Oldenburg

Map
align="center"| align="center"| Location in Germany
colspan="2" bgcolor="#FFDEAD" | Basic Information
German State: Lower Saxony
Administrative District: Independent City
Area (City of Oldenburg): 102.96 km
Population (City of Oldenburg): 157,868 (June 30, 2004)
Population Density: 1533.29 inhabitants/km
Average Altitude: 5 m
Post Code: 26001-26135
(formerly: 2900)
Area Code: 0441
Car Licence Code: OL
valign="top" | Geographical Position:
colspan="2" bgcolor="#FFDEAD" | Politics
Lord Mayor: Dietmar Schtz (SPD)
City Government:
Contact Address
Markt 1
26122 Oldenburg
Web Site: www.oldenburg.de
E-Mail: info@oldenburg.de
Oldenburg is an Independent City in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands at the Hunte river. It has a population of 157,868 (as of 2004) which makes it the fourth biggest in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Brunswick and Osnabrck.

History

The town was first mentioned in 1108, at that time known under the name of Aldenburg. It became important due to its location at a ford of the navigable Hunte river. Oldenburg became a small county in the shadow of the much more powerful Hanseatic city of Bremen. In 1448, the count of Oldenburg became king of Denmark under the name Christian I. Although far away from the Danish borders, Oldenburg was now a Danish exclave. The control over the town was left to the king's brothers, who established a short reign of tyranny. The heyday of the town came with the rule of count Anton-Gnther (ruled 1603-1667), who managed to keep Oldenburg out of the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) by donating valuable horses to warlord Count of Tilly. In 1607 he erected a Renaissance castle. Oldenburg was a wealthy town in a time of war and terror and its population and power considerably grew. After the death of Anton-Gnther Oldenburg fell again under Danish authority. In 1667 the town was struck by a disastrous plague epidemic, and shortly after a fire destroyed Oldenburg. The Danish kings were not much interested in helping the town, so that it lost its importance completely. In 1773 the Danish rule ended, and Oldenburg became a duchy. It was only now, that the destroyed buildings were rebuilt in a Classicist style. In 1810-14 Oldenburg was occupied by France. In 1893 a canal connecting the Hunte and the Ems rivers was finished, hence connecting the port of Oldenburg with the North Sea. Now the town gained economic importance. It remained a duchy until 1918. After World War II in 1945, Oldenburg grows to more than 100,000 citizens when refugees migrated into the city that was only sparingly bombed during World War II.

Economy and Infrastructure

Traffic

The city center of Oldenburg is surrounded by a ring of Autobahns consisting of A28, A29 and A293. Oldenburg is part of the railroad connections between Norddeich-Leer-Oldenburg-Bremen and Wilhelmshaven-Oldenburg-Osnabrck. InterCity connections to Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden and an InterCity Express connection to Frankfurt exist. Oldenburg is connected to shipping through the Kstenkanal, a ship canal connecting the rivers Ems and Weser. With 1.6 Million tons of goods annually it is the most important non-coastal harbor in Lower Saxony. The Bike plays a very important part in personal transportation.

Media

  • Nordwest-Zeitung, daily newspaper for the region
  • Oldenburger Stacher, alternative montly newspaper
  • Oldenburger Sonntagszeitung, weekly newspaper
  • Huntereport, weekly newspaper
  • sisol, school information
  • Oldenburg Eins, open TV and Radio station

Education

Personalities

Honorary Citizens

In 1937 Adolf Hitler and Karl Rver were made Honorary Citizens, but this was reverted in 1948

Famous People from Oldenburg

Famous People who've worked in Oldenburg

External links

 

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