Olpe Rural District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olpe
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| Country |  Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. region | Arnsberg |
| Capital | Olpe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 710.7 km2 (274.4 sq mi) |
| Population
(2001)
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| • Total | 141,705 |
| • Density | 199.388/km2 (516.41/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | OE |
| Website | http://www.kreis-olpe.de |
Olpe is a special kind of area in Germany called a Kreis, which is like a county or district. It's located in the south-east part of North Rhine-Westphalia, a big state in Germany. Olpe is known for its beautiful nature, with lots of forests and hills.
Contents
History of Olpe District
The Olpe district has a long history! It was first created in 1817. Back then, it was called Bilsteiner Kreis. Just two years later, in 1819, the main town, or capital, of the district was moved to Olpe.
Later, in 1969, some changes happened across Germany to make districts work better. Several smaller towns and villages in the Olpe district joined together to form bigger cities. Even with these changes, the Olpe district itself stayed mostly the same. Another reorganization happened in 1974, but the borders of the Olpe district hardly changed from how they were in 1817.
What the Coat of Arms Means
The coat of arms for the Olpe district tells a story about its past. The left side of the shield shows a special cross called the "Cologne cross." This is because the Olpe area used to belong to the powerful bishops of Cologne.
The right side of the shield shows a different symbol. This symbol belongs to the Lords of Fürstenberg. These lords were important leaders who helped govern the area for the bishops of Cologne a long time ago. So, the coat of arms combines these two important symbols to show the district's history and who ruled it.
Towns and Municipalities
The Olpe district is made up of several towns and smaller communities called municipalities. Each of these places has its own unique character and history.
Towns in Olpe District
- Attendorn
- Drolshagen
- Lennestadt
- Olpe
Municipalities in Olpe District
- Finnentrop
- Kirchhundem
- Wenden
