From village to city: Looking back at developments since 1965
On September 12, 1965, Griesheim was granted city rights in a ceremonial ceremony. Sixty years ago, the newly proclaimed city had approximately 15,000 residents. Mayor Bohl had requested the grant as a sign of the continued development of the community, which was first documented in 1165.
Requirements for city rights
In the 1960s, whether a community became a city depended on its population and infrastructure. Dense population, churches, schools, doctors, shopping facilities, and an efficient administration were expected. Recreational amenities also played a role. In Griesheim, these included, among other things, the outdoor swimming pool, which opened in 1957 .
the then Hessian Minister of the Interior, Heinrich Schneider, praised the post-war reconstruction efforts, the integration of numerous displaced persons and the further development of the infrastructure.
Historical insights
The then head of the main office and historian Karl Knapp documented the development in 1965. According to this figure, a total of 14,833 people in Griesheim (excluding stationed military personnel) as of January 31, 1965. Knapp described the community as a "garden city" with a dispersed development pattern.
Agriculture was still present: 141 livestock farms, including 143 dairy cows, dominated the landscape. At the same time, mechanization increasingly displaced horses. Technologization also took hold – around 500 telephone lines were registered, and their capacity was fully utilized.
Transport and infrastructure
Griesheim benefited from good transport links. Its proximity to the Frankfurt–Mannheim motorway and the Darmstadt–Worms rail line facilitated access. The train station was easily accessible on the northern edge of the residential area. However, the railway line was closed in 1970, just five years after the town's status.
More information on the history of the town's rights can be found on the official websites of the Griesheim Historical Society and the town of Griesheim .
(Griesheim - Red/PSG)
Photos: City of Griesheim
