Übach-Palenberg
Übach-Palenberg is a town in the district Heinsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, at 50°56′N 6°7′E / 50.933°N 6.117°E. As of 2004 it has a population of 25,353.
Geography
The town is located at the boundary to the Netherlands. The river Wurm flows through the area. The town covers an area of 2,610.6 ha, of which more than half are used for agriculture.
History
867 the village Palenberg was first mentioned in a written document, 1172 the village Übach. 1794 three Bürgermeistereien were created - Übach, Scherpenseel, Frelenberg - which were merged into one municipality in 1935. 1967 it received town rights.
1917 coal mining was started in the town, until in 1962 the Carolus Magnus coal-mine was closed.
Übach-Palenberg has two twin-towns - since 1989 with Rosny-sous-Bois (France) and since 1999 neighboring Landgraaf in the Netherlands.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the town is subdivided into three fields. In the top blue field are two crossed golden scepter with a lily head, with a black letter T on top. Both symbols refer to the Grundherrschaft Thorn. In the left golden field is a black lion, the symbol of Jülich, as both Frelenberg and Palenberg belonged to the county Jülich. To the right is a silver lion on a red field, the symbol of Heinsberg, where Scherpenseel belonged to historically.
The coat of arms were granted on December 2 1937 by the Oberpräsident of the province Rhineland.