Braunschweig (region)

Braunschweig (German Regierungsbezirk Braunschweig) was one of the eight former administrative regions (Regierungsbezirke) of Lower Saxony, Germany. It was located in the southeast of the state.

Braunschweig
Regierungsbezirk
Map of Lower Saxony highlighting Braunschweig
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
Disestablished	2004-12-31
Region seat	Braunschweig
Area
• Total	8,098.5 km^2 (3,126.8 sq mi)
Population  (30 Sep. 2004)
• Total	1,659,396
• Density	200/km^2 (530/sq mi)

The region covers roughly the area of the former state of Brunswick-Lüneburg. It was founded in 1978 out of 'Verwaltungsbezirk Braunschweig'. At the end of 2004, all Regierungsbezirke of Lower Saxony were dissolved.[1]

The other seven were Regierungsbezirk Aurich, Regierungsbezirk Hannover, Regierungsbezirk Hildesheim, Regierungsbezirk Lüneburg, Regierungsbezirk Osnabrück, Regierungsbezirk Stade and Regierungsbezirk Weser-Ems. 'Verwaltungsbezirk Oldenburg' was dissolved in June 1977 and became part of Regierungsbezirk Weser-Ems.

The region of Braunschweig was (2005/6) the most R&D-intensive area in the whole European Economic Area investing 7.1% of its GDP for research & technology.[2]

Districts from 1978 to 2004

Kreise (districts) Gifhorn Goslar Göttingen Helmstedt Northeim Osterode Peine Wolfenbüttel

Kreisfreie Städte (district-free towns) Braunschweig (Brunswick) Salzgitter Wolfsburg

References

1. Holger Bentz (2008, dissertation): Die Abschaffung der Bezirksregierungen in Niedersachsen - ein Reformprojekt unter Idealbedingungen?, Peter Lang Verlag, ISBN 978-3631589175. Google Books: TOC, Excerpts
2. (Eurostat, 2006)