Ilm-Kreis

Ilm-Kreis is a district in Thuringia, Germany.

 History 
In medieval times the territory was ruled by the counts of Henneberg and the princes of Schwarzburg, two local dynasties. While Ilmenau was ruled by Henneberg, Arnstadt belonged to Schwarzburg. When the Henneberg family became extinct in 1583, Ilmenau was acquired by Saxony. The principality of Schwarzburg was split up between family members into several tiny states. One of those states (Schwarzburg-Arnstadt) was based in Arnstadt; it was founded in 1574 and existed until 1716, when it became part of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. It became part of Thuringia when the Freestate of Thuringia was founded in 1920.

The district was founded in 1920 (under the name Arnstadt); it was divided in 1952 into the districts of Arnstadt and Ilmenau, but joined together again in 1994.

 Coat of arms 
100px|Coat of armsThe coat of arms displays:
 the heraldic lion from the principality of Schwarzburg
 the hen from the county of Henneberg
 the eagle from the city arms of Arnstadt

 Towns and municipalities 
Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free townsand municipalities Arnstadt
 Ilmenau
 Langewiesen
 Stadtilm Ichtershausen
 Ilmtal
 Wachsenburggemeinde
 Wipfratal
 Wolfsberg
Verwaltungsgemeinschaften1. Geratal
 Angelroda
 Elgersburg
 Geraberg1
 Martinroda
 Neusiß
2. Großbreitenbach
 Altenfeld
 Böhlen
 Friedersdorf
 Gillersdorf
 Großbreitenbach1, 2
 Wildenspring3. Langer Berg
 Gehren1, 2
 Herschdorf
 Möhrenbach
 Neustadt am Rennsteig
 Pennewitz
4. Oberes Geratal
 Frankenhain
 Gehlberg
 Geschwenda
 Gossel
 Gräfenroda1
 Liebenstein
 Plaue25. Rennsteig
 Frauenwald
 Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig1
 Stützerbach
6. Riechheimer Berg
 Alkersleben
 Bösleben-Wüllersleben
 Dornheim
 Elleben
 Elxleben
 Kirchheim1
 Osthausen-Wülfershausen
 Rockhausen
 Witzleben1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town
150px|thumb|All villages, municipalities and TOWNS in Ilm-Kreis

 Other websites
 Official website (German, English)
References

Category:Rural Districts of Thuringia