Essen is the central and, after Dortmund, second-largest city of the Ruhr, the largest urban area in Germany. Its population of 586,608 makes it the fourth-largest city of North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne, Düsseldorf and … See more

Origin of the name
In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it has the same form as the German See more

Historical development
The administration of Essen had for a long time been in the hands of the princess-abbesses as heads of the Imperial Abbey of Essen. However, from the 14th century onwards, the city council increasingly grew in importance. … See more

Economy
Essen is home to several large companies, among them the ThyssenKrupp industrial … See more

General
Essen is located in the centre of the Ruhr area, one of the largest urban areas in Europe (see also: See more

The City of Monessen, Pennsylvania, situated along the Monongahela River, was named after the river and Essen.
Twin towns – sister cities
Essen is twinned with:
• Changzhou, China (2015)
• See more

Streets and motorways
The road network of Essen consists of over 3,200 streets, which in total have a length of roughly … See more