Editing North Rhine-Westphalia

{{Short description|State in western Germany}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = North Rhine-Westphalia
| native_name = Nordrhein-Westfalen
| settlement_type = State
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Germany]]
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = [[Düsseldorf]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 23 August 1946
| area_total_km2 = 34112.31
}}

'''North Rhine-Westphalia''' (German: ''Nordrhein-Westfalen'') is a state in western [[Germany]]. Its capital is [[Düsseldorf]], and [[Cologne]] is its largest city. The state covers 34,112.31 square kilometres. It was established on 23 August 1946, with the former state of Lippe joining it on 21 January 1947.

== Geography ==
The [[Rhine]] crosses the western part of North Rhine-Westphalia and passes through its principal urban and industrial corridor. Westphalia occupies much of the northern and eastern territory, while Lippe forms a historical region in the northeast.

The northern part of the state consists largely of lowland. The terrain rises toward the south and east, where the Sauerland and Teutoburg Forest form upland regions.

North Rhine-Westphalia shares its western international boundary with the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]]. [[Lower Saxony]] borders the state to the north and northeast. [[Hesse]] lies to the east, while [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] forms the southern border.

== History ==
The British military administration established North Rhine-Westphalia on 23 August 1946 by combining the northern part of the former Prussian Rhine Province with the Province of Westphalia. The former state of Lippe joined North Rhine-Westphalia on 21 January 1947.

North Rhine-Westphalia became a constituent state of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949. [[Bonn]], in the southern part of the state, served as the capital of West Germany. Berlin became the German capital following reunification in 1990, and the Bundestag and federal government transferred their principal offices there in 1999.<ref name="berlin-history"/>

Coal mining and steel production shaped the development of the Ruhr during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The decline of mining led to the redevelopment of former industrial land and changes to the regional economy.

== Administration ==
Düsseldorf is the seat of the state parliament and state government. North Rhine-Westphalia is divided into five administrative regions. The Düsseldorf and Cologne regions cover much of the Rhineland. Arnsberg and Münster administer large parts of Westphalia, while the Detmold region covers eastern Westphalia and Lippe.

[[Warendorf]] lies within the Münster administrative region. The town is also the administrative seat of [[Warendorf (district)|Warendorf district]].<ref name="warendorf"/>

== Economy ==
The Rhine-Ruhr area forms the main economic and population centre of North Rhine-Westphalia. Coal and steel formerly dominated the Ruhr economy. Manufacturing remains established in the region, while service industries account for a larger share of employment than during the main period of coal mining.

Cologne developed as a centre for trade and media. Düsseldorf contains the principal state institutions and functions as a financial and business centre.

== See also ==
* [[Germany]]
* [[Warendorf]]
* [[Rhine]]
* [[Westphalia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="berlin-history">"[[Berlin#History|History]]". ''Berlin''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="warendorf">"[[Warendorf|Warendorf]]". ''Warendorf''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Locations]]

[[Category:Germany]]

[[Category:States of Germany]]