Werl (German pronunciation: [vɛʁl] ; Westphalian: Wiärl) is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Werl, Germany
Wallfahrtsbasilika
Wallfahrtsbasilika
Coat of arms of Werl, Germany
Location of Werl, Germany within Soest district
North Rhine-WestphaliaPaderborn (district)Soest (district)Warendorf (district)HammUnna (district)Märkischer KreisHochsauerlandkreisSoestEnseWelverAnröchteLippstadtWerlGesekeLippetalBad SassendorfRüthenWickedeWarsteinErwitteMöhnesee
Werl, Germany is located in Germany
Werl, Germany
Werl, Germany
Werl, Germany is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Werl, Germany
Werl, Germany
Coordinates: 51°33′0″N 7°55′12″E / 51.55000°N 7.92000°E / 51.55000; 7.92000
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionArnsberg
DistrictSoest
Subdivisions10
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Torben Höbrink[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total76.24 km2 (29.44 sq mi)
Highest elevation
228 m (748 ft)
Lowest elevation
73 m (240 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total30,938
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
59457
Dialling codes02922
Vehicle registrationSO
Websitewww.werl.de
Werl, Chapelle Mutter Gottes in der Not

Geography

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Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area. The Hellweg road runs through the city, as Werl is a part of the fertile Bördelandschaft of the Werl–Unnaer Börde.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Division of the town

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Werl consists of the following districts:

  • Blumenthal (48 inhabitants)
  • Budberg (596 inhabitants)
  • Büderich (3107 inhabitants)
  • Hilbeck (1339 inhabitants)
  • Holtum (1049 inhabitants)
  • Mawicke (521 inhabitants)
  • Niederbergstraße (210 inhabitants)
  • Oberbergstraße (363 inhabitants)
  • Sönnern (870 inhabitants)
  • Westönnen (2665 inhabitants)
  • Werl (22151 inhabitants)

History

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Werl was a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and since 1661 has had a statue of the Virgin Mary, making it a place of pilgrimage. Today this relic is in the Wallfahrtsbasilika and is looked after by the Franciscan religious order. Werl Prison is the third largest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Werl Prison.

Mayors

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  • 1958–1965: Ferdinand Pöppinghaus (1923–1965) (CDU)
  • 1965–1981: Amalie Rohrer (1922-2014) (CDU)
  • 1981–1985: Heinz Sasse (CDU)
  • 1986–1994: Elisabeth Böhmer (CDU)
  • 1994–1996: Kunibert Becker (1934-2001) (CDU)
  • 1996–1999: Friedrich Leopold Graf von Brühl, (born 1944) (CDU)
  • 1999–2020: Michael Grossmann, (born 1948) (CDU)
  • since 2020: Torben Höbrink (CDU)

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Werl is twinned with:[3]

References

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  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  3. ^ "Städtepartnerschaft mit der belgischen Stadt Halle". werl.de (in German). Werl. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
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