Posen was the southern of two Prussian

Kingdom of Prussia

The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...

 administrative regions, or Regierungsbezirk

Regierungsbezirk

In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...

e , of the Grand Duchy of Posen (1815–49) and its successor, the Province of Posen

Province of Posen

The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....

 (1849-1918). The administrative region was bordered on the north by Regierungsbezirk Bromberg, to the west by the Province of Brandenburg

Province of Brandenburg

The Province of Brandenburg was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 to 1946.-History:The first people who are known to have inhabited Brandenburg were the Suevi. They were succeeded by the Slavonians, whom Henry II conquered and converted to Christianity in...

, to the south by the Silesia Province, and to the east by Russian Congress Poland

Congress Poland

The Kingdom of Poland , informally known as Congress Poland , created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna, was a personal union of the Russian parcel of Poland with the Russian Empire...

.

The Posen region was inhabited mainly by Roman Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 Poles

Poles

thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...

, although it had a minority of mostly Protestant

Protestantism

Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...

 Germans

Germans

The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....

.

Divisions

Note: Prussian provinces were subdivided into units called Kreise (singular Kreis, abbreviated Kr., English "circle"), which were similar to large counties in US terms. Cities would have their own Stadtkreis (English: "urban district") and the surrounding rural area would be named for the city, but referred to as a Landkreis (English: "rural district"). In the case of Posen, the Landkreis was split into two: Landkreis Posen West, and Landkreis Posen East. The region was originally divided into 16 larger Kreise, which were later divided into the final 27 Kreise, the larger ones spinning off smaller units.

Source: 1905 German census

Kreis ("District")	Polish name	1905 Pop	Polish	German	Jewish	Origin
City of Posen Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...	Poznań Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...		55%	45%
Adelnau Kreis Adelnau Kreis Adelnau was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Military command :...	Odolanów Odolanów Odolanów is a town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship of Poland, about 10 km south-west from Ostrów Wielkopolski, with over 5000 inhabitants.-History:...		90%	10%		Ostrowo
Birnbaum Kreis Birnbaum Kreis Birnbaum was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the Polish regions of Greater Poland Voivodeship and Lubusz Voivodeship.-Court system:...	Międzychód Miedzychód Międzychód is a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, about 75 km west of Poznań. It is the capital of Międzychód County. Population is 10,920 .-Notable residents:* Manuel Joël , philosopher...		51%	49%
Bomst	Babimost Babimost Babimost is a small town in Poland in the Lubusz Voivodeship, Zielona Gora County.Area: 3,6 km², Population: 4,300 , City rights: 1397...		49%	51%
Fraustadt	Wschowa Wschowa Wschowa is a town in the Lubusz Voivodeship in Poland with 14,607 inhabitants . It is the capital of Wschowa County.-History:Wschowa was originally a border fortress in a region disputed by the Polish dukes of Silesia and Greater Poland. After German colonists had established a settlement nearby,...		27%	73%
Gostyn	Gostyń Gostyn Gostyń is a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship , in Gostyń County. According to 30 June 2004 data its population was 20,746.-Geography:Gostyń is located at 17°01' East and 51°53' North....		87%	13%		Kröben
Grätz Kreis Grätz Powiat grodziski may refer to either of two counties in Poland:*Grodzisk Wielkopolski County, in Greater Poland Voivodeship *Grodzisk Mazowiecki County, in Masovian Voivodeship...	Grodzisk Grodzisk Grodzisk may refer to either of two Polish towns:*Grodzisk Mazowiecki, a town in eastern Poland*Grodzisk Wielkopolski, a town in western Polandor any of a number of villages:*Grodzisk, Greater Poland Voivodeship...		82%	18%		Buk
Jarotschin	Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin ( is a town in central Poland with 25,700 inhabitants (1995). Since 1999 Jarocin has been located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, prior to that it was located in the Kalisz Voivodeship (1975–1998).- History :...		83%	17%		Pleschen
Kempen Kreis Kempen Kreis Kempen refers to the following German administrative districts:*Kempen , a district of Rhenish Prussia from 1816–1929*Kempen-Krefeld, a district of Rhenish Prussia and North Rhine-Westphalia from 1929–1975...	Kępno Kepno Kępno is a town in Poland. It lies on the outskirts of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, as it borders on Silesia and the Łódz Land, at the crossing point of two transport routes: north to south and east to west . As of December 31, 2009 Kępno had a population of 14,760...		84%	16%		Schildberg
Koschmin Kreis Koschmin Kreis Koschmin was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Military command :...	Koźmin Kozmin Koźmin may refer to the following places in Poland:*Koźmin, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Koźmin, Szamotuły County in Greater Poland Voivodeship *Koźmin, Turek County in Greater Poland Voivodeship...		83%	17%		Krotoschin
Kosten	Kościan Koscian Kościan is a town on the Obra canal in west-central Poland, with a population of 24 059 inhabitants in June 2009. Situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Leszno Voivodeship , it is the capital of Kościan County...		89%	11%
Krotoschin Kreis Krotoschin Kreis Krotoschin was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Civil registry offices :...	Krotoszyn Krotoszyn Krotoszyn is a town in central Poland with 30,010 inhabitants . It has been part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; it was within Kalisz Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998....		70%	30%
Lissa Kreis Lissa Kreis Lissa was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Military command :...	Leszno Leszno Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...		36%	64%		Fraustadt
Meseritz Kreis Meseritz Kreis Meseritz was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the eastern part of Polish region of Lubuskie Voivodeship.- History :...	Międzyrzecz Miedzyrzecz Międzyrzecz is a town in western Poland with 18,584 inhabitants . The capital of Międzyrzecz County, it was part of the Gorzów Wielkopolski Voivodeship from 1975–1998. Since the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998, Międzyrzecz has been situated in the Lubusz Voivodeship...		20%	80%
Neutomischel Kreis Neutomischel Kreis Neutomischel was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the western part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Civil registry offices :...	Nowy Tomyśl Nowy Tomysl Nowy Tomyśl is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nowy Tomyśl County. The population is 15,627 ....		51%	49%		Buk
Obornik Kreis Obornik Kreis Obornik was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the north-western part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Civil registry offices :...	Oborniki Oborniki Oborniki is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, about 30 km north of Poznań. It is the capital of Oborniki County and of Gmina Oborniki. Its population is 18,176 .-External links:* *...		61%	39%
Ostrowo Kreis Ostrowo ' was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-External links:...	Ostrów Ostrów Ostrów is a Polish name for a river island. It appears in many Polish toponyms:* Ostrów Lubelski, a town in Lublin Voivodship * Ostrów Mazowiecka, a town in Masovian Voivodship...		80%	20%
Pleschen Kreis Pleschen Kreis Pleschen was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the south-eastern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship....	Pleszew Pleszew Pleszew is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, about 90 km southeast of Poznań. It is the capital of Pleszew County...		85%	15%
Posen Ost Kreis Posen Ost Kreis Posen Ost was a Kreis in Prussia in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the province of Posen.-Table of Standesamter:...	Poznań Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...		72%	28%		Posen
Posen West Kreis Posen West Kreis Posen West was a Kreis in Prussia in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the province of Posen.-Table of Standesamter:...	Poznań Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...		87%	13%		Posen
Rawitsch Kreis Rawitsch ' was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship....	Rawicz Rawicz Rawicz is a town in central Poland with 21,398 inhabitants . It is situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in Leszno Voivodeship . It is the capital of Rawicz County.-History:...		55%	45%		Kröben
Samter Kreis Samter ' was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the north-western part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-External links:...	Szamotuły		73%	27%
Schildberg Kreis Schildberg Kreis Schildberg was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the south-eastern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Military command :...	Ostrzeszów Ostrzeszów Ostrzeszów is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Ostrzeszów County . The population is 14,490 ....		90%	10%
Schmiegel Kreis Schmiegel ' was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-External links:...	Śmigiel Smigiel Śmigiel is a town in Kościan County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,420 inhabitants .While part of the Prussian Province of Posen, the town was administered within Kreis Schmiegel.-People:...		82%	18%		Kosten
Schrimm Kreis Schrimm ' was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-External links:...	Śrem		82%	18%
Schroda Kreis Schroda Kreis Schroda was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the southern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-Civil registry offices :...	Środa Sroda Wielkopolska Środa Wielkopolska is a town in central Poland, about southeast of Poznań, with 22,001 inhabitants .-Overview:It is situated in Greater Poland Voivodeship, having previously been in the former Poznań Voivodeship...		88%	12%
Schwerin Kreis Schwerin in Posen Kreis Schwerin in Posen was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the western part of Polish region of Lubuskie Voivodeship.-Civil registry offices :...	Skwierzyna Skwierzyna Skwierzyna is a town of 10,339 inhabitants in Lubusz Voivodeship in western Poland, the administrative seat of the Gmina Skwierzyna. It is located at the confluence of the Obra and Warta rivers, about north of Międzyrzecz and south-east of the regional capital Gorzów Wielkopolski. The town is...		5%	95%		Birnbaum
Wreschen Kreis Wreschen Kreis Wreschen was a county in the southern administrative district of Posen, in the Prussian province of Posen. It presently lies in the eastern part of Polish region of Greater Poland Voivodeship.-History:...	Września Wrzesnia Września is a town in central Poland with 28,600 inhabitants . It is situated in the Września County, Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Poznań Voivodeship , on the Wrzesnica River.- History :...		84%	16%