Saxony Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

The Free State of Saxony

Freistaat Sachsen
Swobodny Stata Sakska

Flag	Coat of arms

Position of Saxony within Germany

Country

Germany

Capital

Dresden

Area

• Total

18,415 km² (7,110 sq mi)

Population

(December 2008)

• Total

4,192,700

• Density

227.679/km² (589.685/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Website

sachsen.de

The Free State of Saxony (which is Freistaat Sachsen in German and Swobodny Stata Sakska in Sorbian) is one of the 16 states of Germany. It is located in the southeast part of Germany. To its north is the Czech Republic, and to its east is Poland.

The largest city in Saxony is Leipzig. The capital city is Dresden. Saxony was officially started again in 1990 after Germany became one country again.

Exploring Saxony's Geography
A Look at Saxony's History
How Many People Live in Saxony?
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Saxony's Geography

Saxony shares its borders with two countries: Poland and the Czech Republic. To the north of Saxony, you'll find Brandenburg, which is another German state. On Saxony's western side are the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Bavaria. A large part of the border with the Czech Republic is formed by the Ore Mountains in the south of Saxony. These mountains are a beautiful natural feature.

Major Cities and Towns

Saxony is home to many interesting cities and towns. Here are some of the biggest ones:

City	District	People (2006)	People (2008)
Leipzig	Leipzig (city)	506,260	511,676
Dresden	Dresden (city)	504,635	508,398
Chemnitz	Chemnitz (city)	245,739	244,310
Zwickau	Zwickau Rural District	96,878	95,322
Plauen	Vogtlandkreis	68,317	67,309
Görlitz	Görlitz Rural District	57,201	56,608

How Saxony is Divided: Districts

Saxony is split into 3 main administrative areas. Think of these as big regions that help manage the state. These regions are Chemnitz, Dresden, and Leipzig.

These three big areas are then divided into 10 smaller parts called districts. Each district has a special code that you might see on car license plates.

Districts of Saxony

Special Urban Districts

Besides the rural districts, Saxony also has three special urban districts. These are big cities that manage themselves and don't belong to any rural district. They are:

Chemnitz (C)
Dresden (DD)
Leipzig (L)

A Look at Saxony's History

The first "Free State of Saxony" was created in 1918. This happened after the First World War ended.

After the Second World War in 1945, the "country of Saxony" was formed. However, this "country" was later divided into three smaller parts. This meant it lost its ability to govern itself.

Then, in 1990, the Free State of Saxony was officially started again. It became a part of a reunited Germany.

How Many People Live in Saxony?

The number of people living in Saxony has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population since 1905:

Year	People
1905	4,508,601
1946	5,558,566
1950	5,682,802
1964	5,463,571
1970	5,419,187
1981	5,152,857

Year	People
1990	4,764,301
1995	4,566,603
2000	4,425,581
2005	4,273,754
2010	4,149,477
2015	4,084,851

Images for kids

Henry the Lion (with his wife Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony) being crowned as the Duke of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony after the Congress of Vienna
Saxony before the Congress of Vienna compared to present day Saxony.
The Free State of Saxony 1945–1952
Topographic map of Saxony
TU Dresden is the largest university in Saxony.
Boundary sign of Bautzen / Budyšin in German and Upper Sorbian. Many place names in eastern Saxony are derived from Sorbian.
Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
The 'Dresden Green Diamond' - the largest natural green diamond - is part of the collection of the Green Vault.
Leipzig
Dresden
Chemnitz
Zwickau
Plauen
Görlitz
Freiberg
Freital
Bautzen
Dresden is one of the most visited cities in Germany and Europe.
The Dresden Frauenkirche. It now serves as a symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies.
Leipziger Neuseenland is a large lake district south of Leipzig, one of Germany's most vibrant cities.
The Bastei bridge in Saxon Switzerland
The Rakotz bridge at Azalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau
The historical city of Görlitz
The Elbe valley with Meissen in the background
Saxony is home to numerous castles, such as Schloss Moritzburg north of Dresden.
Oberwiesenthal, Ore Mountains