Großräschen

Großräschen (Sorbian: Rań) is a town in Lower Lusatia, in Germany. Administratively, it is part of the district of Oberspreewald-Lausitz, in the state of Brandenburg.

Großräschen
Coat of arms
Location of Großräschen within Oberspreewald-Lausitz district
GrünewaldHermsdorfLindenauSchwarzbachTettau
Großräschen
Großräschen
Coordinates: 51°34′59″N 14°00′00″E
CountryGermany
StateBrandenburg
DistrictOberspreewald-Lausitz
Subdivisions5 Stadtteile / 7 Ortsteile
Government
  MayorThomas Zenker (SPD)
Area
  Total81.29 km2 (31.39 sq mi)
Elevation
115 m (377 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
  Total8,471
  Density100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01983
Dialling codes035753
Vehicle registrationOSL
Websitewww.grossraeschen.de

Geographical position

Großräschen is south of the Niederlausitzer Landrücken, a sandy stretch of land with pine forests in the centre of Lusatia. The source of the small river Rainitza used to be in meadows north of the town centre. South of the town, Lake Ilse (now an open-cast lignite mine) will be completed around 2020. The town proper comprises the historical core, Kleinräschen, and Großräschen. The southernmost quarter, Bückgen, was pulled down due to mining. Outside the town proper are the villages of Freienhufen (historically Dobristroh), Bulldorf, Dörrwalde, Wormlage, Saalhausen, Woschkow, and Schmogro (Großräschen-Ost).

History

Both Großräschen and Kleinräschen were first mentioned in an official document in 1370. The form of settlement and the name suggest that Kleinräschen is older than Großräschen. The villages developed slowly; the Wendish population depended almost entirely on agriculture. From the middle of the 19th century onwards, heavy industry developed, and the villages grew rapidly. In 1965, they were granted the status of a town, having been incorporated into one community in 1925. The 1980s brought the destruction of Bückgen, whose 4000 inhabitants had to leave their homes and were moved into blocks of flats. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the industrial decline (glass manufacturing, brick production, mining and agriculture used to appear in the town's coat of arms) caused heavy unemployment.

Mayors

Thomas Zenker (SPD) was elected in November 2009 with 93.9% of the votes for a term of eight years. (Turnout 35.3%). He was re-elected in September 2017 with 85.6% for a second term of eight years.[2]

Demography

Großräschen: Population development
within the current boundaries (2017)[3]
YearPop.±% p.a.
1875 2,975    
1890 4,843+3.30%
1910 13,309+5.18%
1925 14,414+0.53%
1933 15,136+0.61%
1939 15,024−0.12%
1946 16,332+1.20%
1950 16,282−0.08%
1964 16,210−0.03%
1971 17,006+0.69%
1981 14,306−1.71%
1985 14,023−0.50%
1989 14,285+0.46%
1990 14,476+1.34%
1991 14,342−0.93%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1992 14,308−0.24%
1993 14,672+2.54%
1994 14,576−0.65%
1995 14,296−1.92%
1996 14,066−1.61%
1997 13,785−2.00%
1998 13,399−2.80%
1999 13,042−2.66%
2000 12,693−2.68%
2001 12,402−2.29%
2002 12,049−2.85%
2003 11,785−2.19%
2004 11,537−2.10%
2005 11,335−1.75%
2006 11,148−1.65%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2007 10,873−2.47%
2008 10,697−1.62%
2009 10,428−2.51%
2010 10,262−1.59%
2011 9,200−10.35%
2012 9,010−2.07%
2013 8,863−1.63%
2014 8,785−0.88%
2015 8,655−1.48%
2016 8,629−0.30%
2017 8,602−0.31%
2018 8,572−0.35%
2019 8,471−1.18%

Sights

  • Protestant Church
  • Catholic Church with interior decoration by Friedrich Preß
  • Medieval village church in Freienhufen
  • open-cast mine lookout
  • Historic village structures in Kleinräschen, Dörrwalde, Wormlage, Saalhausen (farm type of Senftenberger Vierseitenhof)

Infrastructure

  • Rail links to Berlin, Senftenberg, Stralsund (slow trains)
  • Federal road B 96
  • Motorway A 13/E 66

Partner cities

People

References

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