Billmerich
| Unna | ||
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The Old Market in Unna.
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 Unna
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Location of Unna within Unna district
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| Coordinates: 51°32′05″N 7°41′20″E / 51.53472°N 7.68889°ECoordinates: 51°32′05″N 7°41′20″E / 51.53472°N 7.68889°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia | |
| Admin. region | Arnsberg | |
| District | Unna | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Werner Kolter (SPD) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 88.52 km2 (34.18 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 142 m (466 ft) | |
| Population (2015-12-31) | ||
| • Total | 59,111 | |
| • Density | 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 59423, 59425, 59427 | |
| Dialling codes | 02303, 02308 | |
| Vehicle registration | UN | |
| Website | www.unna.de | |
Unna is a city of around 59,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the seat of the Unna district.
Unna is situated on an ancient salt-trading route, the Westphalian Hellweg. Trade on this route and during the period of the Hanseatic League came from as far as London. The city is located at the eastern extremity of the Ruhr district, about 15 kilometres (9 miles) east of the centre of Dortmund.
Unna consists of the following districts:
Massen and Königsborn are former industrial and mining areas; the other districts have a more rural character.
The history of human settlement in what is now the city of Unna can be traced back to the Neolithic Era.
In the Middle Ages, Unna gained significance as a way station on the Hellweg. It is first recorded by name in an ecclesiastical document of 1032. Around 1200, Count Friedrich von Altena-Isenberg was invested with the fiefdom of Unna, among other estates, by the archbishop-electorate of Cologne. Over the next few hundred years the town was repeatedly fought over, and burned down several times. In the 14th century the town became wealthy: a mint was established and regional trade blossomed. This is documented by the discovery of around 70 gold coins during excavation works in 1952. The coins originated from various countries and are thought to have been buried around 1375.
From the mid-15th century on, the town was a notable trade centre and member of the Hanseatic League. In 1597 more than half the population died of the Bubonic plague. In the early 17th century, the town changed hands several times in religious wars, and in 1666 fell under the control of Prussia. In the early 19th century, the primary character of the town started to change from agricultural to industrial, with improved communications by road, rail and waterways. Coal mining started in 1870, together with industries dependent on it. The population rose from around 2,500 at the start of the 19th century to 15,000 in 1900.
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Wikipedia