Aabenraa Municipality
Encyclopedia
Aabenraa Municipality or Åbenrå Municipality is a municipality (Danish
, kommune) in Region of Southern Denmark in south-western Denmark
. It has existed in its current form since 1 January 2007 following a merger of several smaller municipalities. The municipality has an area of 951 km² and a total population of 60,189 (2008). The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Aabenraa
. The mayor is Tove Larsen representing the Social Democrats
.
The island of Barsø
is located to the northwest of the municipality, and is connected by ferry
service from the town of Løjt Kirkeby. A relatively great part of the German minority in Denmark lives in Aabenraa, where their German-language daily Der Nordschleswiger is published.
From 1864 to 1920, the region was part of Prussia
, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein
, and as such part of the North German Confederation
and, from 1871 onwards, part of the German Empire
. It was formerly the seat of, respectively the German Kreis Apenrade and the Danish Aabenraa County
.
to the south and east, and Rødekro
and Tinglev
to the west. As it was partially located on a peninsula, it was surrounded by water on three sides: at the southern side of the peninsula by Aabenraa Fjord opening up to the Little Belt
east of the peninsula; at the northern side by Genner Bay (Genner Bugt). in South Jutland County
on the east coast of the Jutland
peninsula in south Denmark
. The municipality, including the island of Barsø
, covered an area of 129 km² with a total population of 22,132 (2005). Its last mayor was Poul Thomsen, a member of the Venstre
(Liberal Party) political party
.
A new Aabenraa municipality was formed on 1 January 2007 as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007) where the former municipality merged with Bov
, Lundtoft
, Rødekro
, and Tinglev
.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
, kommune) in Region of Southern Denmark in south-western Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It has existed in its current form since 1 January 2007 following a merger of several smaller municipalities. The municipality has an area of 951 km² and a total population of 60,189 (2008). The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Aabenraa
Aabenraa
The city of Aabenraa or Åbenrå , with a population of 15,760 , is situated at the head of the Aabenraa Fjord, an arm of the Little Belt, in Denmark, 38 miles north of the town of Schleswig. Its name originally meant "open beach"...
. The mayor is Tove Larsen representing the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
.
The island of Barsø
Barsø
Barsø is a small island which is part of the Aabenraa municipality in South Jutland County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark.-See also:* Nearby islands: Als, Funen, Bågø, Lyø, Drejø....
is located to the northwest of the municipality, and is connected by ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service from the town of Løjt Kirkeby. A relatively great part of the German minority in Denmark lives in Aabenraa, where their German-language daily Der Nordschleswiger is published.
From 1864 to 1920, the region was part of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein
Province of Schleswig-Holstein
The Province of Schleswig-Holstein was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1868 to 1946. It was created from the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which had been conquered by Prussia and the Austrian Empire from Denmark in the Second War of Schleswig in 1864...
, and as such part of the North German Confederation
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation 1866–71, was a federation of 22 independent states of northern Germany. It was formed by a constitution accepted by the member states in 1867 and controlled military and foreign policy. It included the new Reichstag, a parliament elected by universal manhood...
and, from 1871 onwards, part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. It was formerly the seat of, respectively the German Kreis Apenrade and the Danish Aabenraa County
Aabenraa County
Aabenraa County is a former province in Denmark, located on the east-central region of South Jutland. Aabenraa County was established in 1920 following the reunification of Denmark and South Jutland following the Schleswig Plebiscites. It was dissolved in 1970 when it merged with three other...
.
Former municipality
The 1970-2006 Aabenraa municipality was bordered by the municipality of LundtoftLundtoft
Until January 1, 2007 Lundtoft was a municipality in South Jutland County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 137 km², and had a total population of 6,184 . Its last mayor was Hans Philip Tietje, a member of the Venstre political party...
to the south and east, and Rødekro
Rødekro
Rødekro is a town with a population of 6,098 and a former municipality in Aabenraa municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The former Rødekro municipality covered an area of 202 km², and had a total population of 11,695...
and Tinglev
Tinglev
Tinglev is a town with a population of 2,816 in Aabenraa municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark....
to the west. As it was partially located on a peninsula, it was surrounded by water on three sides: at the southern side of the peninsula by Aabenraa Fjord opening up to the Little Belt
Little Belt
The Little Belt is a strait between the Danish island of Funen and the Jutland Peninsula.The belt is about 50 km long and 800m to 28 km wide, the maximum depth is approximately 75 m, and contains numerous small Danish islands....
east of the peninsula; at the northern side by Genner Bay (Genner Bugt). in South Jutland County
South Jutland County
South Jutland County is a former county on the south-central portion of the Jutland Peninsula in southern Denmark....
on the east coast of the Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
peninsula in south Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The municipality, including the island of Barsø
Barsø
Barsø is a small island which is part of the Aabenraa municipality in South Jutland County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark.-See also:* Nearby islands: Als, Funen, Bågø, Lyø, Drejø....
, covered an area of 129 km² with a total population of 22,132 (2005). Its last mayor was Poul Thomsen, a member of the Venstre
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
(Liberal Party) political party
Politics of Denmark
The Politics of Denmark takes place in a framework of a parliamentary, representative democratic, constitutional monarchy, in which the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system...
.
A new Aabenraa municipality was formed on 1 January 2007 as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007) where the former municipality merged with Bov
Bov municipality
Until January 1, 2007, Bov municipality , was a municipality in South Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 148 km², and had a total population of 9,992 . Its last mayor was Jens Aage Helmig, a member of the Venstre political party...
, Lundtoft
Lundtoft
Until January 1, 2007 Lundtoft was a municipality in South Jutland County on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 137 km², and had a total population of 6,184 . Its last mayor was Hans Philip Tietje, a member of the Venstre political party...
, Rødekro
Rødekro
Rødekro is a town with a population of 6,098 and a former municipality in Aabenraa municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The former Rødekro municipality covered an area of 202 km², and had a total population of 11,695...
, and Tinglev
Tinglev
Tinglev is a town with a population of 2,816 in Aabenraa municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark....
.
Government and politics
Distribution of the 33 seats in the municipal council:- Social DemocratsSocial Democrats (Denmark)The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
14 - VenstreVenstre (Denmark)VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
10 - Socialist People's PartySocialist People's Party (Denmark)The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
2 - Danish People's PartyDanish People's PartyThe Danish People's Party is a political party in Denmark which is frequently described as right-wing populist by political scientists and commentators. The party is led by Pia Kjærsgaard...
2 - Schleswig Party 2
- Conservative People's PartyConservative People's Party (Denmark)The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
1