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Area: 146.84 km ²
Population: ~ 286,375

The independent city of Bochum is one of the most famous cities in the Ruhrgebiet, in whose geographical center it lies. Bochum was first mentioned around the year 1041, but at the time of industrialization, it was the first site to reach a depth of coal production in the Ruhr area. Almost at the same time as the increasing coal mining around Bochum began, the settlement of the steel processing industry, to whose centers Bochum developed, began. The economic status of the city ensured steady growth and the emergence of cultural and educational locations. The decline of the coal and steel industry in the recent past caused economic problems for the city and rising unemployment. Today, this has returned to normal, as Bochum is developing more and more into a cultural and educational center. In addition, many global corporations whose roots are in coal and steel still have their centers and factories in the Bochum area. In addition, many of the former coal and steel plants are used specifically for the resettlement of the economy, technology and culture.