Schalksmühle
Encyclopedia
Schalksmühle is a municipality in district Märkischer Kreis
, in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. It is the town with the highest rate of millionaires relating to the population in North Rhine-Westphalia(2004).
. Thus the altitude of the 38.2 km² area changes between 183 m (Pulvermühle) and 502 m (east of Sonnenscheid) above sea level. 45% of the area is covered by forest, another 35% are used agricultural. The main river is the Volme, a tributary of the Ruhr.
Schalksmühle itself was first mentioned on May 1, 1407 in a document by arch bishop Friedrich of Cologne, when the merchant Gerwin of Altenbreckerfeld donated an altar to the church of Breckerfeld
. One of the villages leased by Gerwin was Schalksmollen in parrochia Halvere (Schalksmühle in the parish Halver).
The municipality in its modern boundaries was created during the communal reforms of 1969/70. Becoming effective on January 1, 1969 the municipality Schalksmühle was merged with the municipality Hülscheid (previously in the Amt Lüdenscheid). On January 1, 1970 the municipality Dahlerbrück (previously in the Amt Breckerfeld, district Ennepe-Ruhr
) was also added to it.
(Ilex aquifolium), which was taken from the coat of arms of the municipality Hülscheid. As no traditional symbols were found for Hülscheid a "talking symbol" was chosen - Hülsebusch is one of several traditional German names of the Ilex. The two symbols are separated by a red-and-white chequered bordure as the symbol of the counts of the Mark. The coat of arms was granted on July 21, 1970.
Before 1969 the coat of arms of the municipality was very similar with the current one, except the bottom part of the shield was a simple golden field. That coat of arms was granted on March 29, 1935. The coat of arms of the municipality Hülscheid had the Ilex leaves instead of the mill wheel in top. That coat of arms was granted on January 16, 1935. Both were designed by Otto Hupp
, based on an idea of Fritz Thomée, former Landrat of the district Altena.
in Thuringia
(at that time in East Germany). Already since 1970 it has a partnership with the English
district of Wansbeck
in Northumberland
. It originated when a young man (Klaus Floeren) from Iserlohn worked for some time in the town of Bedlington
and met his future wife (Muriel Binks) there.
After moving to Schalksmühle with their young son Rolf, the couple suggested a partnership between the two communities. When Bedlington town council was merged with Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to form the district of Wansbeck, the partnership was continued by the new district council.
Märkischer Kreis
The Märkischer Kreis is a district in central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighbouring districts are Unna, Soest, Hochsauerland, Olpe, Oberbergischer Kreis, Ennepe-Ruhr, and the city of Hagen.-History:...
, in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, 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...
. It is the town with the highest rate of millionaires relating to the population in North Rhine-Westphalia(2004).
Geography
Schalksmühle is located in the hills of the SauerlandSauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
. Thus the altitude of the 38.2 km² area changes between 183 m (Pulvermühle) and 502 m (east of Sonnenscheid) above sea level. 45% of the area is covered by forest, another 35% are used agricultural. The main river is the Volme, a tributary of the Ruhr.
History
The oldest written documents on the municipality date back to 1350, when the farmers of Hülscheid formed a free dukeship. The largest extent of the Freigrafschaft Hülscheid was in 1478, when it contained not only the Kirchspiel Hülscheid, but also the northwestern part of the Kirchspiel Lüdenscheid.Schalksmühle itself was first mentioned on May 1, 1407 in a document by arch bishop Friedrich of Cologne, when the merchant Gerwin of Altenbreckerfeld donated an altar to the church of Breckerfeld
Breckerfeld
Breckerfeld is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, . It is located in the southeastern-most part of the Ruhr area in northern Sauerland. The town is a member of Regionalverband Ruhr .-Geography:...
. One of the villages leased by Gerwin was Schalksmollen in parrochia Halvere (Schalksmühle in the parish Halver).
The municipality in its modern boundaries was created during the communal reforms of 1969/70. Becoming effective on January 1, 1969 the municipality Schalksmühle was merged with the municipality Hülscheid (previously in the Amt Lüdenscheid). On January 1, 1970 the municipality Dahlerbrück (previously in the Amt Breckerfeld, district Ennepe-Ruhr
Ennepe-Ruhr
The Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis is a district in the middle of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is bounded by the district-free cities of Bochum, Dortmund and Hagen, the districts of Märkischer Kreis and Oberbergischer Kreis, the city of Wuppertal, the district of Mettmann and the city of...
) was also added to it.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms combined the symbols of the two municipalities merged in 1969. The top part shows the upper half of a black mill wheel (Mühle is German for mill), the symbol for Schalksmühle. In the bottom are three leaves of European HollyEuropean Holly
Ilex aquifolium, holly, or european holly, is a species of holly native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.- Overview :...
(Ilex aquifolium), which was taken from the coat of arms of the municipality Hülscheid. As no traditional symbols were found for Hülscheid a "talking symbol" was chosen - Hülsebusch is one of several traditional German names of the Ilex. The two symbols are separated by a red-and-white chequered bordure as the symbol of the counts of the Mark. The coat of arms was granted on July 21, 1970.
Before 1969 the coat of arms of the municipality was very similar with the current one, except the bottom part of the shield was a simple golden field. That coat of arms was granted on March 29, 1935. The coat of arms of the municipality Hülscheid had the Ilex leaves instead of the mill wheel in top. That coat of arms was granted on January 16, 1935. Both were designed by Otto Hupp
Otto Hupp
Otto Hupp was a German graphical artist. His main working area was heraldry, yet he also worked as a typeface designer, creating commercial symbols and metal works....
, based on an idea of Fritz Thomée, former Landrat of the district Altena.
Twin towns
Schalksmühle is twinned with two towns. Since July 1987 it has a partnership with RuhlaRuhla
Ruhla is a town situated in the forest of Thuringia in the district of Wartburgkreis in Germany, immediately next to the Rennsteig. Thal and Kittelsthal are parts of the town.-Church of St. Concordia:...
in Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
(at that time in East Germany). Already since 1970 it has a partnership with the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
district of Wansbeck
Wansbeck
Wansbeck was a local government district in south-east Northumberland, England. Its main population centres were Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea....
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. It originated when a young man (Klaus Floeren) from Iserlohn worked for some time in the town of Bedlington
Bedlington
Bedlington is a town in Northumberland, to the north of the Tyne and Wear urban area. It lies north of Newcastle and southeast of the county town of Morpeth. Other nearby places include Ashington to the north northeast, Blyth to the east and Cramlington to the south.The parish of Bedlington...
and met his future wife (Muriel Binks) there.
After moving to Schalksmühle with their young son Rolf, the couple suggested a partnership between the two communities. When Bedlington town council was merged with Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to form the district of Wansbeck, the partnership was continued by the new district council.