Elsenfeld

Elsenfeld
Coat of arms
Elsenfeld
Location of Elsenfeld within Miltenberg district
Coordinates: 49°51′N 9°10′E / 49.850°N 9.167°E / 49.850; 9.167Coordinates: 49°51′N 9°10′E / 49.850°N 9.167°E / 49.850; 9.167
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Unterfranken
District	Miltenberg
Government
• Mayor	Matthias Luxem (UBV)
Area
• Total	24.38 km2 (9.41 sq mi)
Elevation	123 m (404 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	9,015
• Density	370/km2 (960/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	63820
Dialling codes	06022 (Eichelsbach: 09374)
Vehicle registration	MIL
Website	www.elsenfeld.de

Elsenfeld is a market community in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the river Main between the hills of the Spessart, east of the river, and Odenwald, west of the river. Elsenfeld has a total population of around 9,000.

Elsenfeld lies in the "Bavarian Lower Main Region" (Bayerischer Untermain) on the Main's right bank. Running through the community is the brook Elsava, which empties into the Main at Elsenfeld.

The community has the following Gemarkungen (traditional rural cadastral areas): Eichelsbach, Elsenfeld, Rück, Schippach and Himmelthal (formerly a monastery estate).

The name Elsenfeld comes from the brook's name, Elsava, and means "Flowing Water on the Alder Ground". Until the late 17th century, the place was named Elsaffen or Elsava. The name Elsenfeld is only confirmed as far back as 1625.

The area around Elsenfeld was already settled more than 5,000 years ago. This is witnessed by Linear Pottery culture (Bronze Age) burial finds near Eichelsbach and Rück-Schippach. However, there likely was no continuous habitation before Frankish times.

Barrows near Eichelsbach bear witness to a relatively dense population in the time between 1600 and 700 BC. Only in the late 6th century AD did the actual era of written history begin here.

The oldest settlements in today's municipal area are Eichelsbach and Schippach. In 1122, Elsenfeld had its first documentary mention. Schippach's first documentary mention came in 1233, when the Count and Countess of Rieneck expanded the Himmelthal Monastery's landholdings with estates around Schippach. Rück came to light for the first time about 1270 in the so-called Mainzer Heberolle ("Mainz Levy Roll" – a taxation document). In the mid 13th century, all these places appeared in the Koppelfutter-Verzeichnis ("Paddock Fodder Directory"). Eichelsbach (also then known as Egilespach, Aigilspach or Egilspach) was leibeigen – in serfdom.