Geography of Dortmund
Dortmund, Germany, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia state. Situated at the head of the Dortmund-Ems Canal in the coal-rich, heavily industrialized Ruhr valley, Dortmund is a commercial, transportation, and industrial center, producing mainly steel and machine tools. The city is also a leading beer producer. Dortmund is a modern city, largely rebuilt since World War II. Notable historic structures include three medieval churches. The city has a university, founded in 1966, and a museum of modern European painting.
Dortmund was a market town as early as the ninth century. In the 1200's it became an independent city in the Hanseatic League and prospered as a trading and wool manufacturing center. After the league's decline in the late 15th century, Dortmund remained a free city until about 1800, when it became part of the Grand Duchy of Berg. In 1815 the city passed to the Prussian province of Westphalia. Dortmund's greatest growth came with industrialization after 1850.
Population: 600,700.