Selters, Rhineland-Palatinate

Selters is a town in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Selters is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Selters, a kind of collective municipality.

Selters
Coat of arms of Selters
Location of Selters within Westerwaldkreis district
Selters is located in Germany
Selters
Selters
Selters is located in Rhineland-Palatinate
Selters
Selters
Coordinates: 50°31′56″N 7°45′26″E / 50.53222°N 7.75722°E / 50.53222; 7.75722
CountryGermany
StateRhineland-Palatinate
DistrictWesterwaldkreis
Municipal assoc.Selters (Westerwald)
Government
 • Mayor (2019–24) Rolf Jung[1]
Area
 • Total8.71 km2 (3.36 sq mi)
Elevation
248 m (814 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total2,937
 • Density340/km2 (870/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
56242
Dialling codes02626
Vehicle registrationWW
Websitewww.stadt-selters-westerwald.de

Geography

edit

The city is located in the Westerwald between Koblenz and Siegen, roughly 12 km northwest of Montabaur, and 25 km northeast of Koblenz.

History

edit

In 1194/1198, Selters had its first documentary mention as Saltres. On 9 November 1938, the synagogue was burnt down. In October 1939, Selters was “Jew-free”. Only the Jewish graveyard on the Wacht still bears witness to the Jews’ history in Selters. On 15 October 2000, the then community of Selters, by decision of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, was granted town rights.

Religion

edit

Catholic Church

edit

The Roman Catholic parish of Saint Boniface has existed only since the late 19th century. In 1892, the parish’s own church was consecrated, which was built in neo-Gothic style. In November 1965, owing to the church building’s unsoundness, it was torn down, and on the land a new, modern church was built. Beneath this church is found the parish centre with meeting and event rooms. In the parish church, the relics of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows are kept and worshipped. Particular stress is the devotion to church music and youth work. Many musical groups busy themselves, without pay, in the parish and enrich church services with their musical pieces. Since August 2009, the priest Marcus W. Fischer has headed the parish.

Evangelical Church

edit

The Evangelical parish in Selters has owned its own church since 1842. This building’s side wings also housed the Selters elementary school until 1958. The same rooms are now used by the town administration. In 1850, the Evangelical parish got its first pastor. In 1963, a kindergarten and a parish centre were dedicated. Since 2006, Mr. Wehrmann has been the one responsible for leading the parish.

Politics

edit

The town council is made up of 22 council members, as well as the honorary and presiding mayor (Ortsbürgermeister), who were elected in a municipal election on 13 June 2004.

Apportionment of seats on town council:

SPD CDU BLS Total
2004 5 10 7 22 seats

Economy and infrastructure

edit

The town lies west of Bundesstraße 8, leading from Limburg an der Lahn to Siegburg. Selters also lies right near the Autobahnen A 3 (CologneFrankfurt) and A 48 (to Koblenz). The nearest InterCityExpress stop is the railway station at Montabaur on the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed rail line.

Notable people

edit

Sources

edit

Landjuden in Selters/Westerwald. In: Nassauische Annalen, Bd. 108. Wiesbaden 1997, S. 169-183. Erinnern für die Zukunft. 60 Jahre nach der Befreiung von der Nazi-Herrschaft im Westerwald

References

edit
  1. ^ Direktwahlen 2019, Westerwaldkreis, Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand 2022, Kreise, Gemeinden, Verbandsgemeinden" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz. 2023.