Viersen Rural District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viersen
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| Country |  Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. region | Düsseldorf |
| Capital | Viersen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 563.29 km2 (217.49 sq mi) |
| Population
(2002)
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| • Total | 304,112 |
| • Density | 539.885/km2 (1,398.297/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | VIE |
| Website | http://www.kreis-viersen.de |
Viersen is a special area in western Germany. It's called a Kreis, which is like a district or county. Viersen is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It's a place with a rich past and many towns and cities.
Contents
A Look at Viersen's History
How Viersen District Was Formed
The Viersen district has changed its name and size over the years. Back in 1816, a new government in Prussia created an area called the Kempen district. This was a long time ago!
Later, in 1929, the district became much larger. Its name was changed to Kempen-Krefeld. This shows how places can grow and combine over time.
Viersen's Name and Capital City
In 1975, the district changed its borders again. It was then renamed Viersen. Even though it was called Viersen, the city of Kempen was still its main capital city.
But things changed in 1984. The city of Viersen officially became the capital of the Viersen district.
Viersen's International Friendship
Since 1983, the Viersen district has been "twinned" with Cambridgeshire in England. Being twinned means that two places in different countries become friends. They often share ideas, visit each other, and learn about different cultures.
Understanding the Viersen Coat of Arms
Every district often has a special symbol called a coat of arms. It tells a story about the area's past. The Viersen district's coat of arms has three main parts:
- At the top, you can see a black cross. This cross reminds us that the district used to be part of a church-run area called Cologne.
- Below the cross, there's a golden lion on a blue background. This lion is a symbol of the old Duchy of Guelders. A duchy was a type of land ruled by a duke.
- Next to it, there's a black lion on a golden background. This lion represents the Duchy of Jülich, another important historical area.
These symbols together show the history and different rulers that shaped the Viersen district.
Cities and Towns in Viersen District
The Viersen district is made up of several cities and smaller towns. Each one has its own unique character and number of people living there. Here's a look at some of them, based on data from December 31, 2005:
Smaller Towns in Viersen
These towns are part of the district but are not as large as the main cities:
- Brüggen: This town has about 16,211 people.
- Grefrath: Around 15,929 people live here.
- Niederkrüchten: This town is home to about 15,457 people.
- Schwalmtal: About 19,279 people live in Schwalmtal.
Medium-Sized Cities in Viersen
These cities are larger than the towns but smaller than the biggest city in the district:
- Kempen: This city has about 36,323 people.
- Nettetal: Around 42,434 people live in Nettetal.
- Tönisvorst: This city is home to about 30,238 people.
- Willich: About 51,939 people live in Willich.
The Largest City in Viersen District
- Viersen: This is the biggest city in the district, with about 76,330 people. It's also the capital city of the district.
