Curious about the district with the second-highest population density in Germany? That’s Main-Taunus-Kreis. Main-Taunus-Kreis is located in the middle of Hessen. It is part of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. Main-Taunus-Kreis is also part of the Frankfurt urban area.
Before Napoleon’s time, Main-Taunus-Kreis was divided into small states. These states included the Archbishopric of Mainz. Another was ruled by the Lords of Eppstein. Later, the Landgraves of Hesse-Darmstadt succeeded them.
In 1806, the area united as part of the Duchy of Nassau. Prussia annexed it in 1866. The Main-Taunus district formed in 1928. Wiesbaden and Frankfurt annexed nearby areas. The remaining areas were too small to survive alone. These areas merged into the Main-Taunus district. Some adjoining areas in the north joined too.
In 1972, the northern part went to the Hochtaunus district. In 1977, the westernmost parts became part of Wiesbaden. They also became part of the new Rheingau-Taunus district. In 1980, the administrative seat moved to Hofheim from Frankfurt-Höchst.
Main-Taunus-Kreis covers the southern part of the Taunus mountains. The Main river forms part of its southern border. It is the smallest rural district in Germany by area.
The upper part of the Main-Taunus-Kreis coat of arms shows Mainz’s wheel. The bottom part shows the Eppstein’s bars.
The Main-Taunus-Kreis is known for its wealthy population. Real estate has high rental rates here. In 2021, Main-Taunus-Kreis had the fifth-highest purchasing power index in Germany. In 2020, its purchasing power index was 129.9 of the national average. Bad Soden am Taunus and Kelkheim have the highest per capita incomes in Main-Taunus-Kreis. They rank among the top nationwide.
The Main-Taunus-Kreis borders the Hochtaunuskreis. It also borders Frankfurt, Groß-Gerau, Wiesbaden, and Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis.
In the Middle Ages, part of Main-Taunus-Kreis belonged to Eppstein. Part belonged to Kurmainz. From 1803, it belonged to Nassau-Usingen. From 1806, it belonged to the Duchy of Nassau. After the Prussian annexation in 1866, it became part of the province of Hessen-Nassau.
Due to population growth in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, the region needed reorganization. On April 1, 1928, several municipalities from the districts of Höchst and Wiesbaden were incorporated into the neighboring cities. Both districts lost most of their inhabitants. The remaining municipalities, along with some from the Obertaunus, Usingen and Untertaunus districts, were merged into a new district named Main-Taunus-Kreis.
In 1945, the Main-Taunus-Kreis became part of the state of Hessen.
Between 1972 and 1977, the district’s borders and internal structure changed. On December 31, 1971, nine municipalities joined Hofheim, Flörsheim, Hattersheim and Eschborn. The municipalities of Reifenberg, Liederbach am Taunus and Rossert were also newly formed.
On January 1, 1977, municipalities that were unwilling to merge were assigned to neighboring towns by state law. This affected ten old municipalities and the five-year-old municipality of Rossert.
In 2015, Main-Taunus-Kreis declared a state of emergency due to a short-term intake of refugees.
The Main-Taunus-Kreis is home to people from 154 nations. Around 2,300 Koreans live there forming Germany’s largest Korean community.
According to the 2011 census, 27.3% of residents were Protestant. 31.2% were Roman Catholic. 41.5% were non-denominational or belonged to another faith.
The Main-Taunus-Kreis has partnerships with the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in England and Loudoun County in Virginia.
Economically, Main-Taunus-Kreis benefits from its central location. The service sector dominates its economy. Towns in the east attract companies from Frankfurt with lower taxes.
The A 66 is the main traffic artery. It connects Main-Taunus-Kreis with Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. The A 3 connects the area to the Netherlands and the Rhine-Ruhr region.
Seven railway lines run through Main-Taunus-Kreis. All twelve municipalities have rail access. Frankfurt Airport is nearby.
The Main-Taunus-Kreis combines urban advantages with recreation. You will find art, culture, wines, and hiking routes.