Enger (German pronunciation: [ˈɛŋɐ] ) is a town in the Herford district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Enger
Flag of Enger
Coat of arms of Enger
Location of Enger within Herford district
Lippe (district)Lower SaxonyGütersloh (district)Minden-LübbeckeMinden-LübbeckeBielefeldNorth Rhine-WestphaliaEngerLöhneBündeKirchlengernHerfordSpengeHiddenhausenRödinghausenVlotho
Enger is located in Germany
Enger
Enger
Enger is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Enger
Enger
Coordinates: 52°8′N 8°34′E / 52.133°N 8.567°E / 52.133; 8.567
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionDetmold
DistrictHerford
Subdivisions9
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Thomas Meyer[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total41.21 km2 (15.91 sq mi)
Elevation
107 m (351 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total20,724
 • Density500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
32130
Dialling codes05224
05225 (most of Westerenger)
05223 (parts of Besenkamp)
Vehicle registrationHF
Websitewww.enger.de

Geography

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Enger is situated between the Teutoburg Forest and the Wiehen Hills, approx. 6 km west of the town of Herford, the capital of the district.

Neighbouring places

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Town divisions

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Enger consists of the following districts (population as of December 31, 2005):

  • Belke-Steinbeck (2,471 inhabitants)
  • Besenkamp (1,849 inhabitants)
  • Dreyen (1,404 inhabitants)
  • Enger (7,809 inhabitants)
  • Herringhausen (West) (430 inhabitants)
  • Oldinghausen (773 inhabitants)
  • Pödinghausen (2,181 inhabitants)
  • Siele (122 inhabitants)
  • Westerenger (3,797 inhabitants)

History

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Lutheran Church St. Dionysius in Enger

The town, first mentioned in 948, calls itself "Widukind's town." The Saxon leader Widukind died about 808. However, there is no evidence that Enger existed in his lifetime.

A legend tells that Widukind founded a church in Enger after his baptism, and that he lived at the place until his death. He was buried in the church of Enger, and his monumental tomb is still there. Despite this, it remains doubtful that the remains of Widukind are actually in the tomb. Analysis shows that the memorial slab dates to the time around the year 1100.

The main current attractions of Enger are Widukind's tomb, the Widukind museum, the Widukind festival ("Timpkenfest"), held annually on January 6 and the "Kirschblütenfest" in April.

Notable people

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  • Wolfgang Aßbrock (1952–2007), politician and member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Parliament (2005–2007)
  • Wilhelm Müller (1875–1957), politician
  • Heinrich Vedder (1876–1972), missionary

References

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  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 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.
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