Parchim is a former Kreis (district) in the southwestern part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Neighboring districts were (from the north clockwise) Nordwestmecklenburg, Güstrow, Müritz, the district Prignitz in Brandenburg, the district Ludwigslust and the district-free city Schwerin. The district was disbanded at the district reform of September 2011. Its territory has been part of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district since.
Geography Most of the district is now agriculturally used, but in the easternmost part there are several lakes, the largest of them being the Plauer See (39 km2). The Plauer See marks the western end of the Müritz lakeland.
History In 1994 the three districts of Parchim, Sternberg and Lübz were merged into the enlarged district of Parchim. The borders of this new district were roughly identical with the medieval principality of Parchim-Riechenberg, which existed between 1238 and 1316. This district was merged with the district of Ludwigslust at the district reform of September 2011, forming the new Ludwigslust-Parchim district.
Coat of arms The coat of arms shows a bull's head, which is both the symbol of the former Estate of Parchim, as well as of Mecklenburg into which it was incorporated in 1471. The two blue corners symbolize the two biggest lakes of the district - the Schweriner See and the Plauer See.
Towns and municipalities The subdivisions of the district were (situation August 2011): Amt-free townParchim Ämter1. Banzkow Banzkow1 Plate Sukow 2. Crivitz Barnin Bülow Crivitz1, 2 Demen Friedrichsruhe Tramm Zapel 3. Eldenburg Lübz Gallin-Kuppentin Gischow Granzin Herzberg3 Karbow-Vietlübbe3 Kreien Kritzow Lübz1, 2 Lutheran3 Marnitz Passow Siggelkow Suckow Tessenow Wahlstorf3 Werder4. Goldberg-Mildenitz Diestelow3 Dobbertin Goldberg1, 2 Mestlin Neu Poserin Techentin Wendisch Waren 5. Ostufer Schweriner See Cambs Dobin am See Gneven Godern3 Langen Brütz Leezen1 Pinnow Raben Steinfeld 6. Parchimer Umland(seat: Parchim) Damm3 Domsühl Grebbin3 Groß Godems Groß Niendorf3 Karrenzin Lewitzrand Rom Severin3 Spornitz Stolpe Ziegendorf Zölkow7. Plau am See Barkhagen Buchberg3 Ganzlin Plau am See1, 2 Wendisch Priborn3 8. Sternberger Seenlandschaft Blankenberg Borkow Brüel2 Dabel Hohen Pritz Kobrow Kuhlen-Wendorf Langen Jarchow3 Mustin Sternberg1, 2 Weitendorf Witzin Zahrensdorf31 - seat of the Amt; 2 - town; 3 - former town/municipality
References
External links
(German)