Oberbergischer Kreis

The Oberbergische Kreis is a Kreis (district) in the middle of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Ennepe-Ruhr, Märkischer Kreis, Olpe, Altenkirchen, Rhein-Sieg, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, and the district-free cities Remscheid and Wuppertal.

History

The area of the Bergisches Land did belong to the earldom Berg for most of the medieval times, which still give the district it's name.

In 1816 after the whole Rhineland area did come to Prussia the districts of Waldbröl, Homburg, Gimborn Wipperfürth and Lennep were created on the area now covered by the district. In 1825 the districts Gimborn and Homburg were merged to the district Gummersbach. In 1932 it was amerged with the district Waldbröl, and then for the first time called Oberbergischer Kreis. The restructure of the districts in 1969/75 did then create the district in it's current size.

Geography

Geographically it covers the hills west of the Sauerland and north of the Westerwald, the so called Bergisches Land. In North Rhine-Westphalia it's the district with the most artifical lakes, the biggest one is the Wiehl lake in the south-east.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (http://www.oberbergischer-kreis.de) (German)
• Touristical website for the Bergisches Land (http://www.b-l-t.de) (German)
• Kreisinformationssystem Oberberg (http://www.oberberg-online.de/kis) (German)