Oberbergischer Kreis

The Oberbergischer Kreis is a Kreis (destrict) in the state o North Rhine-Westphalie, Germany. Neighbourin destricts are Ennepe-Ruhr, Märkischer Kreis, Olpe, Altenkirchen, Rhein-Sieg, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, an the urban destricts Remscheid an Wuppertal.

Name
The aurie o the Bergisches Land belangit tae the Coonty o Berg for maist o the medieval times, which still gives the destrict its name. Wha is cried "Oberbergisch" ('upper Bergian') lees in the sootheast o that earldom: Awready in 1740, a description o wha haed meanwhile become a duchy made a destinction atween the "Niederbergisch" part north o the river Wupper an the "Oberbergisch" tae its sooth.

In 1816, efter the whole Rhineland wis annexed tae Proushie, the destricts o Waldbröl, Homburg, Gimborn, Wipperfürth, an Lennep wur creatit on the aurie nou covered bi the destrict. In 1825 the destricts Gimborn an Homburg wur mergit tae the destrict Gummersbach. In 1932 it wis mergit wi the destrict o Waldbröl, an then for the first time cried Oberbergischer Kreis. The restructurin o the destricts in 1969/75 did then create the destrict tae its current extent.

Geography
The Oberbergischer Kreis covers the hills wast o the Sauerland an north o the Westerwald. It constitutes the eastren pairt o the Bergisches Land natur reserve. Situatit at an altitude o 100–520 meters abuin sea level, it is rich in wood an watter (numberin ten airtificial lakes) an thus a recreational aurie for citizens frae Cologne, the Ruhr an the Netherlands.

The prevailing rock is greywacke, which wis an in places still is mined in lairge stane quarries.

Coat o airms
100px|Coat of armsThe coat o airms is a combination o the heraldic signs o the territories the destrict belangit tae. The red-white bar in the top seembolizes the Coonty o Mark an the lion that o Berg. Homburg Castle (near Nümbrecht) wis the seat o the Princes o Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

Politics
Destrict admeenistrator
1945-1951: Dr. August Dresbach, CDU
1951-1952: Fritz Eschmann, SPD
1952-1956: Wilhelm Henn, CDU
1956-1961: Fritz Eschmann, SPD
1961-1964: Reinhard Kaufmann, CDU
1964-1969: Dr. Heinrich Schild, CDU
1969-1989: Hans Wichelhaus, CDU
1989-1994: Hans-Leo Kausemann, CDU
1994-1999: Herbert Heidtman,  SPD

Syne the 1 October 1999 there is anerlie ane (directly electit) Destrict admeenistrator who at the same time is heid o management:

1999-2004: Hans-Leo Kausemann, CDU
2004-today: Hagen Jobi, CDU

Destrict Admeenistrator for the management
1946-1979: Dr. Friedrich-Wilhelm Goldenbogen, CDU
1979-1987: Dr. Dieter Fuchs, CDU
1987-1994: Dr. Gert Ammermann, CDU
1995-1999: Heribert Rohr, SPD

Economy
The destrict's economy is markit bi sma an middle-sizit industry, pairticularly in the auries o plastic an metal processin.

Places o interest

 The so-cried 'colored kirks' (wi medieval waw an cover paintins) are kent naitionally
 Stalactite cave in Wiehl
 Rhenish industry museum in Engelskirchen
 House Dahl
 Open-air museum in Lindlar
 Gimborn Castle
 Homburg Castle
 Hückeswagen Castle an the historical pairt o Hückeswagen
 Ehreshoven Castle
 Denklingen Castle

Touns an municipalities
TounsMunicipalitiesBergneustadt
Gummersbach
Hückeswagen
Radevormwald
Waldbröl
Wiehl
WipperfürthEngelskirchen
Lindlar
Marienheide
Morsbach
Nümbrecht
Reichshof
References

Freemit airtins

 Offeecial wabsteid 
 Touristical wabsteid 
 Kreisinformationssystem Oberberg  

Category:Destricts o North Rhine-Westphalie
Category:Bergisches Land