Hameln-Pyrmont

Statistics
State:	Lower Saxony
Adm. Region:	Hanover
Capital:	Hamelin
Area:	796 km²
Inhabitants:	161,900 (2002)
pop. density:	205 inh./km²
Car identification:	HM
Website:	hameln-pyrmont.de
Map

Hamelin-Pyrmont (German Hameln-Pyrmont) is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Schaumburg, Hanover, Hildesheim and Holzminden, and by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (district of Lippe).

History

A district called Hamelin was established in 1885 within the Prussian province of Hanover. At that time the city of Pyrmont was part of the sovereign principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont. In 1922 Pyrmont decided in a plebiscite to leave Waldeck-Pyrmont and to join Prussia. The Prussian administration assigned the city to the district of Hamelin, which was renamed to Hamelin-Pyrmont.

In 1923 Hamelin became a district-free city and was not part of the district until 1973, when it was reincorporated. Further enlargements of the district's territory took place in 1974 and 1977, when the cities of Bad Münder and Hessisch Oldendorf joined the district.

Geography

The district is located in the northern part of the Weserbergland mountains. The Weser river enters the district in the south, runs through Hamelin and leaves in the northwest towards Rinteln.

Coat of arms

The lion is the heraldic animal of the county of Everstein, which ruled over the territory until 1429. The red cross in the lion's hands was the symbol of Pyrmont.

Towns and municipalities

Bad Münder Bad Pyrmont Hamelin (Hameln) Hessisch Oldendorf

Municipalities Aerzen Coppenbrügge Emmerthal Salzhemmendorf

External links

Official website (German)