DINKLAGE

★ ''For the actor, see Peter Dinklage''
'Dinklage' is a town in the district of Vechta, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 13 km southwest of Vechta, and 45 km north of Osnabrück.

Contents

History

Economy

Statistics

Notable residents

External links

History

The castle Dinklage was built by the counts of the Dersagau of Calvelage around the year 980, the name Dinklage was first mentioned officially in 1231 (first as Thinclage, later Dynclage, till 1270 Dinklage). In 1080 the castle was given to the "Herren von Dinklage" (Masters of Dinklage), as they were later called. Those tried to put up their own dominion in 1372, but were defeated by the bishop of Münster and their castle was destroyed. After the "Herren von Dinklage" had lost their influence, in 1667 the rebuilt castle was bought by the count Christoph Bernhard Graf von Galen, who was bishop of Münster at that time. In 1826 Matthias Graf von Galen signed a contract, which made Dinklage, which formally belonged to the diocese of Münster before, a part of the Großherzogtum Oldenburg (the lands of the diocese had been secularized after the war against Napoleon).
Many citizens left Dinklage during the 19th century in order to find a way out of poverty building up a new life in America. They especially settled in the states of Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Economy

The economy is especially characterized by farming and food industry. But also industrial facilities and machines or furniture and plastic-products are being produced.

Statistics

'Confessions'	'percent of population'
Roman-Catholic	ca. 69,3 %
Protestant	ca. 16,9 %
different other denominations	ca. 13,8 %
(Last update: 12/31/2004)

Notable residents

★ Clemens August Graf von Galen, roman-catholic archbishop of Münster, the "Lion of Münster"

External links

★ Official site