Wels 239441 215815390 2008-05-29T20:48:55Z Blofeld of SPECTRE 1616157 /* Geography */ image {{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]] [[bg:Велс]] [[bar:Wöis]] [[bs:Wels]] [[br:Wels]] [[ca:Wels]] [[cs:Wels]] [[de:Wels (Stadt)]] [[et:Wels]] [[es:Wels]] [[fr:Wels]] [[id:Wels]] [[is:Wels]] [[it:Wels]] [[he:ולס (עיר)]] [[la:Ovilava]] [[lt:Velsas (Austrija)]] [[nl:Wels (stad)]] [[ja:ヴェルス]] [[no:Wels]] [[pl:Wels]] [[ro:Wels]] [[ru:Вельс]] [[sk:Wels (mesto)]] [[fi:Wels]] [[sv:Wels]] [[vo:Wels]]