Hainichen is a market town in Saxony, Germany. It is located on the river Kleine Striegis and about 15 miles (24 kilometres) north-east of Chemnitz. Hainichen has been shaped by its industrial past.

Hainichen
Hainichen town hall
Hainichen town hall
Coat of arms of Hainichen
Location of Hainichen within Mittelsachsen district
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Hainichen is located in Germany
Hainichen
Hainichen
Hainichen is located in Saxony
Hainichen
Hainichen
Coordinates: 50°58′11″N 13°7′31″E / 50.96972°N 13.12528°E / 50.96972; 13.12528
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictMittelsachsen
Government
 • Mayor (2018–25) Dieter Greysinger[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total51.57 km2 (19.91 sq mi)
Elevation
304 m (997 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total8,448
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
09661
Dialling codes037207
Vehicle registrationFG, BED, DL, FLÖ, HC, MW, RL
Websitewww.hainichen.de

History

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From the foundation until industrial revolution

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A first settlement had been mentioned in 1276 (748 years ago) (1276) as villa forensis Heynichen.

Hainichen used to be a place of considerable industry. Its primary manufacture was once that of flannels, baize, and similar fabrics; at the time it may have been called the centre of this industry in Germany.[3]

On April 23, 1800, a F5/TORRO10 tornado devastated Arnsdorf, Dittersdorf and Etzdorf, near Hainichen. Despite its strength, there were no deaths.[4]

The Gellert institution for the poor was established in 1815.[3]

In 1933, a production plant for small delivery vans and minibuses called Framo moved from nearby Frankenberg to Hainichen. Since then, the automotive industry has been the most important employer.

Nazi era

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An early concentration camp, Hainichen concentration camp, was established in April 1933 and dissolute in June 1933. During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenbürg concentration camp was located here, housing female prisoners working for the Framo enterprise.[5]

The former plant of the Framo company was nationalized. The 1960s saw a reingeneering of delivery vans and minibuses under the Barkas B1000 brand. Hainichen became a major producer of parts for these cars.

After reunification

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Production of the B1000 delivery vans and minibuses ceased in 1991.

Population statistics

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Source:[6]

Typical for a market town in the east of Germany, Hainichen faces the demographic problem of a steadily declining population.

Year Population
1834 4,623
1933 8,047
1960 11,188
1998 10,405
1999 10,266


Year Population
2000 10,061
2001 9,888
2002 9,744
2003 9,628
2004 9,554


Year Population
2005 9,502
2008 9,131
2010 8,876
2012 8,714


 
Hainichen Market place

Leisure and tourism

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Sites and buildings of interest

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Hainichen is home of a camera obscura.

Other important sights are the Gellert museum (literature museum), Tuchmacherhaus (clothier museum) and a communal park. Hainichen is surrounded by the beautiful valleys of the river Striegis.

Sports

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Hainichen has a communal sports centre with a small indoor pool, a communal outdoor swimming pool and a bowling centre. Also, there is a cycling track nearby.

Industry

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Hainichen is characterised by small and medium-sized businesses. The largest employer is the car parts maker Metalsa Automotive Hainichen GmbH (formerly ISE Industries Hainichen GmbH) (429 employees in 2005).

Districts

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Areas of the city include

  • Bockendorf,
  • Cunnersdorf,
  • Eulendorf,
  • Gersdorf,
  • Falkenau,
  • Riechberg,
  • Siegfried,
  • Schlegel and
  • Berthelsdorf.

International relations

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Hainichen is twinned with:

Famous citizens

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Christian Fürchtegott Gellert in 1752
 
Friedrich Gottlob Keller

More sons and daughters of the town

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References

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  1. ^ Bürgermeisterwahlen 2018, Freistaat Sachsen, accessed 10 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Einwohnerzahlen nach Gemeinden als Excel-Arbeitsmappe" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2024.
  3. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hainichen" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 822.
  4. ^ "Tornado in Hainichen am 23.04.1800". tornadoliste.de. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  5. ^ Christine O'Keefe. Concentration Camps
  6. ^ Source from 1998 onwards: Statistical office of Saxony Numbers from 1960 onwards per 31 December.
  7. ^ "List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District" (PDF). Twins2010.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
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