Heilbronn is a district (Kreis) in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Neckar-Odenwald, Hohenlohe, Schwäbisch Hall, Rems-Murr, Ludwigsburg, Enzkreis, Karlsruhe and Rhein-Neckar. The district-free city Heilbronn is completely surrounded by the district.

History

The origin of the district is the Oberamt Heilbronn, which was created in 1803 when the previously Free Imperial City of Heilbronn was incorporated into the kingdom of Württemberg. In 1926 about half of the Oberamt (old district) of Weinsberg was added. 1938 the district was created, and in addition to the previous Oberamt parts of the dissolved Oberämter Neckarsulm, Brackenheim, Marbach and Besigheim were added. The city Heilbronn was not included into the district. In 1973 the districts were reorganized, and part of the dissolved districts Sinsheim, Mosbach, Buchen and Schwäbisch Hall were added. In next two years 5 municipalities were incorporated into the city and therefore left the district, which got its current borders in 1975.

Geography

The main river in the district is the Neckar, which flows through the district from the south to the north. The western part of the district belongs to the landscape Kraichgau, the east to the Hohenloher Ebene, Kocher-Jagst-Ebene and the Löwensteiner Berge.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms show a clawless eagle, the symbol of the Counts of Lauffen, who ruled the area of the district in the 13th century.

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)