Elberfeld

Germany

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June 26, 2026

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Elberfeld is a district within the city of Wuppertal, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was formed in 1929 through the amalgamation of several towns, including Elberfeld and Barmen, and the city was renamed Wuppertal in 1930. Elberfeld, along with Barmen, was historically significant for its textile industries, particularly yarn bleaching, linen weaving, and later silk weaving. The city was known for its innovative civic poor relief system, established in 1853, which served as a model internationally. A unique monorail suspension railway was also built along the Wupper River at the turn of the 20th century. While Wuppertal's textile industry has diminished, it remains an important manufacturing center for chemicals, plastics, and metal products.1

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Wuppertal
…of the towns of Barmen, Elberfeld, Beyenburg, Cronenberg, Ronsdorf, and Vohwinkel, the name was changed to Wuppertal (“Wupper Valley”) in 1930. Barmen and Elberfeld, mentioned in the 11th and 12th centuries, jointly received the monopoly for yarn bleaching for the Bergisches Land in 1527. The introduction of ribbon making and…
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…of the towns of Barmen, Elberfeld, Beyenburg, Cronenberg, Ronsdorf, and Vohwinkel, the name was changed to Wuppertal (“Wupper Valley”) in 1930. Barmen and Elberfeld, mentioned in the 11th and 12th centuries, jointly received the monopoly for yarn bleaching for the Bergisches Land in 1527. The introduction of ribbon making and…
Read More