Lower Franconia
Encyclopedia
Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative region
s of Franconia
in Bavaria
(seven regions), Germany
(22 regions in five Federal States, 11 Federal States are not subdivided into regions).
The district was formed in 1817 under the name of Untermainkreis (Lower Main District) and renamed in 1837 as Unterfranken und Aschaffenburg (Lower Franconia and Aschaffenburg). In 1933 the regional Nazi Gauleiter
Otto Hellmuth
insisted on renaming the district Mainfranken, but after 1945 the name Unterfranken was resurrected.
Unterfranken is the north-west part of Franconia and consists of three district-free cities ("Kreisfreie Städte") and nine country districts ("Landkreise").
The major portion of the Franconian wine region
is situated in Lower Franconia.
The Coat of Arms includes the Arms of Duchy of Franconia
in the upper portion, the “Rennfähnlein,” a banner, quarterly argent (silver) and gules (red), on a lance or (gold), in bend, on an azure (blue) field, associated with Würzburg
in the lower left quadrant, and a white/silver wheel on a red field symbolizing the clerical state of Mainz
, in the lower right quadrant.
16 of them were attached to the other six existing country districts
Aschaffenburg, Bad Kissingen, Kitzingen, Miltenberg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg
or united to one of the three new country districts Haßberge, Main-Spessart, Rhön-Grabfeld.
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
s of Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
(seven regions), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(22 regions in five Federal States, 11 Federal States are not subdivided into regions).
The district was formed in 1817 under the name of Untermainkreis (Lower Main District) and renamed in 1837 as Unterfranken und Aschaffenburg (Lower Franconia and Aschaffenburg). In 1933 the regional Nazi Gauleiter
Gauleiter
A Gauleiter was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau.-Creation and Early Usage:...
Otto Hellmuth
Otto Hellmuth
Otto Hellmuth was a member of the Nazi Party.Born at Markt Einersheim, he was Gauleiter of the German region of Lower Franconia from 1928 to 1945. His home and office were in Würzburg, the capital of the Gau Mainfranken. By 1935, Hellmuth had his Gau renamed as Mainfranken...
insisted on renaming the district Mainfranken, but after 1945 the name Unterfranken was resurrected.
Unterfranken is the north-west part of Franconia and consists of three district-free cities ("Kreisfreie Städte") and nine country districts ("Landkreise").
The major portion of the Franconian wine region
Franconia (wine region)
Franconia is a region for quality wine in Germany situated in the north west of Bavaria in the district of Franconia, and is the only wine region in the federal state of Bavaria...
is situated in Lower Franconia.
Coat of arms
Duchy of Franconia
The Duchy of Franconia was one of the stem duchies of Germany during the formative period of the Holy Roman Empire in the 10th century, part of former Frankish Austrasia.But unlike the others Franconia did not evolve into a stable political entity...
in the upper portion, the “Rennfähnlein,” a banner, quarterly argent (silver) and gules (red), on a lance or (gold), in bend, on an azure (blue) field, associated with Würzburg
Bishopric of Würzburg
The Bishopric of Würzburg was a prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Lower Franconia, around the city of Würzburg, Germany. Würzburg was a diocese from 743. In the 18th century, its bishop was often also Bishop of Bamberg...
in the lower left quadrant, and a white/silver wheel on a red field symbolizing the clerical state of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
, in the lower right quadrant.
Area and population
| City or District | Population (2010) | Area (km²) | Communities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"... |
68,648 | 5.21% | 62 | 0.7% | 1 | 0.3% |
| City of Schweinfurt Schweinfurt Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :... |
53,433 | 4.05% | 36 | 0.4% | 1 | 0.3% |
| City of Würzburg Würzburg Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian.... |
132,690 | 10.06% | 88 | 1.0% | 1 | 0.3% |
| Aschaffenburg Aschaffenburg (district) Aschaffenburg is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Darmstadt-Dieburg, Offenbach, Main-Kinzig , the districts Main-Spessart and Miltenberg, and the town of Aschaffenburg.... |
172,891 | 13.11% | 699 | 8.2% | 32 | 10.4% |
| Bad Kissingen Bad Kissingen (district) Bad Kissingen is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the district Main-Kinzig and Fulda in Hesse, and the districts of Rhön-Grabfeld, Schweinfurt and Main-Spessart.- History :... |
104,628 | 7.93% | 1,137 | 13.3% | 26 | 8.4% |
| Haßberge | 85,163 | 6.46% | 956 | 11.2% | 26 | 8.4% |
| Kitzingen Kitzingen (district) Kitzingen is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Schweinfurt, Bamberg, Neustadt -Bad Windsheim and Würzburg.-History:... |
88,607 | 6.72% | 684 | 8.0% | 31 | 10.1% |
| Main-Spessart Main-Spessart Main-Spessart is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Bad Kissingen, Schweinfurt and Würzburg, the state of Baden-Württemberg , the districts of Miltenberg and Aschaffenburg, and the state of Hesse .-History:The district was established in 1972 by merging the former... |
128,077 | 9.71% | 1,322 | 15.5% | 40 | 13.0% |
| Miltenberg Miltenberg (district) Miltenberg is an administrative district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Aschaffenburg, the districts of Aschaffenburg and Main-Spessart, and the states of Baden-Württemberg and Hesse .-History:During the Middle Ages there was continuous... |
128,665 | 9.76% | 716 | 8.4% | 32 | 10.4% |
| Rhön-Grabfeld Rhön-Grabfeld Rhön-Grabfeld is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Hassberge, Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen, and the states of Hesse and Thuringia .-History:In medieval times the region was a part of the Bishopric of Würzburg... |
83,085 | 6.30% | 1,022 | 12.0% | 37 | 12.0% |
| Schweinfurt Schweinfurt (district) Schweinfurt is a Kreis in the northwestern part of Bavaria, Germany. Neighboring districts are Bad Kissingen, Rhön-Grabfeld, Haßberge, Bamberg, Kitzingen, Würzburg and Main-Spessart. The district-free city Schweinfurt is completely surrounded by the district.-Geography:Primary rivers in the... |
113,167 | 8.58% | 842 | 9.9% | 29 | 9.4% |
| Würzburg Würzburg (district) Würzburg is a Kreis in the northwestern part of Bavaria, Germany.Neighboring districts are Main-Spessart, Schweinfurt, Kitzingen, Neustadt -Bad Windsheim, and the district Main-Tauber in Baden-Württemberg... |
159,641 | 12.11% | 968 | 11.3% | 52 | 16.9% |
| Total | 1,318,695 | 100.0% | 8,531 | 100.0% | 308 | 100.0% |
| Historical population | |
| 1910 | 710,943 |
| 1939 | 844,732 |
| 1950 | 1,038,930 |
| 1961 | 1,089,983 |
| 1970 | 1,181,309 |
| 1987 | 1,202,711 |
| 2002 | 1,344,300 |
| 2004 | 1,344,629 |
| 2005 | 1,341,481 |
| 2006 | 1,337,876 |
| 2008 | 1,331,500 |
| 2009 | 1,323,273 |
| 2010 | 1,318,695 |
Historical country districts
Until the municipal reform ( "Kreisreform" ) in June 1972 Lower Franconia had 22 country districts,16 of them were attached to the other six existing country districts
Aschaffenburg, Bad Kissingen, Kitzingen, Miltenberg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg
or united to one of the three new country districts Haßberge, Main-Spessart, Rhön-Grabfeld.
| Old country district | Current district(s) |
|---|---|
| Alzenau | Aschaffenburg |
| Bad Brückenau | Bad Kissingen |
| Bad Neustadt/Saale | Rhön-Grabfeld |
| Ebern | Haßberge |
| Gemünden | Main-Spessart |
| Gerolzhofen | Schweinfurt, Kitzingen, Hassberge, Würzburg |
| Hammelburg | Bad Kissingen |
| Haßfurt | Haßberge |
| Hofheim/Unterfranken | Haßberge |
| Karlstadt | Main-Spessart |
| Königshofen | Rhön-Grabfeld |
| Lohr | Main-Spessart |
| Marktheidenfeld | Main-Spessart, Miltenberg, Würzburg |
| Mellrichstadt | Rhön-Grabfeld |
| Obernburg | Miltenberg |
| Ochsenfurt | Würzburg |
Well known people
- Florian GeyerFlorian GeyerFlorian Geyer , also known as "Florian Geier from Giebelstadt", was a Franconian nobleman, diplomat and knight...
- Tilman RiemenschneiderTilman RiemenschneiderTilman Riemenschneider was a German sculptor and woodcarver active in Würzburg from 1483. He was one of the most prolific and versatile sculptors of the transition period between late Gothic and Renaissance, a master in stone and limewood.- Biography :Tilman Riemenschneider was born between 1459...
- Balthasar NeumannBalthasar NeumannJohann Balthasar Neumann , also known as Balthasar Neumann, was a [German] military artillery engineer and architect who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Italian, and French elements to design some of the most impressive buildings of the period,...
- Friedrich RückertFriedrich RückertFriedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages.-Biography:Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg. From 1816-1817, he worked on the editorial...
- Wilhelm Conrad RöntgenWilhelm Conrad RöntgenWilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German physicist, who, on 8 November 1895, produced and detected electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range today known as X-rays or Röntgen rays, an achievement that earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901....
- Leonhard FrankLeonhard FrankLeonhard Frank was a German expressionist writer. He studied painting and graphic art in Munich, and gained acclaim with his first novel, The Robber Band...
- Carl DiemCarl DiemCarl Diem was a German sports administrator, and as Secretary General of the Organizing Committee of the Berlin Olympic Games, the chief organizer of the 1936 Olympic Summer Games .He created the tradition of the Olympic torch relay, and was an influential historian of...
- Dirk NowitzkiDirk NowitzkiDirk Werner Nowitzki is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association...
Institutes of Higher Education
- Julius-Maximilians-Universität WürzburgUniversity of WürzburgThe University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
- Fachhochschule Aschaffenburg
- Fachhochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt