Plauen

town in Germany

Plauen is the biggest city of the Vogtlandkreis in the southwest of Saxony. It is the fifth-largest city in the state. Only Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz and Zwickau are larger.

Plauen
Coat of arms of Plauen
Location of Plauen
Map
Plauen is located in Germany
Plauen
Plauen
Plauen is located in Saxony
Plauen
Plauen
Coordinates: 50°29′N 12°07′E / 50.483°N 12.117°E / 50.483; 12.117
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
Admin. regionChemnitz
DistrictVogtlandkreis
Subdivisions5 town boroughs with 38 parts
Government
 • Lord mayorRalf Oberdorfer (FDP)
Area
 • Total102.12 km2 (39.43 sq mi)
Elevation
412 m (1,352 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[1]
 • Total64,763
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
08523;-5;-7;-9
Dialling codes03741
Vehicle registrationV (by 2008 PL)
Websitewww.plauen.de

Plauen was a Kreisfreie stadt until July 2008. Since 1. August 2008 Plauen ist Part of the Vogtlandkreis.

The nearest large cities are Zwickau, about 35 kilometres (21.7 miles) northeast and Gera, about 41 kilometres (25.5 miles) north of Plauen.

History

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The Johanniskirche

Plauen was already settled in the Bronze Age, but the first written record of the city was in 1122, when the oldest church (named Johanniskirche) was build. About 1224 Plauen has get the Town privileges. 1632 a big part of the city was destroyed in the Thirty Years' War. Since about 1830 Plauen grow because of the textile-industry. In the Second World Warabout three quarters of the city was destroyed by the United States Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force.

1989 Plauen was the first city in the German Democratic Republic were happens a big demonstration against the Government. This leads to the Wende.

Population change

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Plauen became a large city in 1904 when the population reached 100.000. In 1912 it reached its biggest ever population with 128.000.

After the Second World War Germany was divided. Plauen was in the border area. Laws about living in the border areas of East Germany meant the population fell greatly.

According to the statistics office of the Free State of Saxony, on 31 December 2009 Plauen's population was 66,412.

References

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  Media related to Plauen at Wikimedia Commons

  1. "Einwohnerzahlen nach Gemeinden als Excel-Arbeitsmappe" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2024.