Neuss is a Kreis (district) in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring are district-free cities Krefeld, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Cologne, the districts Rhein-Erft-Kreis, Düren, Heinsberg, district-free Mönchengladbach and the district Viersen.

History

In 1816 the districts Grevenbroich and Neuss were created when the whole area became part of Prussia. The city Neuss left the district in 1913 to become a district-free city. In 1929 the two districts were merged into the new district Grevenbroich-Neuss, which was renamed to Grevenbroich in 1946. In 1975 the district-free Neuss lost its status of being district-free and was merged into the Grevenbroich district, which was renamed to Kreis Neuss to represent the new administrative seat. On May 26 2003 it changed its name, and is now officially called Rhein-Kreis Neuss.

Geography

The main rivers of the district is the Rhine which forms most of the north-easter border of the district, as well as the Erft. In the southern part of the district are big open pit Lignite (brown coal) mines.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was continued from the district Grevenbroich. The lion in the right side comes from the city of Jülich. The black cross in the left comes from the Cologne coat of arms. Both the bishops of Cologne as well as the dukes of Jülich owned land of the Neuss district.

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)