Portal:Germany/Selected city/2007/1

Essen is a city in the center of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located on the Ruhr River, its population of approximately 584,295 (as of December 31, 2005) makes it the 7th- or 8th-largest city in Germany. The city was recently appointed European Capital of Culture for 2010 and is both member of and seat to several regional development organizations, most importantly the Regionalverband Ruhrgebiet.

Formerly one of Germany's most important coal and steel centers, Essen has developed a strong tertiary sector of industry and is home to 13 of the 100 largest German corporations. Due to its industrial history, the city was chosen in 1958 to serve as the seat of a Roman Catholic diocese, the Diocese of Essen (Ruhrbistum). In early 2003, the universities of Essen and its neighboring city of Duisburg (both established in 1972) were merged into the University of Duisburg-Essen with campuses in both cities and a university hospital in Essen. More...