Leer (district)

District in Lower Saxony, Germany

Flag

Coat of arms

CountryGermanyStateLower SaxonyCapitalLeerGovernment

• District admin.Matthias Groote (SPD)Area

• Total1,086 km² (419 sq mi)Population

(31 December 2022)^[1]

• Total174,348 • Density160/km² (420/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)Vehicle registrationLERWebsitelandkreis-leer.de

Leer is a district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the northwest and clockwise) the city of Emden, the districts of Aurich, Wittmund, Friesland, Ammerland, Cloppenburg and Emsland, and by the Netherlands (Province of Groningen).

History

In 1744, East Frisia was annexed by Prussia. In 1867, the region was subdivided into districts, and the districts of Leer and Weener were established. In 1932, these two districts were merged.

Geography

The District is located in the southern part of East Frisia. The Ems River runs through the District, coming out of the Emsland in the south and flowing into the Dollart, a bay of the North Sea. The island of Borkum, belonging to the East Frisian Islands, is also a part of the District. Some of the area of the District is in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is identical to the arms of the East Frisian chieftain dynasty Ukena, rulers of the area during the 15th century. Its blazon is: "Arms: Azure, a lion rampant dexter-facing Argent armed and langued Gules, collared by a wreath of leaves proper. Crown: two plumes of wheat Vert divided by a four-leaf clover proper at center."

Cities and municipalities

Cities	Samtgemeinden
Borkum Leer Weener Free municipalities Bunde Jemgum Moormerland Ostrhauderfehn Rhauderfehn Uplengen Westoverledingen	1. Hesel Brinkum Firrel Hesel¹ Holtland Neukamperfehn Schwerinsdorf 2. Jümme Detern Filsum¹ Nortmoor
	¹seat of the Samtgemeinde

Cities

Samtgemeinden

Free municipalities

1. Hesel

2. Jümme

¹seat of the Samtgemeinde

Unincorporated Area
The uninhabited island Lütje Hörn is also part of Leer district, but not part of any municipality (unincorporated area).

References

^ "LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank, Tabelle A100001G: Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes, Stand 31. Dezember 2022" (in German). Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen.