Obertshausen Facts for Kids

Obertshausen is in the Rhine Main area of Germany. This area is a busy region with many cities. The town is about 15 kilometers southeast of Frankfurt.

The city covers an area of 13.62 square kilometers. It is 113 meters above sea level. The land here is mostly flat, so you won't find any big hills.

How Was the Land Formed?

Millions of years ago, about 35 to 20 million years ago, this whole region was under the sea. It was covered by a warm, shallow ocean. Over time, lots of sediment (like sand and mud) settled at the bottom. Later, the land rose, and the water left. This created the soil we see today, which is mostly sandy.

What are Obertshausen's Neighbors?

Obertshausen has several neighboring towns and cities. These include:

Offenbach (to the Northwest)
Mühlheim (to the North)
Hanau (to the Northeast), which is in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis Rural District
Hainburg (to the East)
Rodgau (to the Southeast)
Heusenstamm (to the Southwest)

How Many People Live Here?

In 2008, Obertshausen had 24,141 people living there. The weather in Obertshausen is generally mild. It gets less rain compared to many other parts of Germany.

What About the Local Language?

Some local people speak a special kind of German. It is a Hessian dialect (called Hessisch in German). This dialect has a unique sound and special words. It is similar to other dialects in southern Germany.

In the past, almost every town had its own dialect. Sometimes, people from other parts of Germany found these dialects hard to understand. Today, fewer people speak the true dialect. Most people speak standard German but with a slight local pronunciation.

A Look at Obertshausen's History

The name of the village Obertshausen was first written down in a document in the year 865. It was a farm that belonged to the monastery of Seligenstadt. This farm helped produce food for the monks.

In 1977, the two villages of Obertshausen and Hausen joined together. They became the two main parts, or urban districts, of the new city. In 1979, Obertshausen officially became a city and got its town privileges.

How Did People Live in the Past?

In earlier times, most people in the Obertshausen area were farmers or craftsmen. They were not usually involved in trade. Each family owned land to grow their own food. When land was passed down to children, it was often divided. This meant many families had only small farms and were not very rich.

How Did Industry Change the City?

During the Industrial Revolution, the Rhine Main area grew a lot. Many factories were built. This region became a hub for working with metal and making leather products. Chemical engineering also became important. Many men found jobs in these factories. This helped improve their living conditions and brought more money to the area.

Obertshausen's Sister Cities

Obertshausen has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called "twinned cities" or "sister cities." They help people from different places learn about each other's cultures.