This article is about the "Districts" (Kreise) of Germany. For "Government Districts" (Regierungsbezirke), see Regierungsbezirk.
In all German states, except for the three city states, the primary administrative subdivision higher than a Gemeinde (municipality) is the Landkreis (official term in all but two states) or Kreis (official term in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein).[1] Most major cities in Germany are not part of any Kreis, but instead combine the functions of a municipality and a Kreis; such a city is referred to as a kreisfreie Stadt (literally "district-free city"; official term in all but one state) or Stadtkreis (literally "urban district"; official term in Baden-Württemberg).
(Land-)Kreise stand at an intermediate level of administration between each German state (Land, plural Länder) and the municipal governments (Gemeinde, plural Gemeinden) within it.[2] These correspond to level-3 administrative units in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 3).
Previously, the similar title Reichskreis (Imperial Circle) referred to groups of states in the Holy Roman Empire. The related term Landeskommissariat was used for similar administrative divisions in some German territories until the 19th century.
Administrative divisions of Germany. (Clickable image).
The majority of German districts are "rural districts"[3] (German: Landkreise), of which there are 294 as of 2017[update]. Cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants (and smaller towns in some states) do not usually belong to a district, but take on district responsibilities themselves, similar to the concept of independent cities. These are known as "urban districts" (German: kreisfreie Städte or Stadtkreise)—cities which constitute a district in their own right—and there are 107 of them,[4] bringing the total number of districts to 401. As of 2016[update], approximately 26 million people live in these 107 urban districts.[5]
In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are some cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants which are not urban districts, these being Recklinghausen, Gütersloh, Siegen, Paderborn, Bergisch Gladbach, Neuss and Moers. Nevertheless, these cities take over many district responsibilities themselves, although they are still part of a larger rural district. Midsize towns can perform particular administrative functions of the district as well, especially to provide common services to the local citizens. The classification as "midsize" town is usually based on a town's registered population, but varies from state to state.
A special type of rural districts includes the three Kommunalverbände besonderer Art (Municipal unions of special kind), a fusion of a district-free town with its adjacent rural district: besides the Regionalverband Saarbrücken (Saarbrücken regional association), from 1974 until 2007 called "Stadtverband Saarbrücken" (Saarbrücken town association), there is the Hanover Region since 2001 and the Städteregion Aachen (Aachen region of towns) since 2009. Aachen, Hanover and Göttingen retain certain rights of an urban district (Kreisfreie Stadt); Saarbrücken has not explicitly determined a similar provision in its legislation.
Responsibilities
According to common federal and state laws, the districts are responsible for the following tasks:
All these tasks are carried out by local (municipal) authorities operating together. Urban districts have these responsibilities and also those of the municipalities.
District council
The district council (German: Kreistag) is the highest institution of a rural district and is responsible for all fundamental guidelines of regional self-administration. This council is elected directly every five years, except in Bavaria where it is elected every six years. Usually the administrative seat of a rural district is located in one of its largest towns. However, district council and administrative seat of some rural districts are not situated within the district proper, but in an adjacent district-free city. Most of those rural districts are named after this central city as well (e.g. Bamberg and Karlsruhe). Moers is the biggest city in Germany (and at present time the only one with more than 100,000 inhabitants) that is neither an urban district, nor the district seat of its rural district.
District administration
The highest administrative position of a rural district is an officer known as Landrat or Landrätin, who is responsible for the district's day-to-day administration and acts as its representative for official purposes. In parts of northern Germany, Landrat is also the name of the entire district administration, which in southern Germany is known as Kreisverwaltung or Landratsamt.
In urban districts similar administrative functions are performed by a mayor, in most greater cities usually by the Lord Mayor.
Rural districts in some German states have an additional administrative committee called Kreisausschuss. This committee is generally led by the Landrat and includes a number of additional voluntary members. It takes over certain administrative functions for the district, following decisions of the district council. However, the exact role and regulations of this panel vary greatly between different states.
The city where the office of the district's administration is located is called Kreisstadt ("district city"), or Kreishauptort ("district main community") if it's not a city. Often the district is named after its district city.
Linguistically, any city within a district could be called a "Kreisstadt", especially those that aren't district-free to distinguish them from district-free cities. This term has to be distinguished from the legal term "Kreisstadt" that only denotes the location of the administrative office. In everyday language, district cities are also called Kreishauptstadt ("district capital").
List of rural districts with populations and area in km2(in German)
List of urban districts with populations and area in km2(in German)
Notes
Look up Kreis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^In either case, the plural of the noun is formed by suffixing it with "e". In Germany, the term Kreis is also used informally for any rural district, and (for example in statistical summaries) for a district of any type.
^A Kreis is not to be confused with a Regierungsbezirk". These are state administrative subdivision above Landkreis-level and below state-level. Currently only four German 'Länder' (federal states) make use of this administrational level: North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse.
^"Country Compendium, A companion to the English Style Guide" (PDF). European Commission Directorate-General for Translation (EC DGT). February 2017. pp. 50–51.
^This number includes the "city-states" of Berlin and Hamburg, and two urban districts of the city-state Bremen.
^"Kreisfreie Städte und Landkreise nach Fläche und Bevölkerung auf Grundlage des ZENSUS 2011 und Bevölkerungsdichte - Gebietsstand: 31.12.2015" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland. July 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
January 20, 2023
districts, germany, this, article, about, districts, kreise, germany, government, districts, regierungsbezirke, regierungsbezirk, german, states, except, three, city, states, primary, administrative, subdivision, higher, than, gemeinde, municipality, landkreis. This article is about the Districts Kreise of Germany For Government Districts Regierungsbezirke see Regierungsbezirk In all German states except for the three city states the primary administrative subdivision higher than a Gemeinde municipality is the Landkreis official term in all but two states or Kreis official term in the states of North Rhine Westphalia and Schleswig Holstein 1 Most major cities in Germany are not part of any Kreis but instead combine the functions of a municipality and a Kreis such a city is referred to as a kreisfreie Stadt literally district free city official term in all but one state or Stadtkreis literally urban district official term in Baden Wurttemberg Districts of Germany Landkreis German Also known as KreisStadtkreisLocationGermanyFound inStatesPossible typesRural DistrictUrban DistrictGovernmentKreistagSubdivisionsMunicipality Land Kreise stand at an intermediate level of administration between each German state Land plural Lander and the municipal governments Gemeinde plural Gemeinden within it 2 These correspond to level 3 administrative units in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics NUTS 3 Previously the similar title Reichskreis Imperial Circle referred to groups of states in the Holy Roman Empire The related term Landeskommissariat was used for similar administrative divisions in some German territories until the 19th century Contents 1 Types of districts 2 Responsibilities 3 District council 4 District administration 5 See also 6 NotesTypes of districts Edit Administrative divisions of Germany Clickable image The majority of German districts are rural districts 3 German Landkreise of which there are 294 as of 2017 update Cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants and smaller towns in some states do not usually belong to a district but take on district responsibilities themselves similar to the concept of independent cities These are known as urban districts German kreisfreie Stadte or Stadtkreise cities which constitute a district in their own right and there are 107 of them 4 bringing the total number of districts to 401 As of 2016 update approximately 26 million people live in these 107 urban districts 5 In North Rhine Westphalia there are some cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants which are not urban districts these being Recklinghausen Gutersloh Siegen Paderborn Bergisch Gladbach Neuss and Moers Nevertheless these cities take over many district responsibilities themselves although they are still part of a larger rural district Midsize towns can perform particular administrative functions of the district as well especially to provide common services to the local citizens The classification as midsize town is usually based on a town s registered population but varies from state to state A special type of rural districts includes the three Kommunalverbande besonderer Art Municipal unions of special kind a fusion of a district free town with its adjacent rural district besides the Regionalverband Saarbrucken Saarbrucken regional association from 1974 until 2007 called Stadtverband Saarbrucken Saarbrucken town association there is the Hanover Region since 2001 and the Stadteregion Aachen Aachen region of towns since 2009 Aachen Hanover and Gottingen retain certain rights of an urban district Kreisfreie Stadt Saarbrucken has not explicitly determined a similar provision in its legislation Responsibilities EditAccording to common federal and state laws the districts are responsible for the following tasks The building and upkeep of district roads German Kreisstrassen Other building plans which cover more than one local authority s area Caring for national parks Social welfare Youth welfare The building and upkeep of hospitals The building and upkeep of state schools of secondary education Household waste collection and disposal Car registration Electing the Landrat or Landratin the chief executive and representative of the districtDistricts can perform additional functions based on varying local laws in each region Financial support for culture The building of pedestrian zones and bicycle lanes Financial support for school exchanges The building and upkeep of public libraries Revitalisation of the economy Encouraging tourism The management of state run adult education colleges German Volkshochschulen All these tasks are carried out by local municipal authorities operating together Urban districts have these responsibilities and also those of the municipalities District council EditThe district council German Kreistag is the highest institution of a rural district and is responsible for all fundamental guidelines of regional self administration This council is elected directly every five years except in Bavaria where it is elected every six years Usually the administrative seat of a rural district is located in one of its largest towns However district council and administrative seat of some rural districts are not situated within the district proper but in an adjacent district free city Most of those rural districts are named after this central city as well e g Bamberg and Karlsruhe Moers is the biggest city in Germany and at present time the only one with more than 100 000 inhabitants that is neither an urban district nor the district seat of its rural district District administration EditThe highest administrative position of a rural district is an officer known as Landrat or Landratin who is responsible for the district s day to day administration and acts as its representative for official purposes In parts of northern Germany Landrat is also the name of the entire district administration which in southern Germany is known as Kreisverwaltung or Landratsamt In urban districts similar administrative functions are performed by a mayor in most greater cities usually by the Lord Mayor Rural districts in some German states have an additional administrative committee called Kreisausschuss This committee is generally led by the Landrat and includes a number of additional voluntary members It takes over certain administrative functions for the district following decisions of the district council However the exact role and regulations of this panel vary greatly between different states The city where the office of the district s administration is located is called Kreisstadt district city or Kreishauptort district main community if it s not a city Often the district is named after its district city Linguistically any city within a district could be called a Kreisstadt especially those that aren t district free to distinguish them from district free cities This term has to be distinguished from the legal term Kreisstadt that only denotes the location of the administrative office In everyday language district cities are also called Kreishauptstadt district capital See also EditList of districts of Germany States of Germany List of rural districts with populations and area in km2 in German List of urban districts with populations and area in km2 in German Notes Edit Look up Kreis in Wiktionary the free dictionary In either case the plural of the noun is formed by suffixing it with e In Germany the term Kreis is also used informally for any rural district and for example in statistical summaries for a district of any type A Kreis is not to be confused with a Regierungsbezirk These are state administrative subdivision above Landkreis level and below state level Currently only four German Lander federal states make use of this administrational level North Rhine Westphalia Bavaria Baden Wurttemberg and Hesse Country Compendium A companion to the English Style Guide PDF European Commission Directorate General for Translation EC DGT February 2017 pp 50 51 This number includes the city states of Berlin and Hamburg and two urban districts of the city state Bremen Kreisfreie Stadte und Landkreise nach Flache und Bevolkerung auf Grundlage des ZENSUS 2011 und Bevolkerungsdichte Gebietsstand 31 12 2015 XLS in German Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland July 2017 Retrieved 9 August 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Districts of Germany amp oldid 1116573181, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
