Middle Franconia

Middle Franconia (district)
Mittelfranken
Regierungsbezirk

Map of Bavaria highlighting the Regierungsbezirk of Middle Franconia (district)
Country Germany
State Bavaria
Region seat Ansbach
Area
 • Total 7,245.70 km2 (2,797.58 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2017)[1]
 • Total 1,759,643
 • Density 240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Website regierung.mittelfranken.bayern.de

Middle Franconia (German: Mittelfranken) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach but the most populated city is Nuremberg.

Subdivisions

The region is divided into seven Landkreise (districts) and five Kreisfreie Städte ('district-free cities'):

History

After the founding of the Kingdom of Bavaria the state was totally reorganised and, in 1808, divided into 15 administrative government regions (German: Regierungsbezirke (singular Regierungsbezirk)), in Bavaria called Kreise (singular: Kreis). They were created in the fashion of the French departements, quite even in size and population, and named after their main rivers.

In the following years, due to territorial changes (e. g. loss of Tyrol, addition of the Palatinate), the number of Kreise was reduced to 8. One of these was the Rezatkreis (Rezat District). In 1837 king Ludwig I of Bavaria renamed the Kreise after historical territorial names and tribes of the area. This also involved some border changes or territorial swaps. Thus the district name of Rezatkreis changed to Middle Franconia.

Main sights

Next to the major city Nuremberg, the capital Ansbach and the former residence city Erlangen, the towns of the Romantic Road Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl belong to the major tourist attractions. The Lichtenau Fortress, Rothenberg Fortress, Hohenstein and Cadolzburg belong to the most important castles of Middle Franconia. The Franconian Jura and the northern valley of the River Altmühl are among the scenic attractions.

Coat of arms

Coat of Arms of Middle Franconia
The coat of arms displays:

Population

YearInhabitants
1900815,895
1910930,868
19391,065,122
19501,273,030
19611,371,144
19701,486,389
19871,521,484
20021,703,869
20051,712,275
20061,712,622
20081,714,453
20101,710,876

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes". Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung (in German). September 2018.
  2. ↑ County of Hohenzollern
  3. ↑ Franconia
  4. ↑ File:Wappen Deutscher Bund.svg
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