Starnberg (district)

Starnberg is a Kreis (district) in the southern part of Bavaria, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Fürstenfeldbruck, Munich, Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Weilheim-Schongau and Landsberg.

Starnberg and the Hochtaunuskreis regularly compete for the title of Germany's wealthiest district.

Geography

Main geographic feature of the district are the five lakes - the Starnberger See and Ammersee, as well as the smaller Weßlinger See, Wörthsee and Pilsensee. The lakes were formed by the glaciers of the last ice age. Hence the district is also called Fünf-Seen-Land (five lake county).

History

The district was created in 1902, when the Bezirksamt München II was dissolved, and the new Bezirksamt Starnberg and Bezirksamt Wolfratshausen were created. Starting in 1939 they were called Landkreis. In 1972 two municipalities (Bachhausen and Höhenrain) from the district Wolfratshausen were added to the district. In the 1978 communal reform the previously 42 municipalities were merged into the current 14 ones.