Schwerte

Schwerte
Schwerte
Location of Schwerte within Kreis Unna district
Schwerte
Schwerte
Coordinates: 51°26′45″N 7°33′55″E / 51.44583°N 7.56528°E / 51.44583; 7.56528
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionArnsberg
DistrictKreis Unna
Government
 • MayorHeinrich Böckelühr (CDU)
Area
 • Total56.2 km2 (21.7 sq mi)
Elevation
120 m (390 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[1]
 • Total46,008
 • Density820/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
58239
Dialling codes02304
Vehicle registrationUN
Websitewww.schwerte.de

Schwerte is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. About 48,000 people live there. Schwerte is in the Ruhr valley just north of the mountainous Sauerland region. The Ruhr river runs through the center of Schwerte.[2] Schwerte is a popular cycling destination for tourists.[2]

History

Schwerte received civic rights in the 12th century. It was a member of the medieval Hanseatic League. During World War II Schwerte housed a branch of the Buchenwald concentration camp. The camp held 710 prisoners.[3]

Controversy

In 2015 Schwerte officials have proposed housing refugees at the site of the former concentration camp.[4] The plan has been criticized as a bad idea by many Germans including the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia.[4] Officials say the buildings were built after the war and should not be a problem. Refugees coming to Germany include those from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Kosovo and Serbia.[4]

References

  1. "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Schwerte". .Ruhr Tourismus. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. "Schwerte". Förderverein Buchenwald. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Soraya Nelson. "A German Plan: House Refugees In An Old Concentration Camp". NPR. Retrieved 15 March 2015.

Other websites

Media related to Schwerte at Wikimedia Commons