Vogelsbergkreis
The Vogelsberg district is a district in Giessen Region in Central Hesse or Upper Hesse, Osthessen. The District Office is located in Lauterbach.
Geography
The name derives from the circle is the Vogelsberg, an extinct for millions of years, so also partially worn volcano, which is located in the south of the district. Its highest point is the baptismal font (773 m ) east of Scots. The northern district area extends even into the countryside of the Schwalm. Neighboring districts are in the north of the Schwalm- Eder-Kreis, in the northeast of Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in the east of the Fulda district, south of the Main- Kinzig-Kreis and the Wetterau district, in the western district of Gießen and the northwest of the Marburg- Biedenkopf.
Economy
The Vogelsberg district has the lowest population density (76 inhabitants per km2 ) and also the third largest area of all Hessian circles. Although the district area is dominated by agriculture, only a small fraction of the working population is employed in the primary sector due to structural changes since the 1950s, currently. 43.7 % of the area of Vogelsberg district are agricultural land. Of these, 52.4 % is managed as grassland, which the Vogelsberg district has the highest proportion of grassland in Hesse.
The medium-sized industries ( paper, packaging, metal, tool, wood, furniture, clothing ) is located mainly in the few towns in the district, especially in Alsfeld and Lauterbach. From approximately 36,000 residents of the Vogelsberg workers are about 16,000 commuters in other counties. An important industry is tourism also. In 1956, the Natural Park of the Hoher Vogelsberg was founded, which is now the second oldest nature park in Germany (after the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park ). It includes the area around the upper forest and extends over the Vogelsberg addition to the neighboring counties Gießen district, Main -Kinzig-Kreis and Wetterau. On a former railway line of the volcanic cycle path runs through the eastern part of the county.
In Vogelsberg the use of wind energy for electricity generation in the German inland began. The district area is one in Hesse among the most windhöffigen locations. 1990/91 in the town of Grebenhain the wind energy park Vogelsberg the first German wind farm in the Middle Mountains, and also the first wind farm in Hesse was initially taken for experimental purposes in operation. The first commercial wind farm projects in Hesse were realized in the bird mountain communities Feldatal and Ulrich Stein 1993/94. From the end of 2012 about 700 built in Hesse wind turbines stand 200 in the Vogelsberg.
History
The present district territory belonged to the early 19th century mainly for Hesse- Darmstadt, later Grand Duchy of Hesse. In addition, there were several small territorial rule as that of the Riedesel Barons Eisenbach and the Imperial Count of Schlitz. Since 1806, the area belonged to the mediatization complete the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Until the mid- 19th century, the administrative structures changed at the county level often.
1832, the county was founded in Alsfeld, who repeatedly changed its borders throughout history, most recently in 1938. In 1852, the county Lauterbach had been formed. This circle was also changed in 1938 to its limits. In the course of municipal reform in Hesse both counties were incorporating the town of Schotten (until 1938 Circle Scots, then county Büdingen ) united on August 1, 1972 Vogelsberg. County seat was Lauterbach. Here, incidentally, was the license plate first LAT, however, the approval body in Alsfeld told to continue to ALS. Since 1978 is the hallmark VB.
Policy
Council
The municipal election held 27 March 2011 yielded the following results:
District administrators
- Roland Manz ( State Representative), August 1 1972 to December 20, 1972
- Dr. Jochen alarm clock (SPD ), January 1973-April 1987 (except for a six-month period in early 1985 )
- Gerulf Herzog ( CDU), from January 1985 to July 1985
- Hans -Ulrich Lipphardt (SPD ), June 1 1987 to 2000
- Rudolf Marx ( CDU ), 2000 to June 2012
- Manfred Görig (SPD ), since June 2012
Coat of arms
Blazon: " A silver strip left diagonally divided; above in red two natural silver Turk's cap lilies, down into the blue three times divided by silver and red lion's head with a golden crown " (Coat of Arms Awards July 26, 1978 )
The Turk's cap lilies are taken from the old county coat of arms of Lauterbach and symbolize the Hoher Vogelsberg, the lion stands for land county Hessen or their successor states, which ruled most of present-day county area. It is also found in the coat of arms of the city of Alsfeld.
Kreisausschuss
The county committee has 15 members and is the supreme governing body of the district administration. The Chairman is the full-time District Manfred Görig (SPD ); the 14 county councilors are volunteers.
Children and Youth Parliament
In addition to the council are in the Vogelsberg district since 1992, a Child and Youth Parliament ( KJP ), the District Council has an application and speech law since 1999. Founded in 1997, may participate in decisions KJP - a member of the Youth Services Committee with one voice. Active and passive voting right in all young people are from the 7th grade class until their 18th year.
Traffic
The district area is accessible through the Federal Highway 5 (Frankfurt- Bad Hersfeld ). Highway exits in the district are Homberg ( Ohm ) and Alsfeld East and West Alsfeld. In addition, several federal highways and county roads, including the B 49, B 62, B 254 and B 275 Per Railway is the Vogelsberg accessible via the ICE railway station Fulda with the bird mountain railway Fulda Lauterbach Alsfeld mosquito - casting.
Cities and Towns
(Population at 31 December 2012)
Cities
Communities
Municipalities in the county