Mücke
Mücke is a municipality in the Vogelsbergkreis in Hesse, Germany.
Geography
Location
Mücke lies from 200 to 350 m above sea level in the northwest foothills of the Vogelsberg Mountains on the upper reaches of the river Ohm, a tributary to the LahnNeighbouring municipalities
Mücke borders in the north on the town of Homberg, in the northeast on the municipality of Gemünden, in the east on the municipality of Feldatal and the town of Ulrichstein, in the south on the town of Laubach, and in the west on the town of Ulrichstein and the municipality of Grünberg.Constituent municipalities
The municipality came into being, like many other municipalities through Hesse's municipal reforms, with the amalgamation of twelve formerly independent municipalities. These are listed here:- Atzenhain
- Bernsfeld
- Flensungen
- Groß-Eichen
- Höckersdorf
- Ilsdorf
- Merlau
- Nieder-Ohmen
- Ober-Ohmen
- Ruppertenrod
- Sellnrod
- Wettsaasen
Before the municipal reforms, there was no place with the name "Mücke", but there was a Mücke railway station on the Gießen-Fulda line and a postal designation "Mücke".
Despite what may seem obvious – Mücke is German for "gnat" – the municipality's name is of Celtic origin. It comes from much or mack, meaning something like "moist","boggy" or "mucky". The name Mücke was mentioned in connection with this region in a Merlau parish taxation roll in 1482.
In the constituent municipality of Flensungen lies Hesse's geographical centre point.
Politics
Municipal council
As of municipal elections held on 26 March 2006 the seats are apportioned thus:A political peculiarity is the Jugendparlament Mücke, which stands up for children's and youth's interests. Its 35 members aged between 14 and 21 are elected every two years. The Jugendparlament has the right to speak and make motions on the municipal council's youth, sport and cultural committee.
Partnership
The municipality of Mücke maintains a partnership with:- Sydfalster, Denmark, since 1993
Personalities
People with connections to the municipality
- Anne Chaplet, criminal author
- Reinhard Schober, from 1945 to 1948 leader of the Nieder-Ohmen forestry office
- Harald Lesch, physicist, astronomer, natural philosopher, author, television presenter and professor at the *Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, grew up in Nieder-Ohmen
Infrastructure and leisure
The municipality of Mücke has at its disposal, through the Homberg (Ohm) Autobahn interchange and Federal Highway 49 that runs through the municipal area, very good transport connections. A few years ago, at the Autobahn interchange, the "Am Gottesrain" industrial park was established complete with an off-Autobahn service centre. Mücke station and the station in the constituent municipality of Nieder-Ohmen are on the Vogelsberg Railway between Gießen and Fulda via Alsfeld.The municipality has an indoor swimming pool with an adjoining sauna, seven kindergartens, two primary schools, and a comprehensive school without upper level in the constituent municipality of Nieder-Ohmen. Furthermore, there is a Sozialstation with trained personnel.
In all constituent municipalities are found Village municipality Houses that may be used for all kinds of events. Moreover, there are many clubs to choose from. Anyone can find something to suit his interests.
There are plenty of supermarkets and smaller shops in each constituent municipality to satisfy shopping needs.
Among more particular leisure facilities is the Flensunger Hof, run by a missionary body. It is a fully equipped sport and leisure centre. On the Kratzberg in the Nieder-Ohmen rural area, the Luftsportgruppe Mücke e. V. runs a model glider airfield. In Atzenhain is the Reit- und Fahrverein Mücke e. V. with riding hall and grounds.