Aarbergen
Aarbergen is a community in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the "Regierungsbezirk" of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany. Geography. Location. Aarbergen lies on the river Aar south of Limburg an der Lahn and between the Taunus ridge and the river Lahn in the Western Hintertaunus ("Farther Taunus"). The community is found in the low mountain landscape in the western "Hintertaunus", which is part of the Rhenish Massif (Rhenish Slate Mountains). The heights are characterized by a pronounced peak-and-trough surface relief, parts of which show formations from deep in the ground (kaolin). The surface relief had valleys carved deeply  into it in the Quaternary by the Aar and its tributaries. Underground, the rock is formed mainly out of the Rhenish Slate Mountains’ Lower Devonian shale, metamorphic sandstone and quartzite. On top are found, often several metres deep, great layers of periglacial deposits much of which contains carbonate-free to weakly carbonate loess loam. Oligocene shingle (Vallendar facies) overlies the older surface near Kettenbach and Hausen über Aar. Well known in professional circles are the occurrences of soil erosion (gullies and similar channels) in broad parts of the community which began in historical times. The landscape in the community's  municipal area is characterized by the middle Aar valley with its side valleys. The greater part of the municipal area is wooded. The main land use in open areas is field crops. In the valleys is meadowland, sometimes with scenically valuable meadow orchards ("Streuobstwiesen"). The Aubach, the Aar's biggest tributary, empties into that river within community limits, as does the Bettenbach. Neighbouring communities. Aarbergen borders in the north on the communities of Mudershausen, Schiesheim, Burgschwalbach and Kaltenholzhausen (all in the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate) and Hünfelden (Limburg-Weilburg), in the east on the community of Hünstetten, in  the south on the community of Heidenrod (all in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis) and in the west on the communities of Reckenroth, Eisighofen, Dörsdorf and Berghausen (all in the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis). Constituent communities. Aarbergen's "Ortsteile" are Hausen über Aar, Rückershausen, Kettenbach, Michelbach, Daisbach and Panrod. History. The constituent community of Rückershausen had its first documentary mention in 879. Until 1326, the village belonged to the domain held by Count Gebhard of the Niederlohngau. Thereafter, first a share of the village and later the whole passed to Nassau. In 1532, Rückershausen was granted market rights. Hausen über Aar likewise  had its first documentary mention in 879, when it belonged to the Niederlohngau and found its way into the ownership of St. Severus's Monastery in Kettenbach, which in the same year was moved to Gemünden in the Westerwald. Later, Hausen über Aar had two lords and as of 1806 belonged to the Duchy of Nassau. With the consecration of St. Severus's Monastery in 845, the village of Kettenbach was founded by Gebhard, Count of the Lahngau and had its first documentary mention. Some time about 1000, the County of Diez grew out of the Niederlahngau. Over the centuries , Kettenbach had various owners and ended up in 1771 wholly in Nassau's hands. Politics. Community council. The municipal election held on 26 March 2006 yielded the following results: Mayors. Past mayoral contests yielded the following results: At the last election on 11 March 2007, Udo Scheligo (CDU) edged in with 50.5% of the vote over the incumbent mayor Hartmut Bopp (SPD), who garnered 49.5% of the vote. Other parties nominated no candidates, and also, no independent candidates stood. Voter turnout was 69.7%.