Mücke
Encyclopedia
Mücke is a community in the Vogelsbergkreis
in Hesse
, Germany
.
in the northwest foothills of the Vogelsberg Mountains
on the upper reaches of the river Ohm
, a tributary to the Lahn
, in the northeast on the community of Gemünden
, in the east on the community of Feldatal
and the town of Ulrichstein
, in the south on the town of Laubach
(Gießen
district), and in the west on the town of Ulrichstein
and the community of Grünberg
(Gießen district).
Among these, Nieder-Ohmen with its 2,800 inhabitants is by far the biggest. The centre of Ilsdorf bears a certain peculiarity. Until the municipal reforms, one part of Ilsdorf lay in the old district of Alsfeld, whereas the other parts were called Solms-Ilsdorf and lay in the Gießen district. This owed itself to the village's history. Ilsdorf had formerly been a part of the Province of Upper Hesse in the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt
, while Solms-Ilsdorf was ruled by the Counts of Solms. Even today, this former split can still be seen in Ilsdorf, as the village has two cemeteries
at its disposal.
Before the municipal reforms, there was no place with the name "Mücke", but there was a Mücke railway station on the Gießen
-Fulda
line (the Vogelsbergbahn) and a postal designation "Mücke".
Despite what may seem obvious – Mücke is German
for "gnat
" – the community's name is of Celtic origin
. It comes from much or mack, meaning something like "moist" or "boggy". The name Mücke was mentioned in connection with this region in a Merlau parish taxation roll in 1482.
In the constituent community of Flensungen lies Hesse's geographical centre point.
A political peculiarity is the Jugendparlament Mücke ("Mücke Youth Parliament"), which stands up for children's and youth's interests. Its 35 members aged between 14 and 21 are elected every two years. The Jugendparlament has the right to speak and make motions on the municipal council's youth, sport and cultural committee.
, Denmark
, since 1993
The community of Mücke has at its disposal, through the Homberg (Ohm)
Autobahn interchange (A5
) and Federal Highway (Bundesstraße) 49 that runs through the municipal area, very good transport connections. A few years ago, at the Autobahn interchange, the "Am Gottesrain" industrial park was established complete with an off-Autobahn service centre ("Autohof"). In the constituent communities of Merlau and Nieder-Ohmen are railway stations on the Gießen-Alfeld line.
The community has an indoor swimming pool
with an adjoining sauna
, seven kindergarten
s, two primary schools, and a comprehensive school
without upper level in the constituent community of Nieder-Ohmen. Furthermore, there is a Sozialstation ( ≈ welfare station for the elderly and the sick) with trained personnel.
In all constituent communities are found Village Community Houses that may be used for all kinds of events. Moreover, there are many clubs to choose from. Anyone can find something to suit his interests.
There are plenty of supermarket
s and smaller shop
s in each constituent community to satisfy shopping needs.
Among more particular leisure facilities is the Flensunger Hof, run by a missionary
body. It is a fully equipped sport and leisure centre. On the Kratzberg in the Nieder-Ohmen rural area, the Luftsportgruppe Mücke e. V. runs a model glider airfield. In Atzenhain is the Reit- und Fahrverein Mücke e. V. with riding hall and grounds.
Vogelsbergkreis
The Vogelsbergkreis is a Kreis in the middle of Hesse, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Schwalm-Eder, Hersfeld-Rotenburg, Fulda, Main-Kinzig, Wetteraukreis, Gießen and Marburg-Biedenkopf.-Geography:...
in Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, 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...
.
Location
Mücke lies from 200 to 350 m above sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
in the northwest foothills of the Vogelsberg Mountains
Vogelsberg Mountains
The Vogelsberg Mountains are a group duct of ancient volcanic activity and are separated from the Rhön Mountains by the Fulda River and its valley....
on the upper reaches of the river Ohm
Ohm River
The Ohm, the right tributary of the Lahn, is a river in Hesse, Germany, Its total length is 59 km. The Ohm originates in the Vogelsberg Mountains, east of the town Ulrichstein. It flows generally northwest through Ulrichstein, Mücke, Homberg , Amöneburg, and Kirchhain. The Ohm joins the Lahn...
, a tributary to the Lahn
Lahn
The Lahn River is a -long, right tributary of the Rhine River in Germany. Its course passes through the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia , Hesse , and Rhineland-Palatinate ....
Neighbouring communities
Mücke borders in the north on the town of HombergHomberg (Ohm)
-Location:The officially recognized climatic spa of Homberg lies from 203 to 350 m above sea level in the valley of the Ohm, a tributary to the Lahn, some 19 km southeast of Marburg.-Neighbouring communities:...
, in the northeast on the community of Gemünden
Gemünden (Felda)
-Location:Gemuenden lies on the rivers Felda and Ohm, flowing from the Vogelsberg Mountains in the region of Upper Hessen amongst Homberg Grünberg, Kirtorf, Romrod and Feldatal, or more broadly, between Gießen and Bad Hersfeld...
, in the east on the community of Feldatal
Feldatal
-Location:The community lies 285 to 598 m above sea level on the north slope of the Vogelsberg Mountains. Through the community flows the river Felda, which empties into the Ohm at Gemünden.-Neighbouring communities:...
and the town of Ulrichstein
Ulrichstein
-Location:Ulrichstein lies in the Vogelsberg Mountains 614 m above sea level and is thereby Hesse's highest town. It is a recognized climatic spa and lies right near the "Hoherodskopf" nature reserve...
, in the south on the town of Laubach
Laubach
' is a town of approximately 10,000 people in the region of Hesse, Germany. Laubach is known as a , a climatic health resort. It is situated east of Gießen. Surrounding are the towns of , , and .-Points of interest:...
(Gießen
Gießen (district)
Gießen is a Kreis in the middle of Hessen, Germany. Neighboring districts are Marburg-Biedenkopf, Vogelsbergkreis, Wetteraukreis, Lahn-Dill.-History:...
district), and in the west on the town of Ulrichstein
Ulrichstein
-Location:Ulrichstein lies in the Vogelsberg Mountains 614 m above sea level and is thereby Hesse's highest town. It is a recognized climatic spa and lies right near the "Hoherodskopf" nature reserve...
and the community of Grünberg
Grünberg
Grünberg is a town in the district of Gießen, in Hesse, Germany.- Neighbouring communities :To the north Grünberg borders the municipality Rabenau and the town Homberg , to the east the municipality Mücke , to the south the town Laubach and to the west the municipality Reiskirchen.- Constituent...
(Gießen district).
Constituent communities
The community came into being, like many other communities through Hesse's municipal reforms, with the amalgamation of twelve formerly independent communities. These are listed here:- Atzenhain
- Bernsfeld
- Flensungen
- Groß-Eichen
- Höckersdorf
- Ilsdorf
- Merlau (administrative seat)
- Nieder-Ohmen
- Ober-Ohmen
- Ruppertenrod
- Sellnrod
- Wettsaasen
Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was a member state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was formed in 1567 following the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse between the four sons of Philip I, the last Landgrave of Hesse....
, while Solms-Ilsdorf was ruled by the Counts of Solms. Even today, this former split can still be seen in Ilsdorf, as the village has two cemeteries
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
at its disposal.
Before the municipal reforms, there was no place with the name "Mücke", but there was a Mücke railway station on the Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
-Fulda
Fulda
Fulda is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district .- Early Middle Ages :...
line (the Vogelsbergbahn) and a postal designation "Mücke".
Despite what may seem obvious – Mücke is German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "gnat
Gnat
A gnat is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the Dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae.In British English the term applies particularly to Nematocerans of the family Culicidae...
" – the community's name is of Celtic origin
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
. It comes from much or mack, meaning something like "moist" or "boggy". The name Mücke was mentioned in connection with this region in a Merlau parish taxation roll in 1482.
In the constituent community of Flensungen lies Hesse's geographical centre point.
Municipal council
As of municipal elections held on 26 March 2006 the seats are apportioned thus:- SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
15 seats - CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
11 seats - FWG (citizens' coalition) 8 seats
- GreensAlliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
3 seats
A political peculiarity is the Jugendparlament Mücke ("Mücke Youth Parliament"), which stands up for children's and youth's interests. Its 35 members aged between 14 and 21 are elected every two years. The Jugendparlament has the right to speak and make motions on the municipal council's youth, sport and cultural committee.
Partnership
The community of Mücke maintains a partnership with: SydfalsterSydfalster
Until January 1, 2007 Sydfalster was a municipality in the former Storstrøm County on the southern end of the island of Falster in south Denmark.-Overview:...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, since 1993
People with connections to the community
- Anne ChapletCora StephanCora Stephan is a German-speaking writer and essayist.She was born on 7 April 1951 in Strang near Bad Rothenfelde . As an author of crime fiction she is known under the pseudonym Anne Chaplet.Cora Stephan grew up in Osnabrück...
, criminal author - Reinhard Schober, from 1945 to 1948 leader of the Nieder-Ohmen forestry office
Infrastructure and leisure
Homberg (Ohm)
-Location:The officially recognized climatic spa of Homberg lies from 203 to 350 m above sea level in the valley of the Ohm, a tributary to the Lahn, some 19 km southeast of Marburg.-Neighbouring communities:...
Autobahn interchange (A5
Bundesautobahn 5
is a 445 km long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the Hattenbach triangle intersection is a 445 km (277 mi) long Autobahn in Germany. Its northern end is the...
) and Federal Highway (Bundesstraße) 49 that runs through the municipal area, very good transport connections. A few years ago, at the Autobahn interchange, the "Am Gottesrain" industrial park was established complete with an off-Autobahn service centre ("Autohof"). In the constituent communities of Merlau and Nieder-Ohmen are railway stations on the Gießen-Alfeld line.
The community has an indoor swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
with an adjoining sauna
Sauna
A sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
, seven kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
s, two primary schools, and a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
without upper level in the constituent community of Nieder-Ohmen. Furthermore, there is a Sozialstation ( ≈ welfare station for the elderly and the sick) with trained personnel.
In all constituent communities are found Village Community Houses that may be used for all kinds of events. Moreover, there are many clubs to choose from. Anyone can find something to suit his interests.
There are plenty of supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s and smaller shop
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
s in each constituent community to satisfy shopping needs.
Among more particular leisure facilities is the Flensunger Hof, run by a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
body. It is a fully equipped sport and leisure centre. On the Kratzberg in the Nieder-Ohmen rural area, the Luftsportgruppe Mücke e. V. runs a model glider airfield. In Atzenhain is the Reit- und Fahrverein Mücke e. V. with riding hall and grounds.