Around 1695 people lived here. That was the population of Äußere Krämpervorstadt in 2000. This area lies between Rathenaustraße in the west Leipziger Straße in the north and the railway lines in the east and south. It’s a mix of residential and commercial areas. Some areas are even lying fallow. The residential areas are mainly in the west. They date from different periods of the 20th century.
The Äußere Krämpervorstadt is part of Erfurt. It’s one of the city’s historical suburbs. It’s also a district of the Thuringian capital. It covers an area of 4.96 square kilometers. Around 17500 people live here. That’s the current population. The area is dominated by a well-preserved Gründerzeit district. This is located southwest near the goods station. The district developed around the turn of the 20th century. It features workers’ housing workshops and commercial buildings. The streets have a very uniform appearance.
The Äußere Krämpervorstadt is divided into two parts. West of the Nordhäuser and Sangerhäuser railway lines are large apartment buildings. These were built between 1880 and 1960. East of the railway lines with the Ringelberg is one of the largest single-family home settlements in the city. 11000 inhabitants live in the western part. 4000 live in the eastern part. The district is dominated by extensive railway lines and associated industrial areas. There’s also the campus of the Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. About 5000 students study there.
The Äußere Krämpervorstadt has a relatively high proportion of students. This makes it a young district demographically. Since reunification the old town quarters have been significantly upgraded. This was through renovations and other urban development measures. Some industries have been shut down. This created some new wasteland.
The name Krämpervorstadt comes from its location in front of the Krämpfertor gate. The gate probably got its name from the Kaufmannskirche am Anger. Krämpfer is a synonym for merchant similar to Krämer. The Äußere Krämpervorstadt continues to evolve. There are plans for further development. This includes turning mixed-use and industrial areas into residential areas. The goal is to attract around 3000 additional residents. This project is linked to the development of ICE-City Ost. This is planned for the old goods station to the south. A new tram line from the main station through the district to the old Nordhäuser station on Leipziger Straße is also under discussion. The long-term planning horizon is 2035 for the completion of all projects. The Äußere Krämpervorstadt offers a fascinating blend of history industry and modern life. It’s a district undergoing transformation. Its future is full of potential.