# Oberspreewald-Lausitz

Oberspreewald-Lausitz (Lower Sorbian: Wokrejs Górne Błota-Łužyca, Upper Sorbian: Wokrjes Hornje Błóta-Łužica) is a Kreis (district) in the southern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Dahme-Spreewald, Spree-Neiße, the districts Bautzen and Meissen in Saxony, and the district Elbe-Elster.

## Geography

The Spree river runs through the district; along its banks there is the Spreewald, a wooded area and habitat of several rare animals. The district is part of the historic region of Lusatia.

## History

The district was formed in 1993 by merging the previous districts of Calau and Senftenberg and a small part of the district Bad Liebenwerda.

## Demography

* Development of Population since 1875 within the Current Boundaries (Blue Line: Population; Dotted Line: Comparison to Population Development of Brandenburg state)
* Recent Population Development and Projections (Population Development before Census 2011 (blue line); Recent Population Development according to the Census in Germany in 2011 (blue bordered line); Official projections for 2005-2030 (yellow line); for 2014-2030 (red line); for 2017-2030 (scarlet line)
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1875 | 58,860 | — |
| 1890 | 69,525 | +1.12% |
| 1910 | 109,357 | +2.29% |
| 1925 | 128,487 | +1.08% |
| 1933 | 133,248 | +0.46% |
| 1939 | 139,774 | +0.80% |
| 1946 | 164,609 | +2.36% |
| 1950 | 165,790 | +0.18% |
| 1964 | 181,923 | +0.67% |
| 1971 | 185,312 | +0.26% |
| 1981 | 175,957 | −0.52% |
| 1985 | 171,995 | −0.57% |
| 1989 | 169,687 | −0.34% |
| 1990 | 166,351 | −1.97% |
| 1991 | 161,229 | −3.08% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1992 | 161,124 | −0.07% |
| 1993 | 159,828 | −0.80% |
| 1994 | 158,537 | −0.81% |
| 1995 | 156,758 | −1.12% |
| 1996 | 155,024 | −1.11% |
| 1997 | 152,924 | −1.35% |
| 1998 | 150,414 | −1.64% |
| 1999 | 148,124 | −1.52% |
| 2000 | 145,110 | −2.03% |
| 2001 | 141,959 | −2.17% |
| 2002 | 139,062 | −2.04% |
| 2003 | 136,251 | −2.02% |
| 2004 | 134,025 | −1.63% |
| 2005 | 132,032 | −1.49% |
| 2006 | 129,581 | −1.86% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2007 | 127,278 | −1.78% |
| 2008 | 125,216 | −1.62% |
| 2009 | 123,426 | −1.43% |
| 2010 | 121,679 | −1.42% |
| 2011 | 116,898 | −3.93% |
| 2012 | 115,212 | −1.44% |
| 2013 | 113,842 | −1.19% |
| 2014 | 112,896 | −0.83% |
| 2015 | 112,450 | −0.40% |
| 2016 | 111,962 | −0.43% |
| 2017 | 111,122 | −0.75% |
| 2018 | 110,476 | −0.58% |
| 2019 | 109,371 | −1.00% |

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms shows a red bull as the symbol of the Lower Lusatia region, representing the former district Calau. The city wall in the bottom part is an old symbol of the Upper Lusatia region, and also represents the former district Senftenberg. The shield with a lion is the symbol of the county of Meißen, representing the municipalities of the former district Bad Liebenwerda which were included into the district.

## Towns and municipalities

| Amt-free towns | Ämter | |
| Calau – Kalawa Großräschen Lauchhammer Lübbenau – Lubnjow Schwarzheide Senftenberg Vetschau – Wětošow Amt-free municipalities Schipkau | 1. Altdöbern Altdöbern$^1$ Bronkow Luckaitztal Neupetershain Neu-Seeland 2. Ortrand Frauendorf Großkmehlen Kroppen Lindenau Ortrand$^{1,2}$ Tettau | 3. Ruhland Grünewald Guteborn Hermsdorf Hohenbocka Ruhland$^{1,2}$ Schwarzbach |
| $^1$seat of the Amt; $^2$town |||