Recklinghausen

Recklinghausen is an administrative district in the northern Ruhr area of North Rhine-Westphalia. The territory extends across ten municipalities between the Lippe and Emscher rivers, connecting industrial towns with more rural edge zones.

The territory became part of the Prussian Province of Westphalia after the Congress of Vienna. The district was officially formed in the year 1816, and its borders were adjusted multiple times during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The name comes from the administrative seat, whose medieval core grew into a service center over the centuries. Today, partnerships with Polish and Swedish regions connect the communities through regular meetings and joint projects.

The administration is based in the town of the same name and coordinates public services for all member communities. Travelers crossing the region find well-developed roads and rail links between the towns.

The coat of arms unites three symbols from the region's past: a nettle leaf for the lords of Lembeck, a black cross for the Cologne bishops, and a key for Saint Peter. This combination shows the different territories that came together in the district area.

Location: Münster Government Region

Inception: 1816

Capital city: Recklinghausen

Elevation above the sea: 52 m

Part of: Regionalverband Ruhr

Shares border with: Dortmund, Borken, Coesfeld, Unna, Herne, Gelsenkirchen, Bottrop, Wesel, Bochum, Essen

Website: https://kreis-re.de

GPS coordinates: 51.67000,7.17000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:32