Höxter

Höxter (German pronunciation: [ˈhœkstɐ]) is a town in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on the left bank of the river Weser, 52 km north of Kassel in the centre of the Weser Uplands. The main town's population is around 15,000, and with outlying centres, about 30,000. It is the seat of the Höxter district.

Geography

Subdivisions

As part of North Rhine-Westphalia's municipal reforms, the collective municipality of Höxter came into being on 1 January 1970, formed out of the eleven communities of the former Amt of Höxter-Land, the main town, and the community of Bruchhausen from the former Amt of Beverungen. The communities in question voluntarily merged to pool their resources and bring about a unified administration. These constituent communities are:

History

Höxter (Latin Huxaria) in the time of Charlemagne was a villa regia, and was the scene of a battle between his forces and the Saxons. Under the protection of the Abbey of Corvey it gradually increased in prosperity, and became the chief town of the principality of Corvey. Later it asserted its independence and joined the Hanseatic League.

Höxter (district)

Höxter (German pronunciation: [ˈhœkstɐ]) is a Kreis (district) in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Holzminden, Northeim, Kassel, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Hochsauerland, Paderborn, and Lippe.

History

The area of the current Höxter district was part of the Bishopric of Paderborn until it was included into Prussia in 1802. In 1816 the new Prussian government created three districts in the area, Höxter, Brakel and Warburg. In 1832 Höxter and Brakel were merged.

The present district was created in 1975 when the former districts Warburg and Höxter were merged. At the same time the towns and municipalities in the district were merged to form the today's ten towns.

Geography

Geographically the district covers the hills east of the Teutoburg Forest, especially the Eggegebirge, and parts of the Weserbergland. The highest elevation is the Köterberg (Elevation 496 m). The main river is the Weser in the east of the district.

Coat of arms

The lily in the bottom comes from the old coat of arms of the Warburg district, and is also found in the coat of arms of the city Warburg. The blue wave line stands for the river Weser, and the cross in the top derives from the coat of arms of the Bishopric of Paderborn.