Herford (German pronunciation: [ˈhɛʁfɔʁt]) is a Kreis (district) in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Minden-Lübbecke, Lippe, the urban district of Bielefeld and the districts of Gütersloh and Osnabrück.

Herford
Kreishaus (District office)
Kreishaus (District office)
Flag of Herford
Coat of arms of Herford
Map
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Adm. regionDetmold
CapitalHerford
Government
 • District admin.Jürgen Müller (SPD)
Area
 • Total
449.95 km2 (173.73 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2023)[1]
 • Total
253,136
 • Density560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationHF
Websitehttp://www.kreis-herford.de

History

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The region is also known as Wittekind's land, as the last fights of Wittekind's Saxon tribes against Charlemagne took place here. He is believed to be buried in the town of Enger.

When the area became part of the Prussian province of Westphalia, the first district, Herford, was created in 1816. In 1832 it was merged with the district of Bünde. In 1911 the city of Herford left the district; however it lost its status as an independent urban district in 1969. The district reached its current size in 1973 when the municipality of Uffeln, which was formerly in the district of Minden, was merged into the city Vlotho.

Geography

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The district is located between the three mountain chains of the Wiehen Hills in the north and the Teutoburg Forest in the south. To the northeast it is bounded by the Weser river.

Coat of arms

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The black horse of Wittekind is depicted in the coat of arms of the district. After Wittekind was baptized Charlemagne gave him a white horse as present, which is now in the coat of arms of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

Towns and municipalities

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 Lippe (district)Lower SaxonyGütersloh (district)Minden-LübbeckeMinden-LübbeckeBielefeldNorth Rhine-WestphaliaEngerLöhneBündeKirchlengernHerfordSpengeHiddenhausenRödinghausenVlotho
Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district
Towns Municipalities
  1. Bünde
  2. Enger
  3. Herford
  4. Löhne
  5. Spenge
  6. Vlotho
  1. Hiddenhausen
  2. Kirchlengern
  3. Rödinghausen

References

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  1. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
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  Media related to Kreis Herford at Wikimedia Commons

52°10′N 8°35′E / 52.167°N 8.583°E / 52.167; 8.583