Wald-Michelbach
Wald-Michelbach | |
---|---|
Location of Wald-Michelbach within Bergstraße district | |
Coordinates: 49°34′N 8°50′E / 49.567°N 8.833°E | |
Country | Germany |
State | Hesse |
Admin. region | Darmstadt |
District | Bergstraße |
Government | |
• Mayor (2023–29) | Sascha Weber[1] (SPD) |
Area | |
• Total | 74.36 km2 (28.71 sq mi) |
Elevation | 343 m (1,125 ft) |
Population (2022-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 10,791 |
• Density | 150/km2 (380/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Postal codes | 69483 |
Dialling codes | 06207 |
Vehicle registration | HP |
Website | www.wald-michelbach.de |
Wald-Michelbach is a municipality in the
.Geography
Location
The community lies in the
Geology
Hardberg
In the area of Wald-Michelbach's outlying centre of Siedelsbrunn is found the Hardberg, at 593 m above sea level the Odenwald's third highest mountain. On the Hardberg's peak is a 135 m-tall Hessischer Rundfunk radio and television transmission mast. From each side of the Hardberg there is a unique view over the Odenwald and the Rhine valley.
Neighbouring communities
Wald-Michelbach borders in the north on the community of
Constituent communities
Wald-Michelbach's
Development of municipal area
Amalgamations
On 1 December 1970, Hartenrod was amalgamated with Wald-Michelbach. Gadern and Kreidach followed on 1 January 1971 and Aschbach on 1 October of the same year. On 1 January 1972, Siedelsbrunn, Ober-Schönmattenwag and Unter-Schönmattenwag became parts of Wald-Michelbach, with Affolterbach and Kocherbach joining them on 1 August 1972.
Politics
Community council
This section needs to be updated.(July 2021) |
The municipal election held on 26 March 2006 yielded the following results:
Parties and voter communities | % 2006 |
Seats 2006 |
% 2001 |
Seats 2001 | |
CDU | Christian Democratic Union of Germany | 38.9 | 14 | 37.3 | 14 |
SPD | Social Democratic Party of Germany | 34.1 | 13 | 37.3 | 14 |
GREENS | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
|
6.0 | 2 | 4.0 | 2 |
FDP | Free Democratic Party | 2.1 | 1 | 1.1 | 0 |
FW | Freie Wählervereinigung | 9.1 | 3 | 9.9 | 4 |
AKB | Affolterbach-Kocherbacher-Bürgervereinigung | 9.9 | 4 | 9.3 | 3 |
Die Tierschutzpartei | The Animal Welfare Party
|
– | – | 1.1 | 0 |
Total | 100.0 | 37 | 100.0 | 37 | |
Voter turnout in % | 46.3 | 53.0 |
Mayor
Since July 2017, the community's mayor has been Sascha Weber.
Town partnerships
Economy
The community's and surrounding area's biggest employer is the firm Coronet (household appliances).
Education
Wald-Michelbach has at its disposal two
Main community
- Adam-Karrillon-Schule (primary school)
- Mary-Anne-Kübel-Schule (school for pupils with learning difficulties)
- Eugen-Bachmann-Schule (Haupt- und Realschule)
- Überwald-Gymnasium
- Drachenschule Odenwald - open school (1st to 6th class)
Outlying centres
- Grundschule Unter-Schönmattenwag (primary school)
Leisure and sport facilities
Wald-Michelbach has an outdoor
Culture and sightseeing
Libraries
Library at the Überwald-Gymnasium
In autumn 2007, the Überwald-Gymnasium opened its new library MIZ (Medien- und Infozentrum – “Media and Infocentre”). This may be used not only by students, but as of April 2008 also by all citizens of the surrounding municipalities.
Museums
Heimatmuseum
The Heimatmuseum (local history museum) has been housed since 1988 at the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) right in the heart of the community. The building was built in 1594. On display here are not only items from Wald-Michelbach's historical development but sometimes also special exhibits.
Stoewermuseum
The Stoewermuseum was opened in 2002 and is housed in the building that formerly housed the old savings bank, near the heart of the community. On show here is a collection of products from the Stoewer works in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland). The museum's centrepiece is the array of cars on display on the ground floor. Most have been restored and are in operating condition. Furthermore, more of the Stoewer company's products, such as sewing machines, typewriters and bicycles, can also be seen. The museum is run privately by a collector who was born in Stettin. In 2005, in honour of the owner and his dedication, a street in the main community was christened Stoewerstraße. It is planned to move the Stoewermuseum back to its origins in Stettin (Szczecin), Poland.
Buildings
The Überwälder Einhaus was completed in 2005 by the Überwälder Museums- und Kulturverein (“
Regular events
- Fumaba
- Gassenmarkt (“Lane Market”)
- Heimatfest (“Homeland Festival”, first weekend in July)
- Kerwe (church consecration festival, next to last Sunday in August)
- Kommunales Kino (“Municipal Cinema”, second Saturday each month)
- Weihnachtsmarkt (“Christmas Market”)
Healthcare
On the Hardberg's slope in outlying centre of Siedelsbrunn lies the Buddhist monastery "Buddhas Weg" ("Way of Buddha"). It offers a variety of traditional Chinese and Vietnamese therapies as well as spiritual seminars.
The "Systelios" clinic for people suffering from the
Famous people
Sons and daughters of the town
- Adam Karrillon (1853–1938), writer and physician (honorary citizen 1921)
- Lothar Mark (1945– ), SPD politician
- Heinrich Schlerf (1890–1970), founder of the Coronet works
- Dr. Rudolf Wünzer (1862–1929), honorary citizen: 16 September 1913
- Karl Kübel (1909–2006), founder of the Karl Kübel-Stiftung.
- Eugen Bachmann (1913–1975), Member of the Landtag (CDU) and former mayor of Wald-Michelbach (1948–1975)
Others
- Jürgen Gerlach, National Chairman of The Animal Welfare Party
References
- Hessisches Statistisches Landesamt. April 2023.
- Hessisches Statistisches Landesamt. June 2023.
Further reading
- Peter W. Sattler: Festschrift zur 750-Jahrfeier der Gemeinde Wald-Michelbach am 28. Mai 1988. Gemeindevorstand Wald-Michelbach, Wald-Michelbach 1988.
External links
- Community’s official webpage (in German)
- Wald-Michelbach at Curlie(in German)