Ostalbkreis

Statistics
State:	Baden-Württemberg
Adm. Region:	Stuttgart
Region:	Ostwürttemberg
Capital:	Aalen
Area:	1,511.5 km²
Inhabitants:	315,868 (2002)
pop. density:	209 inh./km²
Car identification:	AA
Homepage:	http://www.ostalbkreis.de
Map

The Ostalbkreis is a district (Kreis) in the east of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Schwäbisch Hall, Ansbach, Donau-Ries, Heidenheim, Göppingen and Rems-Murr.

Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide") 1 History 2 Geography 3 Partnerships 4 Coat of arms 5 Towns and municipalities 6 External links

History

The district was created in 1973, when the district Aalen was merged with most of the district Schwäbisch Gmünd.

Geography

The district is located in the east part of the Swabian Alb (Schwäbische Alb), hence its name which translates to eastern alb district. Main rivers in the district are the Rems, Jagst and Kocher, all affluents of the Neckar.

Partnerships

Since 1992 the district has an official partnership with the Italian province Ravenna[?]. Also since the 1990s it has a friendship with the Finish province Oulu.

Coat of arms

The imperial eagle to the left represents the free imperial cities in the district, especially the city Aalen. The lion to the right is the symbol of the Staufen family, who founded the city Schwäbisch Gmünd. These two symbols were taken from the coat of arms of the two precursor districts. The staff in the middle represents the Abbey of Ellwangen, who possessed many smaller areas scattered in the district.

Towns and municipalities

Aalen Bopfingen[?] Ellwangen[?] (Jagst) Heubach[?] Lauchheim[?] Lorch[?] Neresheim[?] Oberkochen[?] Schwäbisch Gmünd[?] Verwaltungsgemeinschaften Aalen Bopfingen Ellwangen Kapfenburg Leintal-Frickenhofer Höhe Rosenstein Schwäbisch Gmünd Schwäbischer Wald Tannhausen

Municipalities Abtsgmünd[?] Adelmannsfelden[?] Bartholomä[?] Böbingen[?] (Rems) Durlangen[?] Ellenberg[?] Eschach[?] (Schwäbisch Gmünd) Essingen[?] Göggingen[?] Gschwend[?] Heuchlingen[?] Hüttlingen[?] Iggingen[?] Jagstzell[?] Kirchheim[?] (Ries) Leinzell[?] Mögglingen[?]

Mutlangen[?] Neuler[?] Obergröningen[?] Rainau[?] Riesbürg[?] Rosenberg[?] Ruppertshofen[?] Schechingen[?] Spraitbach[?] Stödtlen[?] Täferrot[?] Tannhausen[?] Unterschneidheim[?] Waldstetten[?] Westhausen[?] Wört[?]

External links

• Official website (http://www.ostalbkreis.de) (German)