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Rheine
	Rheine
	Ems river at Rheine
	; Rheine
Coordinates	52°17′0″N 7°26′0″E / 52.283333°N 7.433333°E
	Administration
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Münster
District	Steinfurt
Mayor	Angelika Kordfelder (SPD)
	Basic statistics
Area	145.08 km2 (56.02 sq mi)
Elevation	27 - 90 m
Population	76,438 (31 December 2006)
- Density	527 /km2 (1,365 /sq mi)
	Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	ST
Postal codes	48429, 48431, 48432
Area codes	05971, 05975, 05459
Website	www.rheine.de
Location of the town of Rheine within Steinfurt district

Rheine is a city in the district of Steinfurt in Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest city in the district and the location of Rheine Air Base.

[edit] Geography

Rheine is located on the river Ems, approx. 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Münster, approx. 45 kilometres (28 mi) west of Osnabrück and 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of Enschede (Netherlands).

[edit] Division of the town

Rheine consists of 15 districts:

Altenrheine
Bentlage
Catenhorn
Dorenkamp
Dutum

Elte
Eschendorf (Kiebitzheide)
Gellendorf
Hauenhorst
Rheine (city center)

Mesum
Rodde
Schleupe
Schotthock
Wadelheim

[edit] Neighbouring municipalities

[edit] History

Although the region around the city has been populated since prehistorical times, Rheine was first mentioned in a document signed by Louis the Pious only in 838. On 15 August 1327 it received its town charter from Louis II, Bishop of Münster.

The settlement was founded by reason of two old merchant roads crossing nearby, as well as a ford crossing the river Ems. Frankish soldiers secured this strategic point by a barrack yard at first. Later a church and more buildings were added to this outpost.

In the end of Thirty Years' War the city burned down almost completely. Swedish and Hessian troops besieged imperial soldiers who entrenched themselves in Rheine. On 20/21 September and 19 October 1647 glowing cannonballs set fire to the city, 365 houses got razed.

During the industrialisation textile industry prospered. It remained an important economical factor until the second half of the 20th century. Today engineering industries and services form the largest part of economy in Rheine.