Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Area 254 km² Local time Saturday 1:18 PM | Elevation 76 m (249 ft) Postal codes 49324–49328 Population 46,540 (31 Dec 2008) Dialling code 05422 | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind NW at 27 km/h, 73% Humidity Points of interest | ||
Melle is a city in the district of Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. The city corresponds to what used to be the district of Melle until regional territorial reform in 1972. Since then Melle is the third largest city in Lower Saxony in terms of surface area.
Contents
- Map of Melle Germany
- History
- Geographical Position
- Neighbouring Towns
- Municipalities
- Religion
- Major
- City council
- Further election results
- Twin towns
- Economy
- Observatories
- References
Map of Melle, Germany
History
Melle was first mentioned in a document from 1169. In 1443 Heinrich von Moers, Bishop of Osnabrück, gave Melle the privilege of a Wigbold. Osnabrück looked after Melle's interests in the Westphalian Hanseatic League. Melle belonged to the Kingdom of Hanover until 1866 when it became part of Prussia. In 1885 Amt Grönenberg and the municipality Melle formed the prussian district Kreis Melle. The district Melle later on became the municipality Melle. In 1972 the former district with its 56 municipalities were united to the city Melle which since then is part of Osnabrück (district).
Geographical Position
Melle is situated in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills in the North and the Teutoburg Forest in the South. The cities of Osnabrück and Bielefeld are some 30 kilometres (19 miles) away each. The Münster Osnabrück International Airport is located about 60 kilometres (37 miles) to the southwest.
Neighbouring Towns
Neighbouring towns are Preußisch Oldendorf in the North Rhine-Westphalian Minden-Lübbecke district, Rödinghausen, Bünde and Spenge in the North Rhine-Westphalian Herford district, Werther and Borgholzhausen in the North Rhine-Westphalian Gütersloh district, as well as Dissen, Hilter, Bissendorf, and Bad Essen in the Osnabrück (district).
Municipalities
The city consists of the eight municipalities of Melle-Mitte, Buer, Bruchmühlen, Gesmold, Neuenkirchen, Oldendorf, Riemsloh and Wellingholzhausen.
Religion
Last updated: 31 December 2007
Major
Reinhard Scholz (CDU) is mayor of Melle.
City council
The city council is composed of 40 members. Additionally the city mayor is eligible to vote.
(As of: Local elections on 11 September 2011)
Further election results
(Source: Official election results of the County of Osnabrück)
Twin towns
Melle is maintaining town twinnings with Bad Dürrenberg in Saxony-Anhalt and with Reinickendorf in Berlin. Its French twin town is Melle in the region of Poitou-Charentes. Further twin towns in Europe are Jēkabpils in Latvia, Resko in Poland, and Ghent in Belgium. Outside Europe there are the twin towns of New Melle in the USA and Niğde in Turkey.
Economy
A substantial economic factor for Melle is the wood processing industry. Further important branches are metal, food, and plastics processing. Tetra (company) was founded in Melle. In recent years Melle has more and more become a logistics site along the A 30 motorway.
Observatories
There are two astronomical observatories in the surrounding of Melle providing guided tours for the public. The EXPO 2000 observatory in Melle-Oberholsten runs the largest Newtonian telescope used for public observation.