow.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Güstrow District Was Formed
Long ago, from 1621 to 1695, the area that is now the Güstrow district was a small duchy. A duchy was a territory ruled by a duke or duchess. This specific duchy was called Mecklenburg-Güstrow.
After 1695, most of this land became part of another duchy called Mecklenburg-Schwerin. A smaller part joined the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. You can learn more about these historical areas by looking up Mecklenburg.
The modern district of Güstrow was created in 1994. It was formed by joining three older districts: Güstrow, Teterow, and Bützow.
What the Coat of Arms Means
Symbols of Güstrow District
The coat of arms is like a special symbol or emblem for the district. It tells a story about its history and features.
Here's what you can see on the Güstrow coat of arms:
- The bull comes from the traditional arms of Mecklenburg. This symbol is often used to represent the region.
- The two crosiers look like hooked staffs. They represent the former bishopric of Schwerin. A bishopric was an area ruled by a bishop, who was a religious leader.
- The colours used in the coat of arms come from the arms of the old Bützow district, which is now part of Güstrow.
Towns and Villages
Important Places in Güstrow District
The Güstrow district is home to many towns and smaller communities. Some of the larger towns are called "Amt-free towns." This means they manage their own local government without being part of a larger administrative group called an "Amt."
The main "Amt-free" towns in the district are:
- Güstrow (which is also the capital of the district)
- Teterow
Many other towns and villages in the district are grouped into administrative units called Ämter (plural of Amt). An Amt helps organize local services and government for several smaller communities together. Each Amt usually has a main town where its offices are located.
Some of these Ämter include:
- Bützow Land: Its main town is Bützow.
- Gnoien: Its main town is Gnoien.
- Güstrow-Land: This Amt has its seat in the town of Güstrow.
- Krakow am See: Its main town is Krakow am See.
- Laage: Its main town is Laage.
- Mecklenburgische Schweiz: This Amt has its seat in the town of Teterow.
