Starnberg (district)

Infobox German district
name=Starnberg
state=Bavaria
capital=Starnberg
regierungsbezirk=Oberbayern
region=Munich
area=488.01
population=124,956
population_as_of=2000
density=256
carsign=STA
url=http://www.lk-starnberg.de

Starnberg is a "Kreis" (district) in the southern part of Bavaria, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Fürstenfeldbruck, Munich, Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Weilheim-Schongau and Landsberg.

Starnberg is often credited with being Germany's wealthiest district in terms of average per capita income.

Geography

Main geographic feature of the district are the five lakes - the Starnberger See and Ammersee, as well as the smaller "Weßlinger See", "Wörthsee" and "Pilsensee". The lakes were formed by the glaciers of the last ice age. Hence the district is also called "Fünf-Seen-Land" (five lake county).

History

The district was created in 1902, when the "Bezirksamt München II" was dissolved, and the new "Bezirksamt Starnberg" and "Bezirksamt Wolfratshausen" were created. Starting in 1939 they were called "Landkreis". In 1972 two municipalities (Bachhausen and Höhenrain) from the district Wolfratshausen were added to the district. In the 1978 communal reform the previously 42 municipalities were merged into the current 14 ones.

Partnerships

Since 1982 the district has a partnership with the district Bad Dürkheim in Rhineland-Palatinate. Since 1981 it also has a partnership with the Taipei County, which developed after a delegation of parachutists from Taiwan stayed in Starnberg for the 1980 parachuting world championship in Altenstadt/Schongau.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

* [http://www.5sli.de/5seen-english.htm Five Lake County tourist information]
* [http://www.starnberg24.de/starnberg-english.htm Starnberg information] (English)