Editing Steinfurt (district)

{{Infobox German district
|name=Steinfurt
|state=North Rhine-Westphalia
|image_flag=Flagge Kreis Steinfurt.svg
|image_coa=DEU Kreis Steinfurt COA.svg
|capital=[[Steinfurt]]
|regierungsbezirk=[[Münster (region)|Münster]]
|area=1,792.097
|Kreisschlüssel    = 05566
|carsign=ST, TE, BF
|url={{url|http://www.kreis-steinfurt.de}}
|Landrat           = Martin Sommer
|admin_party = Independent
|leader_term = 2020&ndash;25
|map={{Germany district OSM map |parent_subdivision = Q1198}}
}}
'''Steinfurt''' ({{IPA|de|ˈʃtaɪnfʊʁt|-|De-Steinfurt.ogg}}) is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the northern part of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Germany]]. Neighboring districts are [[County of Bentheim (district)|Bentheim]], [[Emsland]], district-free [[Osnabrück]] and the [[Osnabrück (district)|Osnabrück district]], [[Warendorf (district)|Warendorf]], district-free [[Münster]], [[Coesfeld (district)|Coesfeld]], [[Borken (district)|Borken]].

==Geography==
The district is situated at the [[Lower Saxony|Lower Saxon]] border, north of [[Münster]]. The [[Ems (river)|Ems]] river runs through the district from south to north. The highest point in the region is the [[Westerbecker Berg]] at 234 metres above sea level; the lowest point is Bentlage Castle at 32 metres.

==History==
In the middle ages and early modern period, [[County of Steinfurt|Steinfurt]] was an independent county of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. In 1806, it became part of the [[Grand Duchy of Berg]] and in 1815 it became part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]].

In 1975, the old district Steinfurt was merged with the district Tecklenburg, and together with [[Greven]] and [[Saerbeck]] from the former district Münster the current district was formed.

==Coat of arms==
The coat of arms combines elements from the coats of arms of the former districts of Steinfurt, Tecklenburg and Münster. The swan in the middle comes from the countship of Steinfurt, the centre of the district. The red bar around the swan symbolizes the clerical state of Münster, which lay around the dukedom of Steinfurt. The red water lily leaves were symbols of the dukes of Tecklenburg.

==Towns and municipalities==
{{Imagemap Germany district ST|Municipalities in ST.svg|300px{{!}}thumb{{!}}Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district}}

{|
!colspan=2 align=left|Towns
!align=left|Municipalities
|- valign=top
|width=33%|
#[[Emsdetten]]
#[[Greven]]
#[[Hörstel]]
#[[Horstmar]]
#[[Ibbenbüren]]
#[[Lengerich, Westphalia|Lengerich]]
#[[Ochtrup]]
#[[Rheine]]
#[[Steinfurt]]
#[[Tecklenburg]]
|width=33%|
#[[Altenberge]]
#[[Hopsten]]
#[[Ladbergen]]
#[[Laer]]
#[[Lienen]]
#[[Lotte, Germany|Lotte]]
#[[Metelen]]
|width=33%|
<ol start=8>
<li>[[Mettingen]]</li>
<li>[[Neuenkirchen, Westphalia|Neuenkirchen]]
<li>[[Nordwalde]]</li>
<li>[[Recke]]</li>
<li>[[Saerbeck]]</li>
<li>[[Westerkappeln]]</li>
<li>[[Wettringen (Münsterland)|Wettringen]]</li>
</ol>
|}

==Town Twinning==
Steinfurt is twinned with:
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Ealing]]<ref>Ealing Council.[http://www.ealing.gov.uk/services/community/twinning.html/index.html Twinning]. Accessed 2008-09-19</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Kreis Steinfurt}}
* [http://www.kreis-steinfurt.de Official website] (German)
* [http://www.lwl.org/westfaelische-geschichte/portal/Internet/ku.php?tab=pro&ID=43 Corpus juris of the Principality of Münster / Steinfurt, Anholt, Gemen]

{{Germany districts north rhine-westphalia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|52.17|7.67|display=title|format=dms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steinfurt (District)}}
[[Category:Steinfurt (district)| ]]
[[Category:Districts of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Münster (region)]]