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:''Wels is the British English name for the catfish'' Silurus glanis ''and is the surname of the German politician Otto Wels (1873-1939) and the Czech architect Rudolf Wels (1882-1944). WELS is also used as an acronym for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ''
'Wels' (population of 56,478 as of 2001) is the second largest city of the state of Upper Austria, located in the north of Austria, upon the Traun River near Linz. It is not part of Wels County ''(Bezirk Wels-Land)'', but a so-called Statutarstadt (independent city). Nevertheless, Wels ist the County seat of Wels-Land (Wels County).

Map
Key facts
State:	Upper Austria
District:	Statutarstadt (WE)
Area size:	45.92 km²
Population:	56,478 ''(as of 2001)''
Elevation:	317 m above sea level
Postal code:	4600
Area code:	07242
Geographic location:
Official municpaility number:	40301
Subdivisions:	9 boroughs
Town hall:	Stadtplatz 1 4600 Wels
Official website	www.wels.at
E-Mail-Address:	[mailto:office@wels.gv.at office@wels.gv.at]
Politics
Mayor:	Peter Koits (SPÖ)

Contents

Geography

History

Historical population

Economy

References

External links

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.

History

The area of Wels has been settled since the Neolithic era and gained importance in 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.
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.^[1]
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 sevice 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

1. Christine O'Keefe.''Concentration Camps.''www.tartanplace.com/tartanhistory/concentrationcamps.html

External links

★ (in German): http://www.wels.at/

★ Some brief facts: http://www.greatestcities.com/Europe/Austria/Wels_city.html

★ (in czech)-about architect Rudolf Wels: http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Wels

★ Tourist attractions in Wels - in English