Schaumburg

Schaumburg is a Kreis (district) in the southeastern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. Area 676 km², population 167,000 (2001). The district's capital is Stadthagen.

The district is located in the northernmost part of the Weserbergland mountains. The Weser river runs through the southern part of the district.

Schaumburg was a medieval county, which was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. Shortly after the Holy Roman Emperor appointed the counts of Schaumburg to become counts of Holstein as well.

During the Thirty Years' War the house of Schaumburg had no male heir, and the county was divided into Schaumburg (which became part of Hesse-Kassel) and Schaumburg-Lippe (1640). The tiny state of Schaumburg-Lippe existed until 1946, when it became an administrative area within Lower Saxony. In modern times Schaumburg and Schaumburg-Lippe were districts within the state of Lower Saxony, until they were merged again in 1977.

Schaumburg is a very small district, but within its territory there are some towns of remarkable beauty: Bückeburg, the old capital of Schaumburg-Lippe; Rinteln, which was the capital of Schaumburg during the division; and Stadthagen, the capital of the today's district. Other towns in Schaumburg: Obernkirchen, Rodenberg, Sachsenhagen.

There is also a place called Schaumburg in the United States: Schaumburg, Illinois is a suburb about 30 miles west of Chicago. Schaumburg, IL is the corporate home of Motorola, and is known for Woodfield Mall. It was one of the biggest malls in the world when opened in the early 70s.