Mettmann (district)

Mettmann (district)
Name	Mettmann
Native name	Kreis Mettmann
Settlement type	District
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Germany
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	North Rhine-Westphalia
Seat type	District seat
Seat	Mettmann
Area total km2	407.09
Population total	505345
Population as of	2020
Density km2	1241
Car registration	ME
Website	Kreis-Mettmann.de

Mettmann (district) is a Kreis in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany, seated in the town of Mettmann. It lies on the eastern fringe of the Ruhrgebiet metropolitan region and forms part of the Rhineland. The district combines industrial heritage around Essen and Düsseldorf with suburban municipalities such as Neuss-adjacent communities and rural features linked to the Bergisches Land.

Geography

Mettmann borders the urban districts of Düsseldorf, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and the rural districts of Rhein-Kreis Neuss, Oberbergischer Kreis and Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis. Major rivers and streams include the Ruhr tributaries and smaller waterways that historically supplied mills and factories in Wuppertal-proximate valleys. The district encompasses portions of the Lower Rhine Uplands and the Neander Valley, renowned for the Neanderthal paleoanthropological site where Neanderthal 1 was found. Topography ranges from lowland plains near Krefeld influences to wooded hills approaching the Sauerland foothills.

History

The district's territory was shaped by medieval territorial units such as the County of Berg and later by integration into the Prussian Province of Westphalia after the Congress of Vienna. Industrialization in the 19th century linked towns across the district to the Rhine-Ruhr industrial complex, with connections to the Dortmund-Ems Canal-era transport revolution and railway lines associated with companies like the Prussian state railways. The discovery of the Neanderthal 1 skeleton in 1856 near Mettmann attracted scientific attention from figures associated with Charles Darwin-era debates and institutions such as the Museum für Naturkunde. Twentieth-century events including the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the Federal Republic of Germany shaped administrative reforms culminating in the current Kreis borders established during 1975 local government reforms in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Demographics

Population centers within the district include Hilden, Ratingen, Velbert, Erkrath, Heiligenhaus, and Wülfrath, each contributing to the district's mixed suburban and industrial character. The district has experienced postwar population growth linked to migration flows from Poland, Turkey, and other European Union member states, as well as internal migration from Lower Saxony and Bavaria into the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation. Age distribution trends mirror wider patterns in Germany with an aging cohort influenced by national fertility rates and life expectancy statistics produced by the Statistisches Bundesamt. Religious affiliation in many towns reflects historical ties to Roman Catholicism and Protestantism with contemporary presence of communities from Islam-majority countries and global diasporas.

Economy

The district participates in North Rhine-Westphalia's diversified economy: light manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors predominate. Industrial heritage firms trace origins to the 19th-century industrial revolution that linked coal and steel supply chains centered on Essen and Duisburg. Contemporary employers include medium-sized enterprises in mechanical engineering, chemical suppliers tied to the Rheinland cluster, and technology firms connected to research institutions such as the nearby Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Retail and commerce benefit from proximity to the Messe Düsseldorf trade fairs and the Düsseldorf Airport logistics network.

Administration and Politics

The district council (Kreistag) and the district administrator (Landrat) administer local affairs under the laws of North Rhine-Westphalia. Political life in the Kreis reflects party competition involving CDU, SPD, The Greens, and FDP at municipal and district levels. Inter-municipal cooperation occurs through Zweckverbände for waste management and water supply, and coordination with regional planners from the Rhein-Ruhr Regional Association. Judicial matters are handled within North Rhine-Westphalia's court districts with appellate links to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court.

Transport

Transport infrastructure includes sections of the A3, A52, and A44 autobahns, regional rail services operated by Deutsche Bahn and private operators, and S-Bahn connections to Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof. Local public transport integrates with the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) network of buses and trams. Freight movement leverages the proximity to Düsseldorf Airport and the inland port facilities of the Rhine corridor.

Culture and Sights

Cultural attractions include the Neanderthal Museum in the Neander Valley, which presents exhibits on Paleolithic findings and paleoanthropology; historic town centers in Ratingen and Hilden with timber-framed architecture linked to Rhine regional styles; and industrial heritage sites associated with the Ruhr Museum-style preservation movement. Annual events draw from Rhineland carnival traditions exemplified by Carnival in Germany and local festivals celebrating regional cuisine and crafts. Natural sites for recreation include parts of the Bergisches Land and valley trails associated with the Wupper and Erft catchments.

Notable People

Figures associated with towns in the district include scientists, artists, and public figures connected to regional institutions: paleontologists who studied Neanderthal 1; industrialists involved with the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate; cultural personalities who worked in Düsseldorf's art scene; and politicians serving at state level in North Rhine-Westphalia. Specific individuals hail from municipalities such as Velbert, Ratingen, Erkrath, Hilden, Wülfrath, and Heiligenhaus and have contributed to fields represented by institutions like Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and the Neanderthal Museum.

Category:Districts of North Rhine-Westphalia