List of districts and cities in Westphalia

All districts (rural districts) and independent cities (immediate cities, urban districts) of Westphalia from January 1, 1817 are listed in the list. Thus, the Prussian time as the province of Westphalia and the time as part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are recorded.

The currently existing districts and independent cities are highlighted in color. The areas that changed to Westphalia are highlighted in green, those that left it are highlighted in red.

Abbreviations

A = resolution
ÄB = change of affiliation to an administrative district
ÄK = change of district membership
E = inclusion
FB = forest district
GA = exchange of territory
GB = manor district
GG = community-free area
KV = seat of the district administration
N = new formation
NÄ = name change
NÄB = change of name of the government district
TA = outsourcing of a part (partial outsourcing)
TE = integration of a part (part integration)
TU = reclassification of a part (partial reclassification)
U = reclassification
grt = mostly
t = partially

Names of the districts and districts

The following rules apply to the designations of district and rural district:

Until December 31, 1938, the administrative unit was basically called the district . Only in those districts whose district town was independent (formed a separate urban district) or left the district association, the designation district became common.
From January 1, 1939 (confirmed October 1, 1953) to September 30, 1969, the uniform name was district .
From October 1, 1969, the uniform designation is circle .
For districts / counties such as B. the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis remained the designation uniformly district .

Names of the independent cities and city districts

The following rules apply to the designations Immediatstadt, Stadtkreis and independent city:

Until March 31, 1887, the city that did not belong to any district (district) was called Immediatstadt .
From April 1, 1887 to September 30, 1953, it was a city district .
As of October 1, 1953, the designation is an independent city .

Circles

The currently existing circles are highlighted in color in the list.

circle	No.	date	Measure, possibly seat of the district administration; District affiliation
Ahaus	31	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
Ahaus	31	01/01/1975	A> bark
Altena	32	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TA> Eslohe
		01/01/1832	TE < Olpe
		04/01/1907	TA> Lüdenscheid district
		05/01/1935	TA> Lüdenscheid district
		01/01/1969	A> Ludenscheid
Arnsberg	33	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TE < Iserlohn ; GA <> Soest ; TA> Eslohe
		04/01/1826	TA> Hamm
		01/01/1832	TE < Eslohe
		01/01/1969	TA> Lüdenscheid
		01/01/1975	A> Hochsauerlandkreis (grt), Märkischer Kreis and Soest
Beckum	34	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1923	GA <> independent city of Hamm
		07/01/1969	TA> Soest
		01/01/1970	TA> Wiedenbrück
		01/01/1975	A> Soest , Warendorf (grt) and the city of Hamm
Bielefeld	35	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Herford
		10/01/1878	TA> Bielefeld district
		04/01/1900	TA> Bielefeld district
		January 31, 1907	TA> Bielefeld district
		10/01/1930	TA> Bielefeld district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		December 31, 1961	TA> Bielefeld district
		01/01/1965	TA> Bielefeld district
		01/01/1970	TE < Paderborn ; GA <> Wiedenbrück
		01/01/1973	A> Gütersloh and city of Bielefeld (grt)
Bilstein	36	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
Bilstein	36	01/01/1819	A> Eslohe and Olpe (grt)
Bochum	37	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	GA <> Dortmund ; TA> Hagen
		04/01/1826	TE < Hagen
		05/24/1876	TA> Bochum district
		04/01/1881	TA> Mettmann ( Düsseldorf District , Rhineland Province )
		07/01/1885	TA> Gelsenkirchen and Hattingen
		04/01/1887	TA> Mettmann
		04/01/1899	TA> Witten district
		04/01/1904	TA> Bochum district
		07/01/1906	TA> Herne district
		04/01/1908	TA> Herne district
		04/01/1926	TA> Dortmund and urban districts of Bochum , Herne and Wanne-Eickel
		08/01/1929	A> City districts of Bochum (grt), Dortmund , Herne and Witten
Bark	38	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		09/01/1923	TA> Bocholt district
		04/23/1949	TU> Netherlands
		03/01/1963	U < Netherlands
		01/01/1975	TA> Wesel ( Düsseldorf district , Rhineland regional association )
		01/01/1975	E < Ahaus and the independent city of Bocholt ; TE < Coesfeld and Recklinghausen
		01/01/1975	TE < Rees ( Düsseldorf District , Rhineland Regional Association )
Brakel	39	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
Brakel	39	01/01/1832	A> Höxter
Brilon	40	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TE < Medebach ; KV in Padberg
		circa 1850	KV in Brilon
		01/01/1975	A> Hochsauerlandkreis
Frets	41	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
Frets	41	01/01/1832	A> Herford (grt) and Lübbecke
Büren	42	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Paderborn
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1975	A> Hochsauerlandkreis , Paderborn (grt) and Soest
Coesfeld	43	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1832	TA> Münster
		07/01/1908	TE < Ludinghausen
		08/01/1929	TA> Recklinghausen
		01/01/1975	TE < Lüdinghausen and Münster ; TA> bark
Detmold	77	01/21/1947	U < land lip ; Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		10/01/1949	TA> Lippstadt
		01/01/1970	GA <> Höxter and Lemgo
		01/01/1973	A> lip
Dortmund	44	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	GA <> Bochum ; TA> Hagen
		02/15/1875	TA> Dortmund district
		04/01/1887	TA> Hörde
		04/01/1905	TA> Dortmund district
		06/10/1914	TA> Dortmund district
		04/01/1918	TA> Dortmund district
		04/01/1928	A> City districts of Castrop-Rauxel , Dortmund (grt), Herne and Lünen
Ennepe-Ruhr district	75	08/01/1929	N < Hagen (grt), Hattingen (grt) and Schwelm KV in Schwelm ; Arnsberg administrative district
Ennepe-Ruhr district	75	circa 1946	NE> Ennepe-Ruhr district
Ennepe-Ruhr district	75	circa 1946	NÄ < Ennepe-Ruhrkreis ; KV in Schwelm ; Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1970	TA> Düsseldorf-Mettmann and independent cities of Essen and Wuppertal ( district of Düsseldorf , Rhineland Regional Council )
		01/01/1970	TA> independent cities of Hagen and Witten ; GA <> Lüdenscheid
		01/01/1975	E < independent city of Witten ; TA> independent city of Hagen
Eslohe	67	01/01/1819	N < Altena (t), Arnsberg (t), Bilstein (t) and Medebach (t); KV in Eslohe ; Arnsberg administrative district
		12/12/1819	KV in Meschede
		01/01/1832	TA> Arnsberg
		09/02/1832	NE> Meschede
Gelsenkirchen	71	07/01/1885	N < Bochum (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1897	TA> Gelsenkirchen district
		04/01/1903	TA> Gelsenkirchen district
		04/01/1926	TA> Essen ( Düsseldorf District , Rhine Province )
		04/01/1926	A> City districts of Bochum , Gelsenkirchen , Herne , Wanne-Eickel (grt) and Wattenscheid
Gutersloh	80	01/01/1973	N < Bielefeld (t), Halle (Westphalia) (grt), Warendorf (t) and Wiedenbrück ; KV in Rheda-Wiedenbrück ; Detmold administrative district
Gutersloh	80	1997	KV in Gütersloh
Hagen	45	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TE < Bochum and Dortmund
		04/01/1826	TA> Bochum
		04/01/1887	TA> Schwelm and the Hagen district
		04/01/1901	TA> Hagen district
		08/01/1929	A> Ennepe-Ruhr district (grt) and urban districts of Hagen (t) and Witten (t)
Halle (Westphalia)	46	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1973	A> Gütersloh (grt) and city of Bielefeld
Hamm	47	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1826	TE < Arnsberg
		04/01/1901	TA> Hamm district
		08/01/1929	TE < Hörde
		10/17/1930	NÄ> Unna
Hattingen	72	07/01/1885	N < Bochum (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		07/01/1921	TA> Witten district
		04/01/1926	TA> Essen ( Düsseldorf District , Rhine Province )
		04/01/1926	TA> Wattenscheid district
		08/01/1929	A> Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis (grt) and Stadtkreis Bochum
Herford	48	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < frets ; TA> Bielefeld and Minden
		02/15/1911	TA> Herford district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1969	E < independent city of Herford
		01/01/1973	TA> Minden-Lübbecke
Hochsauerlandkreis	83	01/01/1975	N < Arnsberg (grt), Brilon , Büren (t), Meschede (grt) and Wittgenstein (t); KV in Meschede ; Arnsberg administrative district
		11/01/2009	TA> District of Waldeck-Frankenberg ( District of Kassel , Hesse )
		11/01/2009	TE < Waldeck-Frankenberg district ( Kassel district , Hesse )
Hear	73	04/01/1887	N < Dortmund (t); KV in Hörde ; Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1911	TA> Hörde district
		04/01/1928	KV in Dortmund , district of Hörde
		08/01/1929	A> Hamm , Iserlohn and city districts of Dortmund (grt) and Witten
Höxter	49	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	E < Brakel
		04/01/1922	TA> District of Hameln-Pyrmont ( District of Hanover , Province of Hanover )
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1970	GA <> Detmold
		10/01/1971	TA> District of Holzminden ( District of Hildesheim , Lower Saxony )
		10/01/1971	TE < Hameln-Pyrmont district ( Hanover district , Lower Saxony ) and Holzminden district ( Hildesheim district , Lower Saxony )
		01/01/1975	E < Warburg
Iserlohn	50	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TA> Arnsberg
		01/01/1832	TA> Arnsberg
		04/01/1907	TA> Iserlohn district
		08/01/1929	TE < Hörde ; TA> Iserlohn district
		04/01/1941	TA> Iserlohn district
		10/01/1956	TA> Iserlohn district
		01/01/1969	TA> Lüdenscheid
		07/01/1969	TA> Soest
		04/01/1971	GA <> Iserlohn district
		07/01/1975	A> Märkischer Kreis (grt), Unna and independent cities Dortmund and Hagen
Lemgo	78	01/21/1947	U < land lip ; KV in Brake i. L. at Lemgo ; Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1969	KV in Lemgo , Brake district
		01/01/1970	GA <> Detmold
		01/01/1973	A> lip
lip	81	01/01/1973	N < Detmold and Lemgo ; KV in Detmold ; Detmold administrative district
Lippstadt	51	01/01/1817	KV in Böckenförde , Schwarzenraben Castle ; Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	TE < Soest
		circa 1850	KV in Lippstadt
		05/17/1850	E < condominium of Lippe and Prussia
		10/01/1949	TE < Detmold
		01/01/1975	A> Soest
Luebbecke	69	01/01/1832	N < Bünde (t) and Rahden ; Minden administrative district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1973	A> Minden-Lübbecke
Ludenscheid	79	01/01/1969	N < Altena , Arnsberg and Iserlohn (t) and independent city of Lüdenscheid
		01/01/1970	GA <> Ennepe-Ruhr district
		01/01/1975	TA> Oberbergischer Kreis ( District Düsseldorf , Regional Association Rhineland )
		01/01/1975	A> Märkischer Kreis
Ludinghausen	52	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Münster
		01/01/1838	TA> Münster
		07/01/1908	TA < Coesfeld
		01/01/1975	A> Coesfeld (grt), Unna , Warendorf and the independent city of Hamm
Märkischer Kreis	84	01/01/1975	N < Arnsberg (t), Iserlohn (grt), Lüdenscheid and the independent city of Iserlohn ; KV in Lüdenscheid ; Arnsberg administrative district
Märkischer Kreis	84	01/01/1975	TE < Oberbergischer Kreis ( District Düsseldorf , Regional Association Rhineland )
Medebach	53	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
Medebach	53	01/01/1819	A> Brilon and Eslohe
Meschede	70	09/02/1832	NÄ < Eslohe ; Arnsberg administrative district
		07/01/1969	TA> Olpe
		01/01/1975	A> Hochsauerlandkreis
Minden	54	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Herford
		11/25/1837	E < condominium of Prussia and Hanover
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		10/01/1971	TE < district of Schaumburg-Lippe ( district of Hanover , Lower Saxony )
		01/01/1973	A> Minden-Lübbecke
Minden-Lübbecke	82	01/01/1973	N < Herford (t), Lübbecke and Minden ; KV in Minden ; Detmold administrative district
Muenster	55	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Coesfeld ; TA> Lüdinghausen and Tecklenburg
		01/01/1838	TE < Ludinghausen
		01/01/1875	TA> Münster district
		04/01/1903	TA> Münster district
		10/01/1956	TA> independent city of Münster
		01/01/1975	A> Coesfeld , Steinfurt , Warendorf and the independent city of Münster (grt)
Olpe	68	01/01/1819	N < Bilstein (grt); Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1832	TA> Altena
		01/01/1959	TE < Oberbergischer Kreis ( Cologne district , Rhineland Regional Council )
		07/01/1969	TA> Oberbergischer Kreis ( Cologne district , Rhineland regional association )
		07/01/1969	TE < Meschede
Paderborn	56	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/01/1832	TA> Büren
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1970	TA> Bielefeld
		01/01/1975	TE < Büren
Rahden	57	01/01/1817	KV in Großendorf; Minden administrative district
Rahden	57	01/01/1832	A> Luebbecke
Recklinghausen	58	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		04/01/1901	TA> Recklinghausen district
		02/01/1912	TA> City district of Buer
		01/01/1921	TA> City districts of Bottrop and Gladbeck
		01/01/1922	TA> Osterfeld district
		04/01/1926	TA> Recklinghausen district
		04/01/1928	TA> Gelsenkirchen-Buer district
		08/01/1929	TE < Coesfeld ; TA> Recklinghausen district
		08/01/1929	TE < Dinslaken ( administrative district Düsseldorf , Rhine province )
		01/01/1975	TA> Wesel ( Düsseldorf district , Rhineland regional association )
		01/01/1975	The independent cities of Castrop-Rauxel and Recklinghausen ; TA> bark
		01/01/1975	TE < Dinslaken ( Düsseldorf District , Rhineland Regional Council )
		December 06, 1975	TE < urban district of Bottrop
		07/01/1976	E < independent city of Gladbeck
		01/01/1981	GA <> Gelsenkirchen
Schwelm	74	04/01/1887	N < Hagen (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		08/05/1922	TA> Stadtkreis Barmen ( administrative district Düsseldorf , Rhine province )
		08/01/1929	TA> Stadtkreis Barmen-Elberfeld ( administrative district Düsseldorf , Rhine province )
		08/01/1929	A> Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis (grt) and Stadtkreis Barmen-Elberfeld ( administrative district Düsseldorf , Rhine province )
Wins	66	06/01/1817	U < Province of the Grand Duchy of Lower Rhine ; Arnsberg administrative district
		03/01/1923	TA> Stadtkreis Siegen
		08/01/1934	TA> Stadtkreis Siegen
		04/01/1937	TA> Stadtkreis Siegen
		07/01/1966	E < independent city of Siegen
		01/01/1975	TE < Wittgenstein
		01/01/1984	NE> Siegen-Wittgenstein
Siegen-Wittgenstein	85	01/01/1984	NÄ < victories ; KV in Siegen ; Arnsberg administrative district
Soest	59	01/01/1817	Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1819	GA <> Arnsberg ; TA> Lippstadt
		07/01/1969	TE < Beckum , Iserlohn and Unna
		01/01/1975	E < Lippstadt ; TE < Arnsberg , Beckum and Büren
Steinfurt	60	01/01/1817	KV in Borghorst ; Münster administrative district
		1889	KV in Burgsteinfurt
		01/01/1975	E < Tecklenburg ; TE < Münster ; KV in Steinfurt , Burgsteinfurt district
Tecklenburg	61	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1832	TE < Münster
		02/01/1857	TE < Warendorf
		01/01/1975	A> Steinfurt
Unna	76	10/17/1930	NÄ < Hamm ; Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1939	GA <> Hamm district
		01/01/1968	TA> independent cities of Hamm and Lünen
		07/01/1969	TA> Soest
		01/01/1975	E < independent city of Lünen ; TE < Iserlohn and Lüdinghausen ; TA> independent city of Hamm
		01/16/2005	KV in Holzwickede
		08/07/2006	KV in Unna
Warburg	62	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1975	A> Höxter
Warendorf	63	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		02/01/1857	TA> Tecklenburg
		01/01/1973	TA> Gütersloh
		01/01/1975	TE < Beckum , Lüdinghausen and Münster districts
Wiedenbrück	64	01/01/1817	KV in Wiedenbrück ; Minden administrative district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1970	TE < Beckum ; GA <> Bielefeld ; KV in Rheda-Wiedenbrück
		01/01/1973	A> Gütersloh
Wittgenstein	65	01/01/1817	KV in Berleburg ; Arnsberg administrative district
		07/01/1971	KV in Bad Berleburg
		01/01/1975	A> Hochsauerlandkreis and Siegen (grt)

One district cities

The currently existing urban districts are shown in bold in the list.

independent city	No.	date	Measure; District affiliation
Bielefeld	05	10/01/1878	N < district of Bielefeld (t); Minden administrative district
		04/01/1900	TE < District of Bielefeld
		January 31, 1907	TE < District of Bielefeld
		10/01/1930	TE < District of Bielefeld
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		December 31, 1961	TE < District of Bielefeld
		01/01/1965	TE < District of Bielefeld
		01/01/1973	TE < District of Bielefeld and Halle (Westphalia)
Bocholt	21st	09/01/1923	N < Borken district (t); Münster administrative district
Bocholt	21st	01/01/1975	A> Borken district
Bochum	04	05/24/1876	N < Bochum district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1904	TE < District of Bochum
		04/01/1926	TE < Castrop-Rauxel and the districts of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen
		08/01/1929	TE < districts of Bochum and Hattingen
		01/01/1975	E < Wattenscheid
Bottrop	17th	01/01/1921	N < Recklinghausen district (t); Münster administrative district
		08/01/1929	TE < Essen , Osterfeld and the Essen district
		08/01/1929	TE < Essen and the district of Essen ( administrative district Düsseldorf , Rhine province )
		01/01/1975	TE < Gladbeck and Recklinghausen district
		December 06, 1975	TA> Gladbeck and Recklinghausen district
		07/01/1976	TE < Recklinghausen district
Buer	16	02/01/1912	N < Recklinghausen district (t); Münster administrative district
Buer	16	04/01/1928	A> Gelsenkirchen-Buer
Castrop-Rauxel	24	04/01/1928	N < Dortmund district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		08/01/1929	TA> Bochum
		01/01/1975	A> Recklinghausen district
Dortmund	03	02/15/1875	N < Dortmund district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1905	TE < Dortmund district
		06/10/1914	TE < Dortmund district
		04/01/1918	TE < Dortmund district
		04/01/1928	E < Hörde ; TE < Dortmund district
		08/01/1929	TE < districts of Bochum and Hörde
		07/01/1950	GA <> Lünen
		01/01/1975	TE < Iserlohn district
Gelsenkirchen	07	04/01/1897	N < Gelsenkirchen district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1903	TE < Gelsenkirchen district
		01/01/1924	TE < Essen district ( Düsseldorf district , Rhine province )
		04/01/1926	TE < Gelsenkirchen district
		04/01/1928	A> Gelsenkirchen-Buer and Wattenscheid
	27	May 21, 1930	NE < Gelsenkirchen-Buer ; Münster administrative district
		01/01/1975	TE < Recklinghausen district
		01/01/1981	GA <> Recklinghausen district
Gelsenkirchen-Buer	25th	04/01/1928	N < Buer , Gelsenkirchen and the district of Recklinghausen (t); Münster administrative district
		08/01/1929	TA> Wattenscheid
		May 21, 1930	NE> Gelsenkirchen
Gladbeck	18th	01/01/1921	N < Recklinghausen district (t); Münster administrative district
	18th	01/01/1975	A> Bottrop
	28	December 06, 1975	N < Bottrop (t)
	28	07/01/1976	A> Recklinghausen district
Hagen	06	04/01/1887	N < district of Hagen (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1901	TE < district of Hagen
		08/01/1929	TE < district of Hagen
		01/01/1970	TE < Ennepe-Ruhr district
		01/01/1975	TE < Iserlohn district
Hamm	09	04/01/1901	N < district of Hamm (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		01/01/1923	GA <> Beckum district
		04/01/1939	GA <> Unna district
		01/01/1968	TE < Unna district
		01/01/1975	TE < Beckum , Lüdinghausen and Unna districts
Herford	14th	02/15/1911	N < Herford district (t); Minden administrative district
		01/21/1947	ÄB> Minden-Lippe district
		06/02/1947	NÄB> Administrative district of Detmold
		01/01/1969	A> Herford district
Herne	11	07/01/1906	N < Bochum district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		04/01/1908	TE < District of Bochum
		04/01/1926	TE < districts of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen
		04/01/1928	TE < Dortmund district
		08/01/1929	TE < District of Bochum
		01/01/1975	E < tub-Eickel
Hear	15th	04/01/1911	N < district of Hörde (t); Arnsberg administrative district
Hear	15th	04/01/1928	A> Dortmund
Iserlohn	12	04/01/1907	N < District Iserlohn (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		08/01/1929	TE < district of Iserlohn
		04/01/1941	TE < district of Iserlohn
		10/01/1956	TE < district of Iserlohn
		04/01/1971	GA <> district of Iserlohn
		01/01/1975	A> Märkischer Kreis
Ludenscheid	13	04/01/1907	N < district of Altena (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		05/01/1935	TE < Altena district
		01/01/1969	A> Lüdenscheid district
Luenen	26th	04/01/1928	N < Dortmund district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		07/01/1950	GA <> Dortmund
		01/01/1968	TE < Unna district
		01/01/1975	A> Unna district
Minden	01	01/01/1817	Minden administrative district
Minden	01	03/04/1817	A> Minden district
Muenster	02	01/01/1817	Münster administrative district
		01/01/1875	TE < District of Münster
		04/01/1903	TE < District of Münster
		10/01/1956	TE < District of Münster
		01/01/1975	TE < Münster district
Osterfeld	19th	01/01/1922	N < Recklinghausen district (t); Münster administrative district
		08/01/1929	TA> Bottrop
		08/01/1929	A> Oberhausen
Recklinghausen	10	04/01/1901	N < Recklinghausen district (t); Münster administrative district
		04/01/1926	TE < Recklinghausen district
		08/01/1929	TE < Recklinghausen district
		01/01/1975	A> Recklinghausen district
Wins	20th	03/01/1923	N < district of Siegen (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		08/01/1934	TE < district of Siegen
		04/01/1937	TE < district of Siegen
		07/01/1966	A> District of Siegen
Wanne-Eickel	22nd	04/01/1926	N < districts of Bochum (t) and Gelsenkirchen (grt); Arnsberg administrative district
Wanne-Eickel	22nd	01/01/1975	A> Herne
Wattenscheid	23	04/01/1926	N < district of Gelsenkirchen (t) and district of Hattingen (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		08/01/1929	TE < Gelsenkirchen-Buer
		01/01/1975	A> Bochum
Witten	08	04/01/1899	N < Bochum district (t); Arnsberg administrative district
		07/01/1921	TE < Hattingen district
		08/01/1929	TE < districts of Bochum , Hagen and Hörde
		01/01/1970	TE < Ennepe-Ruhr district
		01/01/1975	A> Ennepe-Ruhr district

Number of districts (rural districts) and urban districts (urban districts)

date	measure	Counties (districts) change	Independent cities Var.	Counties (districts) number	Number of independent cities
01/01/1817				35	2
03/04/1817	A: Minden district	0	- 1	35	1
06/01/1817	N (U): District of Siegen	+ 1	0	36	1
01/01/1832	A: circles brakel and frets	- 2nd	0	34	1
02/15/1875	N: Dortmund district	0	+ 1	34	2
05/24/1876	N: Bochum district	0	+ 1	34	3
10/01/1878	N: Bielefeld district	0	+ 1	34	4th
07/01/1885	N: Districts of Gelsenkirchen and Hattingen	+ 2	0	36	4th
04/01/1887	N: Districts of Hörde and Schwelm , urban district of Hagen	+ 2	+ 1	38	5
04/01/1897	N: Gelsenkirchen district	0	+ 1	38	6th
04/01/1899	N: Witten district	0	+ 1	38	7th
04/01/1901	N: Hamm and Recklinghausen districts	0	+ 2	38	9
07/01/1906	N: Herne district	0	+ 1	38	10
04/01/1907	N: Iserlohn and Lüdenscheid districts	0	+ 2	38	12
02/15/1911	N: Herford district	0	+ 1	38	13
04/01/1911	N: Hörde district	0	+ 1	38	14th
02/01/1912	N: Buer district	0	+ 1	38	15th
01/01/1921	N: City districts of Bottrop and Gladbeck	0	+ 2	38	17th
01/01/1922	N: Osterfeld district	0	+ 1	38	18th
03/01/1923	N: City of Siegen	0	+ 1	38	19th
09/01/1923	N: Bocholt district	0	+ 1	38	20th
04/01/1926	N: Wanne-Eickel and Wattenscheid districts ; A: Gelsenkirchen district	- 1	+ 2	37	22nd
04/01/1928	N: City districts of Castrop-Rauxel , Gelsenkirchen-Buer and Lünen ; A: District of Dortmund and urban districts of Buer , Gelsenkirchen and Hörde	- 1	0	36	22nd
08/01/1929	N: Ennepe-Ruhrkreis ; A: Districts of Bochum , Hagen and Hörde , districts of Hattingen and Schwelm , urban district of Osterfeld	- 4th	- 1	32	21st
01/21/1947	N: Detmold and Lemgo districts	+ 2	0	34	21st
07/01/1966	A: City of Siegen	0	- 1	34	20th
01/01/1969	A: independent cities of Herford and Lüdenscheid	0	- 2nd	34	18th
01/01/1973	N: districts of Gütersloh , Lippe and Minden-Lübbecke ; A: Districts of Bielefeld , Detmold , Halle (Westphalia) , Lemgo , Lübbecke , Minden and Wiedenbrück	- 4th	0	30th	18th
01/01/1975	N: Hochsauerlandkreis and Märkischer Kreis ; A: Ahaus , Arnsberg , Beckum , Brilon , Büren , Iserlohn , Lippstadt , Lüdenscheid , Lüdinghausen , Meschede , Münster , Tecklenburg , Warburg and Wittgenstein districts ; Independent cities of Bocholt , Castrop-Rauxel , Gladbeck , Iserlohn , Lünen , Recklinghausen , Wanne-Eickel , Wattenscheid and Witten	- 12	- 9	18th	9
December 06, 1975	N: independent city of Gladbeck	0	+ 1	18th	10
07/01/1976	A: independent city of Gladbeck	0	- 1	18th	9

literature

Martin Bünermann: The municipalities of the first reorganization program in North Rhine-Westphalia. Deutscher Gemeindeverlag, Cologne, 1970; without ISBN
Martin Bünermann, Heinz Köstering: The communities and districts after the municipal territorial reform in North Rhine-Westphalia. Deutscher Gemeindeverlag, Cologne, 1975; ISBN 3-555-30092-X
Federal Statistical Office (Hrsg.): Historical municipality register for the Federal Republic of Germany. Name, border and key number changes in municipalities, counties and administrative districts from May 27, 1970 to December 31, 1982 . W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart / Mainz 1983, ISBN 3-17-003263-1 .
Stephanie Reekers: The regional development of the districts and communities of Westphalia 1817 - 1967. Verlag Aschendorff, Münster (Westphalia), 1977; ISBN 3-402-05875-8