Steglitz-Zehlendorf (German: [ˌʃteːɡˌlɪt͡s ˈt͡seːlənˌdɔʁf] ) is the sixth borough of Berlin, formed in Berlin's 2001 administrative reform by merging the former boroughs of Steglitz and Zehlendorf.

Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Flag of Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Coat of arms of Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Location of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin
Steglitz-Zehlendorf is located in Germany
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Steglitz-Zehlendorf is located in Berlin
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Coordinates: 52°26′N 13°15′E / 52.433°N 13.250°E / 52.433; 13.250
CountryGermany
StateBerlin
CityBerlin
Subdivisions8 localities
Government
 • Borough MayorMaren Schellenberg (Greens)
Area
 • Total102.5 km2 (39.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[1]
 • Total310,446
 • Density3,000/km2 (7,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
12157, 12161, 12163, 12165, 12167, 12169, 12203, 12205, 12207, 12209, 12247, 12249, 14109, 14129, 14163, 14165, 14167, 14169, 14193, 14195
Vehicle registrationB
WebsiteOfficial homepage

Home to the Free University of Berlin, the Berlin Botanical Garden, and a variety of museums and art collections, Steglitz-Zehlendorf is an important hub for research, science and culture in Berlin. It is known to be the wealthiest borough of Berlin, having the city's highest median household income.[2]

History

edit

The first mention of a present-day locality in the district by name was Lankwitz (Lancewitz) in 1239. It is assumed that Slavic and German settlements were established at the Schlachtensee and Krumme Lanke lakes after 1200 at the latest. The first documented mention of Zehlendorf (then Cedelendorp) dates back to 1242. Here the Lehnin Abbey bought the settlement and kept it until 1542. Frederick the Great donated a church to the village in 1768 during a stopover on the journey from the Berlin Palace to the Sanssouci Palace. The settlement was located halfway between the two places, which gave the village an economic boost through its function as a relay station. Steglitz also originated in the first half of the 13th century as a Linear settlement. At the end of this century the wooden church was replaced with the village church Steglitz. It stood until the 19th century, when it was replaced by Matthew's Church.[3]

Today's double district is still characterized by connecting infrastructure between Berlin and Potsdam. For example, the first section of the Reichsstraße 1 was routed through Steglitz and Zehlendorf (paved in 1792). In 1838, the Stammbahn was opened parallel to this. This development of the suburbs led to a strong growth of the settlements. Steglitz became the largest rural municipality in Prussia around 1900 with 80,000 inhabitants. The former districts of Steglitz and Zehlendorf were formed in 1920 during the formation of Greater Berlin from previously independent rural communities and estate districts of the Teltow district. The entire area of the present district belonged to the American Sector of Berlin after the Second World War from 1945 to 1990, together with the districts of Tempelhof, Schöneberg, Neukölln and Kreuzberg. In 2001, the two formerly independent districts were merged to form the district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf as part of Berlin's administrative reform. In December 2020, the new Locality Schlachtensee was founded on the initiative of local residents.[4]

Demographics

edit

As of 2021, Steglitz-Zehlendorf had a population of roughly 306 000, making it the fifth most populous out of Berlin's twelve boroughs. The median age was 46,5, the highest of all Berlin boroughs. 28,8% of Steglitz-Zehlendorf residents had a migration background, lying under the Berlin average of 36%.[5]

Steglitz-Zehlendorf has the highest number of Abitur (secondary education degree) graduates in Berlin. The borough also has the highest median household income and the lowest unemployment rate in Berlin. With 15% of Steglitz-Zehlendorf households making more than 200% of the German national median income, it is the wealthiest Berlin borough.[2]

Percentage of the population with migration background[6]
Germans without migration background/Ethnic Germans 76% (223.400)
Germans with migration background/Foreigners 24% (70.600)
– Middle Eastern/Muslim migration background (Turkey, Arab League, Iran etc.) 4.5% (13.200)
– Polish migration background 3.0% (9.800)
Yugoslavian migration background 1.5% (4.000)
Afro-German/African background 1.1% (3.000)
– Others ( Greeks, Italians, East Asians etc.) 14.0% (40.600)

Subdivision

edit
 
Subdivisions of Steglitz-Zehlendorf

Since December 2020, the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough consists of eight localities:

Localities
and Neighborhoods
0601 Steglitz
0602 Lichterfelde
0603 Lankwitz
0604 Zehlendorf
0605 Dahlem
0606 Nikolassee
0607 Wannsee
0608 Schlachtensee

Politics

edit

District council

edit

The governing body of Steglitz-Zehlendorf is the district council (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung). It has responsibility for passing laws and electing the city government, including the mayor. The most recent district council election was held on 26 September 2021, and the results were as follows:

Party Lead candidate Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Cerstin Richter-Kotowski 48,961 27.2   1.2 17 ±0
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) Maren Schellenberg 40,184 22.4   2.7 14   3
Social Democratic Party (SPD) Carolina Böhm 39,079 21.7   0.8 13 ±0
Free Democratic Party (FDP) Mathia Specht-Habbel 16,997 9.5   0.4 5 ±0
Alternative for Germany (AfD) Peer Döhnert 9,245 5.1   5.4 3   3
The Left (LINKE) Pia Imhof-Speckmann 9,007 5.0   1.0 3 ±0
Tierschutzpartei 4,503 2.5 New 0 New
dieBasis 2,750 1.5 New 0 New
Volt Germany 2,595 1.4 New 0 New
Die PARTEI 2,332 1.3 New 0 New
Free Voters 1,797 1.0 New 0 New
Klimaliste 911 0.5 New 0 New
Pirate Party Germany 832 0.5   1.9 0 ±0
The Humanists 503 0.3 New 0 New
Valid votes 179,696 99.2
Invalid votes 1,431 0.8
Total 181,127 100.0 55 ±0
Electorate/voter turnout 234,324 77.3   6.1
Source: Elections Berlin

District government

edit

The district mayor (Bezirksbürgermeister) is elected by the Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, and positions in the district government (Bezirksamt) are apportioned based on party strength. Maren Schellenberg of the Greens was elected mayor on 8 December 2021. Since the 2021 municipal elections, the composition of the district government is as follows:

Councillor Party Portfolio
Maren Schellenberg GRÜNE District Mayor
Finance, Staff, Economic Development and Logistics
Cerstin Richter-Kotowski CDU Deputy Mayor
Education, Culture and Sport
Urban Aykal GRÜNE Public Order, Environment, Roads and Green Spaces
Michael Karnetzki SPD Urban Development
Tim Richter CDU Civil Service and Social Affairs
Carolina Böhm SPD Youth and Health
Source: Berlin.de

Landmarks

edit
edit

Education

edit
 
Japanische Internationale Schule zu Berlin

Gymnasiums

edit

Locations for science

edit

Twin towns – sister cities

edit

Steglitz-Zehlendorf is twinned with:[8]


In 2020 Steglitz-Zehlendorf dissociated itself from its twin town of Kazimierz Dolny in Poland because the latter declared itself an LGBT free zone.[9] There is a debate about terminating the partnership.

People

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Einwohnerinnen und Einwohner im Land Berlin am 31. Dezember 2023". Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg. February 2024.
  2. ^ a b ""Soziale Lage im Bezirk Mitte" - Der Sozialbericht Mitte 2018 ist jetzt online". www.berlin.de (in German). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Chronik Zehlendorf". www.berlin.de (in German). 23 June 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Steglitz im Wandel der Geschichte". www.berlin.de (in German). 2 March 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Einwohnerbestand Berlin – Grunddaten". www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de (in German). Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  6. ^ (in German) Steglitz-Zehlendorf on statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de
  7. ^ Home page. Japanische Internationale Schule zu Berlin. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Beauftragte für Partnerschaften". berlin.de (in German). Berlin. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  9. ^ Zeitung, Berliner. ""LGBT-freie Zone" in Polen: Steglitz-Zehlendorf will Partnerschaft nicht aufkündigen". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
edit