Ilm-Kreis is a district in Thuringia

Thuringia

The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the city of Erfurt

Erfurt

Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...

, the districts of Weimarer Land

Weimarer Land

Weimarer Land is a Kreis in the east of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the district Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, the district Saale-Holzland and the district-free city Jena, the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Ilm-Kreis, and the district-free city Erfurt...

, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt is a Kreis in the south of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Weimarer Land, Saale-Holzland, Saale-Orla, the district Kronach in Bavaria, and the districts Sonneberg, Hildburghausen and Ilm-Kreis.-History:The district dates back to the Landratsamt...

 and Hildburghausen

Hildburghausen (district)

Hildburghausen is a district in Thuringia, Germany. It is bounded by the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, the city of Suhl, the districts of Ilm-Kreis, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Sonneberg, and the state of Bavaria...

, the city of Suhl

Suhl

- Geography :Suhl sits on the south edge of the Suhler Scholle, an upthrust granite complex that is streaked by numerous dikes. This is part of the Ruhla-Schleusingen Horst that defines the southwest side of the Thuringian Forest...

, and the districts of Schmalkalden-Meiningen

Schmalkalden-Meiningen

Schmalkalden-Meiningen is a Landkreis in the west of Thuringia, Germany. Its neighboring districts are the districts Wartburgkreis, Gotha, Ilm-Kreis, the district-free city Suhl, the district Hildburghausen, the Bavarian district Rhön-Grabfeld, and the district Fulda in Hesse.- History :The...

 and Gotha

Gotha (district)

Gotha is a Kreis in the middle of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Unstrut-Hainich, Sömmerda, the district-free city Erfurt, Ilm-Kreis, Schmalkalden-Meiningen and the Wartburgkreis.-History:...

. It is named after the river Ilm

Ilm (Thuringia)

The Ilm is a long river in Thuringia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Saale, into which it flows in Großheringen near Bad Kösen.Towns along the Ilm are Ilmenau, Stadtilm, Kranichfeld, Bad Berka, Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza....

, flowing through the district.

History

In medieval times the territory was ruled by the counts of Henneberg

Henneberg

Henneberg may refer to:*the House of Henneberg, German nobility*County of Henneberg, a mediæval state in the Holy Roman Empire*Henneberg, Thuringia, a municipality in Thuringia, Germany*Mary Jane Henneberg, b. 1973, TV reporter...

 and the princes of Schwarzburg

Schwarzburg

Schwarzburg is a municipality in the valley of the Schwarza in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in Thuringia, Germany.First mentioned in 1071 as Swartzinburg. The castle was from the 12th century the seat of the Counts of Schwarzburg...

, two local dynasties. While Ilmenau

Ilmenau

Ilmenau is a town located in the district of Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany.Ilmenau is situated in the valley of the Ilm river, at an altitude of 431 metres above sea level, and is the biggest town in Ilm-Kreis district, with 6,200 students studying at the Technische Universität Ilmenau. The...

 was ruled by Henneberg, Arnstadt belonged to Schwarzburg. When the Henneberg family became extinct in 1583, Ilmenau was acquired by Saxony

Saxony

The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....

. In the meantime the principality of Schwarzburg began to disintegrate and was split up in several tiny states. One of those states (Schwarzburg-Arnstadt) was based in Arnstadt; it was founded in 1574 and existed until 1716, when it fell to Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. This mini state existed until 1920, when the state of Thuringia was founded.

The district was founded in 1920 (under the name Arnstadt); it was divided in 1952 into the districts of Arnstadt and Ilmenau, but reunited in 1994.

Geography

In its southern portions the district includes parts of the southeastern Thuringian Forest

Thuringian Forest

The Thuringian Forest running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of ancient rounded mountains posing ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes in the southern reaches of the German state of Thuringia. It is about long and wide...

, among them the highest elevation of that mountain chain, including the Großer Beerberg (982 m). To the north the country is sloping away and becomes rather plain, mainly agricultural area.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays: the heraldic lion from the principality of Schwarzburg the hen from the county of Henneberg the eagle from the city arms of Arnstadt

Towns and municipalities

Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free towns

and municipalities

Arnstadt Arnstadt Arnstadt is a town in Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, situated on the Gera River. It is one of the oldest towns in Thuringia and is nicknamed Das Tor zum Thüringer Wald, The Gate to the Thuringian Forest.... Ilmenau Ilmenau Ilmenau is a town located in the district of Ilm-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany.Ilmenau is situated in the valley of the Ilm river, at an altitude of 431 metres above sea level, and is the biggest town in Ilm-Kreis district, with 6,200 students studying at the Technische Universität Ilmenau. The... Langewiesen Langewiesen Langewiesen is a town in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Ilm, 4 km southeast of Ilmenau.... Stadtilm Stadtilm Stadtilm is a town in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Ilm, 15 km northeast of Ilmenau, and 11 km southeast of Arnstadt....

Ichtershausen Ichtershausen Ichtershausen is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Ilmtal Ilmtal Ilmtal is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wachsenburggemeinde Wachsenburggemeinde Wachsenburggemeinde is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The municipality is named after the castle Veste Wachsenburg which is located in its center. It consists of the five villages named Bittstädt, Haarhausen, Holzhausen, Röhrensee, and Sülzenbrücken.... Wipfratal Wipfratal Wipfratal is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wolfsberg Wolfsberg, Thuringia Wolfsberg is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany....

Verwaltungsgemeinschaften
1. Geratal Geratal Geratal is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Geraberg.The Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Geratal consists of the following municipalities:... Angelroda Angelroda Angelroda is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany founded in the year 958.... Elgersburg Elgersburg Elgersburg is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Geraberg Geraberg Geraberg is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... 1 Martinroda Martinroda, Ilm-Kreis -See also:... Neusiß Neusiß Neusiß is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... 2. Großbreitenbach Großbreitenbach (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) Großbreitenbach is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Großbreitenbach.... Altenfeld Böhlen Friedersdorf Friedersdorf, Thuringia Friedersdorf is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Gillersdorf Gillersdorf Gillersdorf is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Großbreitenbach Großbreitenbach Großbreitenbach is a town in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 13 km southeast of Ilmenau. It has about 8000 inhabitants. Major industries are glass manufacturing and tourism.... 1, 2 Wildenspring Wildenspring Wildenspring is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany....	3. Langer Berg Langer Berg Langer Berg is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Gehren.... Gehren Gehren Gehren is a town in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 7 km southeast of Ilmenau. It has become town in 1855. Between 1881 and 1998, Gehren was linked to Ilmenau by railway.... 1, 2 Herschdorf Herschdorf Herschdorf is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Möhrenbach Möhrenbach Möhrenbach is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Neustadt am Rennsteig Neustadt am Rennsteig Neustadt am Rennsteig is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. Its history can be traced back to the 15th century. Due to its location at 805 metres above sea level, there is scarcely another thuringian locality located this high.... Pennewitz Pennewitz Pennewitz is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... 4. Oberes Geratal Oberes Geratal Oberes Geratal is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Gräfenroda.... Frankenhain Frankenhain Frankenhain is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.It is well known for its biathlon club. A famous biathlete is Kathrin Apel.... Gehlberg Gehlberg Gehlberg is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Geschwenda Geschwenda Geschwenda is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Gossel Gossel Gossel is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Gräfenroda Gräfenroda Gräfenroda is a municipality in Thuringia in the northeast of the Thüringer Wald forest, Ilm-Kreis district. Gräfenroda is the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Oberes Geratal.... 1 Liebenstein Liebenstein Liebenstein is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Plaue Plaue Plaue is a town in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Gera, 11 km north of Ilmenau, and 8 km southwest of Arnstadt.... 2	5. Rennsteig Rennsteig (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) Rennsteig is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig.... Frauenwald Frauenwald Frauenwald is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... 1 Stützerbach Stützerbach Stützerbach is a municipality in the Ilm-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany.... 6. Riechheimer Berg Riechheimer Berg Riechheimer Berg is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Kirchheim.... Alkersleben Bösleben-Wüllersleben Bösleben-Wüllersleben Bösleben-Wüllersleben is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Dornheim Dornheim Dornheim is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Elleben Elleben Elleben is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. Elleben has two named communities, Riechheim and Gügleben.... Elxleben Elxleben, Ilm-Kreis Elxleben is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Kirchheim1 Osthausen-Wülfershausen Osthausen-Wülfershausen Osthausen-Wülfershausen is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Rockhausen Rockhausen Rockhausen is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Witzleben Witzleben Witzleben is a municipality in the district Ilm-Kreis in Thuringia, Germany....
1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town

External links

• Official website (German, English)