Editing Clausthal-Zellerfeld (section)

== History ==
Clausthal-Zellerfeld originally consisted of two towns which were merged in 1924 to form an administrative unit. Clausthal is well known for the old [[Clausthal University of Technology]] and its magnificent buildings, while Zellerfeld is a typical tourist [[resort]] for [[hiking|hikers]] and winter sportsmen. Clausthal-Zellerfeld is the largest town in the area that is situated in the mountains rather than on the edge.

[[Mining]] in the area began in the 16th century. Modern [[wire rope]] was invented to service the [[iron]] [[Mining|mine]]s in the 1830s by the German mining engineer [[Wilhelm Albert (engineer)|Wilhelm Albert]] in the years between 1831 and 1834 for use in [[Mining in the Upper Harz|mining in the Harz Mountains]] in Clausthal. It was quickly accepted because it proved superior to ropes made of hemp or to metal chains, such as had been used before and soon found its way into diverse applications, including most notably, [[suspension bridge]]s. The [[Innerste Valley Railway]] was inaugurated in 1877 and extended to Altenau in 1914. The large station building and 70 other buildings in the town were destroyed in an air raid on 7 October 1944.<ref>Evert Heusinkveld. ''Die Innerstetalbahn Langelsheim - Altenau'', p. 11. Nordhorn 2007</ref> 92 people lost their lives.

Mining activity halted in 1930 because the [[ore]] deposits were exhausted. Today, there are large remains of mines in the surrounding Harz region, some of which are now [[museum]]s. The railway line was closed in 1976. The former railway station, which was rebuilt from 1961–1963 after being destroyed in 1944, houses the tourist information and the municipal library today.

The [[Clausthal University of Technology]] was established in 1775 for the [[education]] of mining [[engineers]]. Today, it is a technical university for teaching [[engineering]], [[natural science]] (especially chemistry, materials science and physics), computer science and [[business studies]].

{{Historical populations
|align=left
|1821|11757
|1848|14739
|1871|14080
|1885|13917
|1905|13758
|1925|12973
|1933|11855
|1939|11788
|1946|15786
|1950|17643
|1956|15585
|1961|15849
|1968|16468
|1970|15714
|1975|16690
|1980|16270
|1985|16250
|1990|17061
|1995|16703
|2000|15413
|2005|15075
|2010|14579
|2011|12798
|2012|12772
|2013|12923
}}

[[File:Bahnhof Clausthal.JPG|thumb|Former railway station]]