Heinsberg Rural District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heinsberg
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| Country |  Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. region | Cologne |
| Capital | Heinsberg |
| Area | |
| • Total | 627.7 km2 (242.4 sq mi) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 250,400 |
| • Density | 398.92/km2 (1,033.19/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | HS |
| Website | http://www.kreis-heinsberg.de |
Heinsberg is a Kreis (which means district or county) located in the western part of North Rhine-Westphalia, a state in Germany. It's a place where many towns and communities come together.
Contents
History of Heinsberg District
The area that is now Heinsberg district became part of Prussia in 1815. To help manage this new land, Prussia created three separate districts in 1816. These were Heinsberg, Erkelenz, and Geilenkirchen.
Over time, these districts started to merge. In 1932, the Heinsberg and Geilenkirchen districts joined together. Later, in 1972, the Erkelenz district also became part of this larger area.
A small change happened in 1975 when the town of Niederkrüchten moved to the Viersen district. This was the last time the size of the Heinsberg district changed.
Important Rivers in Heinsberg
Several rivers flow through the Heinsberg district, making the landscape beautiful and providing water for the region.
- Rur is the main river that flows through the district.
- Wurm
- Schwalm
- Niers
Understanding the Heinsberg Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for the Heinsberg district tells a story about its history and the areas that joined to form it.
| The top part of the coat of arms shows two lions. On the left, there is a silver lion. This lion represents the city of Heinsberg and its old dukes. On the right, you can see a black lion on a yellow background. This lion comes from the duchy of Jülich, another important historical region.
The bottom part of the coat of arms comes from the old district of Erkelenz. The blue fleur-de-lis flower represents the city of Erkelenz and its connection to the Maria-abbey in Aachen. The blue flax flower in the middle reminds us of the old industry of growing flax and trading linen in Erkelenz. |
Towns and Communities in Heinsberg
The Heinsberg district is made up of several towns and smaller communities. Each one has its own unique character and history.
| Main Towns | Other Communities |
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