Neunkirchen, Saarland
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| Country | Germany |
| State | Saarland |
| District | Neunkirchen |
| Population | 49,783 (2005) |
| Area | 75.08 km² |
| Population density | 663 /km² |
| Elevation | 252 m |
| Coordinates | 49°21′ N 7°10′ E |
| Postal code | 66511-66540 |
| Area code | 06821 |
| Licence plate code | NK |
| Mayor | Friedrich Decker (SPD) |
| Website | neunkirchen.de |
Neunkirchen is a town and a municipality in Saarland, Germany. It is the largest town in, but not the seat of the district of Neunkirchen. It is situated on the river Blies, approx. 20 km northeast of Saarbrücken. With about 50,000 inhabitants, Neunkirchen is the 2nd largest city of the Saarland. The name of the town means "new church" (but not "nine churches" as one might be tempted to assume). In the past, Neunkirchen's economy has been shaped almost exclusively by coal and steel. With the decline of this industry sector, Neunkirchen's economy had to face drastic changes and underwent a significant shift towards the service sector, although smaller industries still remain.
[edit] History
The earliest settlements in the area can be dated back to 700BC. The oldest part of the town is the village of Wiebelskirchen north of the town centre; its name has been recorded as early as 765 (AD) and is thus the oldes christian name in town ("Kirche" means church). The name "Neunkirchen" is recorded for the first time in 1281.
Neunkirchen belonged to the principality of Nassau-Saarbrücken, who erected two casles nearby (which do not exist any more today). Neunkirchen was awarded township as late as 1922, after having been the largest (non-town) municipality in Europe for some time.
[edit] Economy
There are traces of surface coal mining that reach back as far as 700BC. Lateron, coal was mined underground until 1968. In 1593, the first ironworks were constructed in the Blies valley.
Much of the city's fate was influced by the von Stumm-Hallberg family, who owned the local ironworks from 1806 onwards, and thus had enormous influence on the local politics.
Having a big ironworks complex right in the town centre made the town a target for Allied bomb raids in the Second World War. In 1945, an air raid destroyed about three quarters of the town centre.
Due to the decline of the coal-and steal industry, the local economy faced aggravating hardships. With the last coal mine closing down in 1968 and the major part of the ironworks complex closing down in 1982 (only a steel-mill is still in service today), the unemployment rate rose drastically.
Meanwhile, the city has transformed into a "shopping town", a process that had been started with the erection of a large shopping centre on the grounds of the former steelworks. Remnants of the former steelworks that had not been destroyed meanwhile have been preserved and renovated. They now serve as an industrial monument; parts of them feature small pubs and clubs.
[edit] Personalities
Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of East Germany from 1971–1989, and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic from 1976–1989, was born in the village of Wiebelskirchen, which now is a part of Neunkirchen.
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