Schaumburg

Schaumburg is a Kreis (district) in the southeastern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. Area 676 km², population 167,000 (2001). The district's capital is Stadthagen[?].

The district is located in the northernmost part of the Weserbergland[?] mountains. The Weser river runs through the southern part of the district.

Schaumburg was a medieval county, which was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. Shortly after the Holy Roman Emperor appointed the counts of Schaumburg to become counts of Holstein as well.

During the Thirty Years' War the house of Schaumburg had no male heir, and the county was divided into Schaumburg and Schaumburg-Lippe (1640). These tiny states existed until 1918, when they became administrative areas. In modern times Schaumburg and Schaumburg-Lippe were districts within the state of Lower Saxony, until they were merged again in 1977.

Schaumburg is a very small district, but within its territory there are some towns of remarkable beauty: Bückeburg, the old capital of Schaumburg-Lippe; Rinteln, which was the capital of Schaumburg during the division; and Stadthagen[?], the capital of the today's district. Other towns in Schaumburg: Obernkirchen[?], Rodenberg[?], Sachsenhagen[?].