Copso-Map, dated 1777, remastered by E. Arnold, 1923
History
Chapter 'The City'
The main chapter 'The city' presents many aspects to introduce a city. First of all, a table with facts gives information on size, dimensions of Würselen. There is also a page about the history of Würselen, rather brief but easy to read.
A collection of maps helps a lot to present information on the location and geographical features of Würselen. For instance terrain profiles gives you a hint wether Würselen is flat or hilly. The name "Würselen" has a long history. A page is dedicated to show the change of 'UUormsalt' to 'Würselen'. Also the twin cities of Würselen are introduced in this chapter.
Facts
Würselen
Bearing
- longitude: 50° 52´ 37"
- latitude: 6° 9´ 57"
Dimension
- total area: 34.38 km²
- circumference: 39.00 km
- maximum expansion north to south: 5.65 km
- maximum expansion west to east: 7.95 km
- highest altitude 'Ravelsberg' (re. NN): 227 m
- lowest altitude 'Entenweiher' in the valley of the river Wurm (re. NN): 170 m
Codes
- ZIP: 52146
- area code: 02405
Bevölkerung
- inhabitants 1818/19: 3,192
- inhabitants 1971 (before incorperation): 20,329
- inhabitants 1972: 34,412
(after incorperation of Bardenberg and Broichweiden) - inhabitants 1999: 63,500
- male: 17,600
- female: 18,900
Employment
- industrial area 'Aachener Kreuz' (April 1998)
- firms: 207
- employess: 5,417
- - female: 2,073
- male: 3,344
- industrial: 2,684
- service and trade: 2,733
- full time: 3,859
- half time: 1,362 - apprentices and trainee: 196
- industrial area 'Weiweg' (April 1998)
- firms: 42
- employee: 664
- female: 153
- male: 511
- industrial: 437
- service and trade: 227
- full time: 524
- half time: 108 - apprentices and trainee: 32
Rivers and Streams
- River: Wurm
- Streams: Birker Bach, Broicher Bach, Euchener Graben, Graben Grüner Weg, Graben Weidener Feld, Grenzsiefen, Meisbach, Merzbach, Quellenwassergraben, Ruiferbach, Schimmelgraben, Schweilbach, Steinbach, Vorfluter Talstrasse, Wisselsbach
Climate
- yearly average temperature: 9,5°C
- yearly average relative humidity: 78 %
- yearly average rain fall: 807 mm
- prevailing wind direction: southwest
- yearly hous with sunshine: 1,562
The Name of the City
How to pronounce Würselen
‚Würselen‘, a word that can really brake an English tongue or rather can make it helpless. You cannot avoid to pronounce it wrong because of this mutated vowel ‚ü‘ that does not compare to anything in English. A first approach may be to just use a plain ‘u’ instead. Then, Würselen sounds a little bit like Jerusalem, just try ‘Wursalen’ and it is not that far away.
‚Wormsalt', the original name of Würselen
You really would like to call the city by its name a millenium ago. Then, it was called ‘Wormsalt’ and it meant just what you do understand. The word ‘Worm’ reflects to the river ‘Wurm’ which really worms it way through a steep valleys to the north, Würselen borders onto the river Wurm. People say that salt was found on the banks of that little river.
‚Wöschele', the true name of Würselen
In Würselen, a strong dialect is spoken. In this language the name of the city is 'Wöschele'. However, this is not much better in English. By the way, if you ever visit Würselen you will see that the people in Würselen speak in general the German with a little touch to 'singing' and you will be able to understand them. If they speak their dialect Germans even from the closeby Düsseldorf will not have any chance.
Historic Names
Year of the document |
Name of Würselen |
870 |
Uuormsalt |
1115 |
Wunzelen |
1214 |
Worsele |
1239 |
Worsolden |
1242 |
Worsoldia |
1258 |
Urselden |
1260 |
Wurselden |
1270 |
Wuorselde |
1274 |
Worsoldia |
1279 |
Worsoldia |
1308 |
Wurselde |
1350 |
Worsil |
1350 |
Wursulden |
1370 |
Woirseldem |
1372 |
Woerselden |
1373 |
Wrsele |
1373 |
Wurselden |
1376 |
Worselde |
1383 |
Wursel |
1394 |
Worsel |
1424 |
Wurselen |
1445 |
Worsulden |
1479 |
Wursell |
1479 |
Woerselen |
1486 |
Wurseld |
1487 |
Wuerselden |
1529 |
Wurzellen |
1533 |
Wursulen |
1533 |
Wursalen |
1540 |
Wurseln |
1554 |
Würßelen |
1563 |
Wurstelen |
1581 |
Wuerselen |
1581 |
Würschlen |
1588 |
Würßel |
1611 |
Würselen |
1710 |
Würselen |
Source: “Rheinischer Städteatlas Würselen” |
English spoken
If you speak English in Würselen, plain English, not that dialect you use in 'Liverpool' or 'El Paso, New Mexico' where the author had been in trouble to order beer or a teqilla, respectively :-) , you will probably get an friendly answer in broken English as everywhere in Germany.