Hockenheim is a German city in northwest Baden-Württemberg, about 20 km south of Mannheim.

Hockenheim is one of the six largest cities in the Rhein-Neckar region. In 1999, the number of inhabitants exceeded the 20,000 threshold, thus in 2001, the Hockenheim government agreed upon a central administrative body with neighbouring municipalities Altlußheim , Neulußheim and Reilingen .

Politics

As of the last local election on June 13, 2004, the local council of Hockenheim has 22 members, who hold the title "Stadtraetin/Stadtrat". Leading the city is the mayor, who is elected directly by the population every 8 years. Its Permanent Representative is the "Erste Beigeordnete", with the office designation "Buergermeister".

Coat of arms

Adopted in 1609, the coat of arms of Hockenheim has diagonally crossed silver hooks in a sign, above a crowned golden lion. The lion is the animal of the Electoral Palatinate (Kurpfalz), to which Hockenheim belonged; the hooks are probably derived from the place name. The form of the symbols was changed several times, but has been specified in its current form by municipal law since 1895.

Sport

The Hockenheimring, a grand prix race course built in 1932, has become the home of the Formula One German Grand Prix. It hosted its first F1 event in 1970, and has hosted the event 28 times in the last 35 years, including every race since 1986. Three notable drivers are tied, having won at the Hockenheimring three times each: Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher.

Places of interest

The tobacco museum in Hockenheim, which opened in 1984, was the first museum of its kind in Baden-Wuerttemberg. In 1986, the motorsport museum opened at the Hockenheimring. The city's water tower, constructed in 1910 in art nouveau, is the landmark of the city. Other buildings of historical significance include the Evangelist town church, a 1906 neo-baroque by architect Hermann Behaghel ; the Catholic church (1910), done in art nouveau with a high tower, by Johannes Schroth ; and the old Catholic church (1817), serving as a community center today, which has a late gothic choir tower in classical hall construction.