Zella-Mehlis

Zella-Mehlis
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Zella-Mehlis
Location of Zella-Mehlis within Schmalkalden-Meiningen district
MeiningenMeiningenOberhofSchmalkaldenSteinbach-HallenbergWasungenWasungenZella-MehlisThuringia
Zella-Mehlis is located in Germany
Zella-Mehlis
Zella-Mehlis
Zella-Mehlis is located in Thuringia
Zella-Mehlis
Zella-Mehlis
Coordinates: 50°39′35″N 10°40′1″E / 50.65972°N 10.66694°E / 50.65972; 10.66694
CountryGermany
StateThuringia
DistrictSchmalkalden-Meiningen
Government
 • Mayor (2024–30) Torsten Widder[1]
Area
 • Total
52.99 km2 (20.46 sq mi)
Elevation
500 m (1,600 ft)
Population
 (2024-12-31)[2]
 • Total
12,157
 • Density230/km2 (590/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
98544
Dialling codes03682
Vehicle registrationSM
Websitewww.zella-mehlis.de

Zella-Mehlis (German pronunciation: [ˈtsɛla ˈmeːlɪs]) is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district of Thuringia, Germany. It is situated in the Thuringian Forest, approximately 5km north of Suhl and 20km east of Meiningen.

History

Two of Germany's most notable firearm manufacturers, Walther and Anschütz, were founded in Zella-Mehlis. They operated there until the Soviet occupation of Eastern Germany at the conclusion of World War II caused both companies to move.

In January 2019, the former municipality of Benshausen was integrated into Zella-Mehlis, expanding the town's jurisdiction.

Historical population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
194617,352—    
195016,914−0.64%
196016,370−0.33%
198114,444−0.59%
198413,921−1.22%
199413,401−0.38%
199513,100−2.25%
199612,990−0.84%
199712,941−0.38%
199812,933−0.06%
199913,206+2.11%
200013,036−1.29%
200112,961−0.58%
200212,726−1.81%
200312,544−1.43%
200412,495−0.39%
YearPop.±% p.a.
200512,245−2.00%
200612,095−1.22%
200711,951−1.19%
200811,910−0.34%
200911,743−1.40%
201011,747+0.03%
201111,075−5.72%
201210,855−1.99%
201310,785−0.64%
201410,669−1.08%
201510,631−0.36%
201610,595−0.34%
201710,813+2.06%
201810,537−2.55%
201912,727+20.78%
202012,630−0.76%
Population as of 31 December (1946: 29 October 1950: 31 August)
Source: Source since 1994: Thuringian State office of Statistics

Twin towns

Zella-Mehlis is twinned with:

Martin Luther elementary school
Train station Zella-Mehlis
Surroundings of Zella-Mehlis

People

  • Helmut Recknagel (* 1937), the first German Olympic ski jumping champion and world champion, started for SC Motor Zella-Mehlis
  • Johann Kaspar Friedrich Manso (1759-1826), teacher, historian and philologist
  • Johann Heinrich Ehrhardt (1805-1883), locomotive builder, engineer of the Saxon Railroad
  • Johann Peter Haseney (1812-1869), copper engraver, creator of the first German stamp "Schwarzer Einser" (Black one)
  • Karl Künstler (1901–1945), Nazi SS concentration camp commandant
  • Michael Schumann (1946-2000), professor of philosophy, politician (SED, PDS), Member of the Brandenburg Landtag, Member of the Bundestag
  • Anja Kampe (born 1968), opera singer
  • Carl Walther (1858-1915), gunsmith
  • Marcel Callo (1921-1945), beatified member of the Roman Catholic Church, a location in Zella-Mehlis was named after him
  • Horst Queck (born 1943), ski jumper
  • Reinhard Heß (1945-2007), ski jumping coach of the German national team
  • Fredi Albrecht (born 1947), wrestler and competitor, visited the children's and youth sports school here
  • Klaus-Peter Göpfert (born 1948), wrestler, attended the children's and sports school in Zella-Mehlis
  • Rainer Schmidt (born 1948), ski jumper, overall winner of the Four Hills Tournament, lives in Zella-Mehlis
  • Christoph Matschie (born 1961), politician, SPD Chairman of the State of Thuringia 1999–2014, minister and parliamentary secretary of state, received training as a mechanic in Zella-Mehlis
  • Kati Wilhelm (born 1976), biathlete
  • Sebastian Haseney (born 1978), Nordic Combined skier
  • Franz Göring (born 1984), cross-country skier, lives in Zella-Mehlis
  • Victoria Carl (born 1995), cross-country skier
  • Andi Langenhan (born 1984), luger
  • Frank Rommel (born 1984), skeleton racer
  • Tino Edelmann (born 1985), Nordic Combined skier

References

  1. ^ Gewählte Bürgermeister - aktuelle Landesübersicht, Freistaat Thüringen. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden vom Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik" (in German). Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik.