Hockenheim is one of the six largest towns in theRhein-Neckar-Kreis district; since 1999 the number of inhabitants exceeded the 20,000 threshold, thus the town received the status of a regional central town (Große Kreisstadt) in 2001. It is twinned with the French town ofCommercy, the German town ofHohenstein-Ernstthal inSaxony and the American town ofMooresville, North Carolina.
Hockenheim is located in theUpper Rhine valley on an old trade route fromFrankfurt toBasel. The brookKraichbach divides the town in an eastern and a smaller western area, and flows into theRhine to the north nearKetsch. Hockenheim's totalmunicipal area covers 3,484 ha, with ca. 28.8 percent used for settlement and transportation and ca. 45.9 percent for agriculture. The remaining area consists of ca. 22 percent forests and ca. 2.4 percent rivers and seas.[3]
The municipal area is divided into two large natural regions, the "Rheinaue" to the west and the slightly higher "Niederterrasse" to the east. The so-called "Hockenheimer Rheinbogen" is ameander area of the Rhine, which stretches over the municipalities of Ketsch, Hockenheim and Altlußheim. 30 parts of it with a total of 656 ha are under nature conservation. An additional area three times larger is designated as landscape conservation area, with less strict usage limitations. The "Rheinbogen" offers biologically diverse, secondary wetlands as habitat for endangered plants and animals, it is also an internationally important resting and feeding area for migrating birds in winter.[4]
The central urban area forms one unit and is only divided into five districts for statistical purposes. Together with the central town several small settlements belong to Hockenheim: the industrial areas "Bahnstation Talhaus" and "Wasserwerk", the farms and houses "Insultheimerhof", "Herrenteich, Ziegelei" and "Ketschau, Ziegelei" as well as the deserted settlement "Westeheim".
Stamped bricks of theRomanLegio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix were found 1984 in a brick kiln during an excavation in Hockenheim. The stationing of this legion nearMainz from 71AD until 92AD indicates an early settlement in this area.[5] Hockenheim was first mentioned 769 as "Ochinheim" in a donation document of theLorsch Codex, an early monastery gift documentation. The name "Hockenheim" itself appeared first in 1238 in official documents. In theMiddle Ages Hockenheim was owned by several alternating local authorities: the castle district Wersau, theDiocese of Speyer during the 12th and 13th century, variousPalatinate ("Pfalz") rulers since 1286 and theElectoral Palatinate ("Kurpfalz") since 1462.
In the 17th century Hockenheim was severely devastated twice by French troops, 1644 in theThirty Years' War and 1674 in theFranco-Dutch War. During this period the former cultivation ofhops in the area was partly replaced withtobacco, brought into the country by the French. 1803 the Electoral Palatinate was dissolved and the village was integrated inBaden. With the growing tobacco crop the village flourished and was awarded town rights on 22 July 1895 byFrederick I, Grand Duke of Baden.
The opening of theRhine railway throughBaden in 1870 led to the town's connection to railway network.[6] With the beginning of the 20th centuryasparagus cultivation replaced most of the remaining hops industry. At 29 May 1932 the Hockenheimring was opened with a motorcycle race. AfterWorld War II the decline of the cigar industry had begun, but Hockenheim was already known for its Hockenheimring and could expand in other industrial branches. January 1973 Hockenheim was assigned to the newly formedRhein-Neckar-Kreis district.
In 1986, theMannheim to Stuttgart high-speed railway was built through the town.[7] In order to provide an interconnection between the high-speed line and the classic Rhine railway, the latter was moved west by 130 metres (430 ft) and the land freed up by the removal of the old alignment was converted into a public park.[7][8] In 1991, Hockenheim was the host of the 11thBaden-Württemberg State Horticultural Show, utilising this new space.
The town is led by theLord Mayor ("Oberbürgermeister"), who is elected directly by the population every 8 years; since 2004 this office is held by Dieter Gummer (SPD). Its Permanent Representative is the "Erste Beigeordnete", with the office designation of mayor ("Bürgermeister"). As of thelocal election on 25 May 2014, the local council of Hockenheim consists of 22 members, who hold the title "Stadtraetin/Stadtrat", and the Lord Mayor presiding the council.
In 1975 the Hockenheim government agreed upon amunicipal association ("Verwaltungsgemeinschaft") with the neighboring villagesAltlußheim,Neulußheim andReilingen. Hockenheim is one of the six largest towns in the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district; since 1999 the number of inhabitants exceeds the 20,000 threshold, thus the town received the status of a regional central town ("Große Kreisstadt") in 2001.
Adopted in 1609, thecoat of arms of Hockenheim has diagonally crossed silver hooks in a sign, below a crowned golden lion. The lion is the animal of the Electoral Palatinate, to which Hockenheim belonged; the hooks are probably derived from the place name. The form of the symbols was changed several times, but has been specified in its current form by municipal law since 1895.
TheHockenheimring, a motor racing course built in 1932, has become the home of theFormula OneGerman Grand Prix. It has hosted this event over 30 times since 1970, including every year between 1986 and 2006. Since 2007 Formula One races in Germany are alternating annually between the Hockenheimring and theNürburgring; Hockenheim hosts the event on even years. The course is also used for several other motor racing events andopen-air concerts. After Nurburgring's withdrawal from 2015,Hockenheimring started hostingGerman Grand Prix annually since 2018. However, the track ownership and management and Formula One Management have not yet agreed a deal to extend the track's holding of the German Grand Prix beyond 2019. So far the track has not been utilised for the Grand Prix ever since (as of the 2026 formula one calendar).
A museum for tobacco cultivation was founded 1984 as the first of its kind in Baden-Württemberg. Themotorsport museum opened near the Hockenheimring in 1986 and shows over 200 exhibits of historical motorcycles and engines. The "Gartenschaupark" was created in 1991 to host the State Horticultural Show and is, with an area of 16ha, Hockenheim's largest park.
Hockenheim's landmark is thewater tower, constructed in 1910 inArt Nouveau. Other buildings of historical significance include theProtestant town church, a 1906Neo-baroque building by architectHermann Behaghel, and the Catholic Church (1910), done in Art Nouveau with a high tower, byJohannes Schroth. The old Catholic church, with aclassical hall (1817) and a lateGothic choir tower (1490), serves as a community center today.
^(in German) Ulrich Brandl und Emmi Federhofer:Ton + Technik. Römische Ziegel. Theiss, Stuttgart 2010,ISBN978-3-8062-2403-0 (Schriften des Limesmuseums Aalen. Nr. 61)
^abMüller, Karl (1904).Die badische Eisenbahn in historisch-statistischer Darstellung (in German). Heidelberger Verlagsanstalt und Druckerei. p. 157.
^abcProjektgruppe M/S der Bahnbauzentrale, ed. (January 1986).Neubaustrecke Mannheim–Stuttgart: Ein Konzept für uns alle (in German). Karlsruhe. p. 13.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (28-page brochure)
^"Abschluß der Pflanzarbeiten am neuen Bahnhof Hockenheim".Die Bundesbahn (in German).65 (2): 190. 1989.ISSN0007-5876.
^"Abfahrt Hockenheim" [Departure Hockenheim](PDF). DB AG. 29 May 2024. Retrieved26 August 2024.
