Market town

Market town is the designation for a category of places with limited municipal law. The most important rights of a market town was the market right associated with it were economic benefits to the inhabitants of the place, such as the artisans. Minder cities had an important supply function for the surrounding area, they were the central places of the lowest level. They are often found in sparsely populated areas where the route to market in the next town for the farmers was too far.

Many minority cities were founded in the 13th and 14th centuries, directly beside a castle. This offered protection and guaranteed trouble-free trade. At the same time, the castle residents could more easily be supplied.

Designations, which indicate a market town, have historical character, but are still used in some German states and in neighboring states. So there are similar forms of small towns and market rights in Scandinavia and England.

A special form of minority cities are Titularstädte. These have, like other minority towns, only limited rights and functions, but in contrast to this result the title of " city ".

Germany

Market

The Bavarian municipal law distinguishes between municipalities belonging to cities, towns and municipalities. The title " market " lead in Bavaria 386 municipalities ( as of 2009). The title is awarded today. Recent market town in Germany is Ruhstorf an der Rott. With the title of "market" in the Middle Ages, the market was right connected.

Stain

In northern Germany the name was common spots for minority cities. Also, this term was associated with the market right. In Lower Saxony, 53 communities lead (as of 2012), the term " patch " as a title, which in fact has no meaning anymore. In Saxony -Anhalt four municipalities result in the flare (eg: Calvörde ) and in the Altmark back this item. In Hesse four municipalities lead in Limburg- Weilburg the title " market town ". In Schleswig -Holstein the title " spots" was abolished in 1934, most of the sites in this category have been previously collected for cities. In Brandenburg still stains Zechlin holds the title.

Wigbold

In Westphalia there is the old name Wigbold (also Wiegbold, soft image ). In the 19th century, among others Ochtrup, Metelen, Westerkappeln, Wolbeck and Ottenstein Wigbold called.

The places Nienborg, Schöppingen and Südlohn were designated Wigbold until 30 June 1969 the place Wolbeck only until March 31, 1957.

Notes to the arms of the city Olfen

Freedom

Another form of the Westphalian market town is freedom. Their rights were those of the city very close. An example of this is Bödefeld in the Sauerland. Since 1342 the place has been called " freedom Bödefeld ". With the title "Freedom " the privilege was connected to elect a magistrate and mayor and the city to manage themselves. The privilege ended in 1803, the name has stuck. In addition, as a rule entered the right of the attachment of freedom with a bank and ditch. In the Sauerland and winner country including the cities today Altena, Meschede, Sundern, Freudenberg and Freienohl had the rights of freedom; also a number of villages as Affeln and Hachenbach.

Also in the Ruhr had several places since the Middle Ages the rank of freedom. Buer was called " freedom Buer "; other places that bore the title, were Wattenscheid, Westerholt, Mengede, Blankenstein, Westhofen, Horst and weather.

In Munsterland were freedoms, inter alia Gemen and Metelen. For a list of patches, Wigbolde and freedoms in Westphalia see links.

In the Rhineland, Mülheim from 1322 and 1444 from Elberfeld was a freedom.

In many states there were in history a status for places, which is comparable to a market town, for example, received in Baden-Württemberg also very small towns the title of " city ". In old maps, there are occasional references to places with a status of de facto market town corresponds, in Baden- Württemberg, for example Mudau.