Rüsselsheim am Main

Rüsselsheim am Main
Aerial view
Coat of arms
Rüsselsheim am Main
Location of Rüsselsheim am Main within Groß-Gerau district
Coordinates: 50°00′N 08°26′E / 50.000°N 8.433°E / 50.000; 8.433Coordinates: 50°00′N 08°26′E / 50.000°N 8.433°E / 50.000; 8.433
Country	Germany
State	Hesse
Admin. region	Darmstadt
District	Groß-Gerau
Government
• Lord Mayor	Patrick Burghardt (CDU)
Area
• Total	58.3 km2 (22.5 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	63,030
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	65428
Dialling codes	06142
Vehicle registration	GG
Website	www.ruesselsheim.de

Rüsselsheim am Main is the largest city in the Groß-Gerau district in the Rhein-Main region of Germany. It is one of seven special status cities (implementing several functions that counties normally provide) in Hesse and is located on the Main, between Frankfurt and Mainz, only a few kilometres from its mouth in Mainz. The suburbs of Bauschheim and Königstädten are included in Rüsselsheim. Rüsselsheim has attained international recognition through the presence of the German car company Adam Opel AG.

Rüsselsheim emerged from a settlement of the Count of Katzenelnbogen.

The name of the city evolved over the course of time:

In the year 1435 the high noble Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen was first to cultivate Riesling in Rüsselsheim. His administrator bought new vines for 22 Schilling documented in the annual reports. in the following years Riesling showed up down the river Rhine and up the River Mosel. Rüsselsheim's comeback in the history of wine took place in 18th and 19th century, when famous wine-growing estates in the Rheingau recultivated their vineyards with vines of the Rüsselsheim and Flörsheim Area (Allendorf, Rheingauer Weinbauverband EV 1980). After the First World War viticulture disappeared in Rüsselsheim. In 1980 the mayor of Rüsselsheim Dr. Storsberg initiated a memory vineyard near the castle celebrating 550 Years of Riesling. This vineyard still exists.

In the city's coat of arms, there is a silver "Doppelhaken" (a double hook) and two silver stars on a blue background.

The "Doppelhaken" is also called a "Wolfsangel" (wolf hook); however, it is not clear whether or not it was actually used to kill wolves. Some also see the "Doppelhaken" as a grappling hook. It is actually forbidden in Germany to use this symbol on the grounds that it has been used in the past to stand for certain right-wing extremist groups, also now banned. Civic coats of arms or similar, which have traditionally used the Wolfsangel, are exempt from the ban.

The two stars indicate that Rüsselsheim used to belong to Katzenelnbogen County, which also bore these stars on its coat of arms.