Arnsberg is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the north-east of the Sauerland in the Ruhr river valley, at 51° 23' North, 8° 3' East. Population: 77,473 (2001). Area: 193.44 km². It belongs to the district Hochsauerland, in the administrative region of Arnsberg.
The current city of Arnsberg was created in 1975 by merging 14 cities and municipalities into one city. Old Arnsberg itself and Neheim-Hüsten are the two urban parts, while the other parts are very rural. Neheim and Hüsten had been merged in 1941.
In 12th century old Arnsberg was the seat of Westphalian jurisdiction, but one century earlier it was seat of the dukes of Arnsberg who built their castle there. Later Arnsberg lost its independence and belonged to the Cologne area. Finally in 1816 it went to Prussia and became seat of the local administration. In the late 20th century, the town was twinned with the London Borough of Bexley in England.History
