Aschaffenburg (district)

History

The history of Aschaffenburg goes back as far as the year 957. Initially a Roman settlement, it came under the authority of the electors of Mainz in 982 and was chartered in 1173. Remains of Roman settlements were found on the river Main. There was a Roman military camp in today's municipality of Stockstadt am Main. After the Roman retreat, the region became subject to Alemanni and Franks before becoming a part of the Electorate of Mainz. While the banks of the Main were populated all these centuries, the hills of the Spessart were virtually unsettled until the 13th century.

The districts of Aschaffenburg and Alzenau were established in 1862, half a century after the state of Bavaria had annexed the region. Thesdistricts were merged in 1972 to form the present district.

Geography

The district is located in the extreme northwest of Bavaria and bounded by Hesse on two sides. The Main river forms the western border, though southwest of the town of Aschaffenburg, parts on the western river banks are incorporated into the district. The south and east of the district extends into the Mittelgebirge Spessart.

The town of Aschaffenburg is not included in the district ( kreisfrei ), but is nonetheless its administrative seat.

The geographic centre of the European Union was located in the District of Aschaffenburg from 2013 to 2020.

Economy

In 2017 (latest data available), the GDP per inhabitant was €33,109. This places the district 60th out of 96 districts (rural and urban) in Bavaria (overall average: €46,698).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays:

• an acorn symbolising the Spessart hills and their dense forests
• the wheel of the electorate of Mainz
• the blue rings of the Echter family, which was a noble family possessing substantial holdings of land in the region

Towns and municipalities

Towns:

• Alzenau

Municipalities:

• Bessenbach
• Blankenbach
• Dammbach
• Geiselbach
• Glattbach
• Goldbach
• Großostheim
• Haibach
• Heigenbrücken
• Heimbuchenthal
• Heinrichsthal
• Hösbach
• Johannesberg
• Kahl am Main
• Karlstein am Main
• Kleinkahl
• Kleinostheim
• Krombach
• Laufach
• Mainaschaff
• Mespelbrunn
• Mömbris
• Rothenbuch
• Sailauf
• Schöllkrippen
• Sommerkahl
• Stockstadt am Main
• Waldaschaff
• Weibersbrunn
• Westerngrund
• Wiesen

References

References

1. "VGR der Länder, Kreisergebnisse für Deutschland - Bruttoinlandsprodukt, Bruttowertschöpfung in den kreisfreien Städten und Landkreisen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 2000 bis 2017 (German)". Statistische Ämter der Länder und des Bundes.