Offenbach (district)

Offenbach Rural District is a rural district () in the south of Hesse, Germany. It is a part of the Darmstadt Government Region ().
Geography.
The Offenbach Rural District is in the middle of the "Rhine Main area" in the south of the state of Hesse. The district is in the metropolitan area of Frankfurt. In the east it touches the state of Bavaria.
The whole area of the district is 356.29 km2 large and it is about 100 – 150 m above sea level. It is a mostly plain area with only a few hills. The district is southwest of the river "Main". The municipalities "Mainhausen" and "Hainburg" and the cities "Seligenstadt" and "Mühlheim" are near the river.
There are two creeks, the Rodau and the Bieber running from south to north through the district. They are flowing to the river "Main".
About 35 to 20 million years ago in the age of tertiary the whole region was lying under sea level. At that time it was covered by an ocean which was warm and not very deep. Lots of sediments sank to its bottom. Then the region rose again and the water left, leaving soil which is mostly sandy and poor.
The district has 336,818 inhabitants (2008). The climate of the area is mild. There is less rain than in other parts of Germany.
Towns and municipalities.
Since 1977 the "Offenbach Rural District" has 10 cities and 3 independent villages. In the year 2002 "Dietzenbach" became the capital of the district. The city of Offenbach is not a part of the district.
Neighbours.
The neighbouring cities and rural districts of the Offenbach Rural District are the following:
History.
In the year 1832 the Offenbach Rural District was founded. The capital was Offenbach. In 1938 the city of Offenbach became an independent urban district, but the rural district administration still was in Offenbach. In 2002 the capital changed and now "Dietzenbach" is the new capital of the Offenbach Rural District.