Mechernich

Mechernich
Coat of arms
Mechernich
Location of Mechernich within Euskirchen district
Coordinates: 50°36′N 6°39′E / 50.600°N 6.650°E / 50.600; 6.650Coordinates: 50°36′N 6°39′E / 50.600°N 6.650°E / 50.600; 6.650
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Köln
District	Euskirchen
Government
• Mayor	Hans-Peter Schick (CDU)
Area
• Total	136.3 km2 (52.6 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	27,170
• Density	200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	53894
Dialling codes	02443, 02256, 02484
Vehicle registration	EU
Website	www.mechernich.de

Mechernich is a town in the district of Euskirchen in the south of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the "Naturpark Nordeifel" in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south-west of Euskirchen and 55 km from Cologne. Mechernich is a former mining town and had, in 2009, its 700-years celebration of foundation.

Mechernich has the following districts:

Antweiler, Berg, Bergbuir, Bergheim, Bescheid, Bleibuir, Breitenbenden, Denrath, Dreimühlen, Eicks, Eiserfey, Firmenich (), Floisdorf, Gehn (), Glehn, Harzheim, Heufahrtshütte, Holzheim, Hostel, Kalenberg (), Kallmuth, Katzvey, Kommern, Kommern-Süd, Lessenich, Lorbach, Lückerath, Mechernich, Obergartzem, Rissdorf, Roggendorf, Satzvey, Schaven, Schützendorf, Strempt, Urfey, Voißel, Vollem, Vussem, Wachendorf, Weiler am Berge, Weißenbrunnen, Weyer and Wielspütz.

Lead and zinc mines have existed in the central part of the Mechernich region since ancient times during the Roman occupation. Since the 13th century the most prevalent product brought to the surface has been lead. The main ore minerals galena, sphalerite and cerussite are disseminated in nodular impregnations (Knotten) and veinlets in the region in and surrounding Mechernich. Mining activities at the Mechernich lead line in 1882 saw almost 4,500 people engaged in pit work. And as late as 1952 the lead mine and its mills were still worked from numerous mines and open cuts south and southwest of Mechernich and were responsible for 20% of lead production in West Germany. But mining proved more and more expensive and mining ceased in 1957