Köthen (Anhalt)

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The title of this article contains the character ö. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be given as Koethen.

Image:2004 Rathaus in Köthen Sicherlich.jpg Köthen (Anhalt) ▶(?) is a small town in central Germany, about 30 km north of Halle. It is located at 51°45′ N 11°58′ E.

Köthen was chartered in 1200. For over two centuries (1603-1847), it was the capital of Anhalt-Köthen. Architecture of note includes the 15th-century St. James' Church and the residence palace (1597-1604).

The town is known to classical music enthusiasts as the place where Johann Sebastian Bach composed many of his best known works. Bach worked in Köthen from 1717 to 1723 as Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen.

Today, the town has a university, a teacher-training institute, an airport, and rail links. Lignite is mined, and sugar-beets are grown. The population in 1971 was under 40,000.

Population in 2004: about 25,000