Viersen (district)

Infobox German district
name=Viersen
state=North Rhine-Westphalia
capital=Viersen
regierungsbezirk=Düsseldorf
area=563.29
population=304,112
population_as_of=2002
density=540
carsign=VIE
url=http://www.kreis-viersen.de

Viersen is a Kreis (district) in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Cleves, Wesel, district-free Krefeld, Neuss, district-free Mönchengladbach, Heinsberg and the Dutch province of Limburg.

History

In 1816, the new Prussian government created the district of "Kempen". Originally belonging to the Regierungsbezirk Kleve, it was dissolved in 1822, and since then has belonged to Düsseldorf. In 1929 the district was enlarged significantly and renamed "Kempen-Krefeld".

In 1975 the district again changed its borders and was renamed "Viersen" even though Kempen remained the capital. Viersen city replaced Kempen as the capital in 1984.

Twin Cities

The district Viersen has been twinned with

*Pardesia in Israel
*Peterborough in Great Britain
*Cambridgeshire in Great Britain
*Lambersart in France
*Kanew in Ukraine
*Panévezys in Lithuania
*Calau in Brandenburg, Germany
*Mittweida in Sachsen, Germany

Geography

The district is located in the lowlands between the Rhine and the Meuse river. Highest elevation is at "Süchtelner Höhen" with 90.7 m, with the lowest at "Pielbruch" with 28.6 m.

Coat of arms

Cities and municipalities

based on data from: 31. December 2005>

External links

* [http://www.kreis-viersen.de Official website] (German)