Herford

Town Hall

Coat of arms

Herford

Location of Herford within Herford district

Coordinates: 52°8′0″N 8°41′0″E / 52.13333°N 8.68333°ECoordinates: 52°8′0″N 8°41′0″E / 52.13333°N 8.68333°E

Country

Germany

State

North Rhine-Westphalia

Founded

789

Government

• Mayor

Tim Kähler (SPD)

Area

• Total

78.95 km² (30.48 sq mi)

Elevation

56-240 m (−731 ft)

Population (2015-12-31)

• Total

66,521

• Density

840/km² (2,200/sq mi)

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

32049, 32051, 32052

05221

Website

Herford (German pronunciation: [ˈhɛɐ̯fɔɐ̯t]) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford.

The former Hanseatic town of Herford is situated in the chain of hills south of the Wiehen Hills (Ravensberg Hills). The highest place is the Dornberg (240 m) in the Schwarzenmoor district; the lowest point (56 m) is located in the Werretal in the Falkendiek district. The River Aa joins the river Werre in the centre of the town. The Stuckenberg is located east of the town.

The Herforder Ev (Ice Dragons) play in the regionaliga and have been a regular winning team. They draw an average of 800 fans.

The town was founded in 789 by Charlemagne in order to guard a ford crossing the narrow Werre river. A century later, Matilda, daughter of Theudebert, duke of Saxony, grew up in the abbey of Herford; she was a descendant of the Saxon leader Widukind. In Herford she met Henry the Fowler, who later became king of Germany.

In late medieval times Herford was a member of the Hanseatic League. It was a Free Imperial City, i.e. it was directly subordinated to the emperor. This status was lost after the Peace of Westphalia (1648), when Herford was annexed by Brandenburg-Prussia. It was administered within the Province of Westphalia following the Napoleonic Wars, and made part of the new state North Rhine-Westphalia after World War II.

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Wikipedia