Wels
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Blofeld of SPECTRE
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{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox Ort in Österreich
|Art = Stadt
|Name = Wels
|Wappen = <!-- Wappen.png -->
|Wappengröße = <!-- Nur wenn kleiner als 100 -->
|lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 09 | lat_sec = 0
|lon_deg = 14 | lon_min = 01 | lon_sec = 0
|Bundesland = Oberösterreich
|Bezirk = Statutarstadt
|Höhe = 317
|Fläche = 45.92
|Einwohner = 58146
|Stand = 2005-01-01
|PLZ = 4600-4606
|Vorwahl = 07242
|Kfz = WE
|Gemeindekennziffer = 40 301
|Website = [http://www.wels.at www.wels.at]
|Bürgermeister = Peter Koits
|Partei = SPÖ
}}
'''Wels''' is the second largest [[city]] of the [[States of Austria|state]] of [[Upper Austria]], located in the north of [[Austria]], upon the [[Traun River|Traun]] River near [[Linz]]. It is not part of its surrounding ''Wels County'' (''[[Wels-Land|Bezirk Wels-Land]]''), but a so-called [[Statutarstadt]] (independent city). However, Wels is the [[county seat]] of [[Wels-Land]].
== Geography ==
Wels is located in the [[Hausruckviertel]] at an elevation of 317 m. From north to south, it extends over 9.5 km, from west to east over 9.6 km. 3.4% of the area are covered with forest, 23.5% are used for agriculture.
The town comprises the following boroughs: Aichberg, Au, Berg, Brandln, Dickerldorf, Doppelgraben, Eben, Gaßl, Höllwiesen, Hölzl, Kirchham, Laahen, Lichtenegg, Mitterlaab, Nöham, Niederthan, Oberhaid, Oberhart, Oberlaab, Oberthan, Pernau, Puchberg, Roithen, Rosenau, Schafwiesen, Stadlhof, Trausenegg, Unterleithen, Waidhausen, Wels, Wimpassing, Wispl.
[[Image:Panorama Wels 2.jpg|left|460px]]
== History ==
The area of Wels has been settled since the [[Neolithic]] era and gained importance in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times because of its central location in the province of [[Noricum]]. Around the year [[120]], Wels received Roman [[city]] rights under the name of ''Municipium Ovilava''. Around [[215]], it was named ''Colonia Aurelia Antoniana Ovilabis'' by Emperor [[Caracalla]]. At that time, the city already had 18,000 inhabitants. However, Wels completely lost its importance with the end of Roman rule.
Wels seved as a minjor trading center during the [[Middle Ages]].
In [[1222]], during the rule of the [[Babenberger]] family, Wels again received city rights. A document dating to [[1328]] provides evidence for Wels' important role as the location of a market. Its endowment with economic privileges, and its advantageous position upon several [[rivers]] allowed it to gain an important position in the region.
[[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Maximilian I]] died in Wels on [[January 12]], [[1519]], after having been denied access to [[Innsbruck]] by its citizens.
During [[World War II]], a subcamp of [[Mauthausen concentration camp]] was located here.<ref>Christine O'Keefe.''Concentration Camps.''www.tartanplace.com/tartanhistory/concentrationcamps.html</ref>
On [[January 18]], [[1964]], Wels became a [[Statutarstadt]] of Austria.
===Historical population===
[[215]]: 18,000;
[[1991]]: 40,676;
[[2001]]: 56,478
==Economy==
There are about 36,000 people employed in Wels. Of that, about 63% are in the service sector. Wels is known as an important city for shopping and the location of several [[gymnasium (school)]]s and higher vocational schools and also of a [[vocational college]]. Furthermore, it is known for the [[Wels Fair]], which takes place every two years in fall.
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* (in German): http://www.wels.at
{{Upper Austria}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Upper Austria]]
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