Steinburg () is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, administered from Itzehoe. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the districts of Dithmarschen, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Segeberg and Pinneberg, and by the Elbe River (and the district of Stade beyond).
History
The district's name is derived from a medieval castle called Steinburg, where the reeves ruled by order of their lords, the dukes of Holstein. This castle was first mentioned in 1307, and it was abandoned and demolished in 1630. However, Steinburg remained the name of the region, and its new centre became Glückstadt before gradually moving to the town of Itzehoe.
When Schleswig-Holstein became a province of Prussia in 1867, the district of Steinburg was established. The borders remained unchanged until 1970 when the newly founded town Schenefeld (formerly part of Rendsburg district) joined Steinburg.
Geography
The district is situated on the northern bank of the Elbe river, close to its mouth. The countryside is very plain. The Stör river, a right-hand tributary of the Elbe, flows through the district. Today the towns in Steinburg gradually become a part of the growing Hamburg metropolitan area. The lowest land point of the Federal Republic of Germany at 3,54 meters below sea level is located near the city of Wilster. Steinburg's highest point is the Itzespitze (83.4 m).
Coat of arms The coat of arms displays a castle (symbolising Steinburg Castle) above a wavy line (representing the Elbe river). Below the castle's towers there are three shields depicting Christ, a nettle leaf (from the arms of Holstein) and a swan.
Towns and municipalities Independent townsGlückstadt Itzehoe Wilster Ämter1. Breitenburg Auufer Breitenberg Breitenburg1 Kollmoor Kronsmoor Lägerdorf Moordiek Münsterdorf Oelixdorf Westermoor Wittenbergen 2. Horst-Herzhorn Altenmoor Blomesche Wildnis Borsfleth Engelbrechtsche Wildnis Herzhorn Hohenfelde Horst1 Kiebitzreihe Kollmar Krempdorf Neuendorf bei Elmshorn Sommerland 3. Itzehoe-Land(seat: Itzehoe) Bekdorf Bekmünde Drage Heiligenstedten Heiligenstedtenerkamp Hodorf Hohenaspe Huje Kaaks Kleve Krummendiek Lohbarbek Mehlbek Moorhusen Oldendorf Ottenbüttel Peissen Schlotfeld Silzen Winseldorf4. Kellinghusen Brokstedt Fitzbek Hennstedt Hingstheide Hohenlockstedt Kellinghusen1 Lockstedt Mühlenbarbek Oeschebüttel Poyenberg Quarnstedt Rade Rosdorf Sarlhusen Störkathen Wiedenborstel Willenscharen Wrist Wulfsmoor 5. Krempermarsch Bahrenfleth Dägeling Elskop Grevenkop Krempe1, 2 Kremperheide Krempermoor Neuenbrook Rethwisch Süderau6. Schenefeld Aasbüttel Agethorst Besdorf Bokelrehm Bokhorst Christinenthal Gribbohm Hadenfeld Holstenniendorf Kaisborstel Looft Nienbüttel Nutteln Oldenborstel Pöschendorf Puls Reher Schenefeld1 Vaale Vaalermoor Wacken Warringholz 7. Wilstermarsch(seat: Wilster) Aebtissinwisch Beidenfleth Brokdorf Büttel Dammfleth Ecklak Kudensee Landrecht Landscheide Neuendorf-Sachsenbande Nortorf Sankt Margarethen Stördorf Wewelsfleth1seat of the Amt;2town
Transport
Steinburg district is located in the area of the transport association Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV).
References
External links
Official website (German)