Since the amalgamations in 1978, Karlstadt's Stadtteile have been Gambach, Heßlar, Karlburg, Klein Laudenbach, Laudenbach, Mühlbach, Rohrbach, Stadelhofen, Stetten and Wiesenfeld.
History
From the late 6th to the mid-13th century, the settlement of Karlburg with its monastery and harbor was located on the west bank of the Main. It grew up around the Karlsburg, a castle perched high over the community, that was destroyed in the Peasants' War in 1525. In 1202, Karlstadt itself was founded by Konrad von Querfurt, Bishop of Würzburg. The exact founding date is unknown. However, given that the founder's time in office was only four years, the time can be reckoned fairly easily. The town was methodically laid out with a nearly rectangular plan to defend Würzburg territory against the Counts of Rieneck. The plan is still well preserved today. The streets in the old town are laid out much like a chessboard, but for military reasons they are not quite straight. In 1225, Karlstadt had its first documentary mention. In 1236, the castle and the village of Karlburg were destroyed in the Rieneck Feud. In 1244, winegrowing in Karlstadt was mentioned for the first time. From 1277 comes the earliest evidence of the town seal. In 1304, the town fortifications were finished. The parish of Karlstadt was first named in 1339. In 1369 a hospital was founded. Between 1370 and 1515, radical remodelling work was being done on the first, Romanesque parish church to turn it into a Gothichall church. About 1400, Karlstadt became for a short time the seat of an episcopal mint. The former Oberamt of the Princely Electorate of Würzburg was, after Secularization, in Bavaria's favour, passed in 1805 to Grand Duke Ferdinando III of Tuscany to form the Grand Duchy of Würzburg, and passed with this to the Kingdom of Bavaria. The town's synagogue was destroyed on Kristallnacht by SA men, an event recalled by a plaque at the synagogue's former site.
Governance
Mayor
The mayor of Karlstadt is Paul Kruck.
Town council
The council is made up of 24 council members, excluding the mayor.
The town's arms might be described thus: Quarterly, first and fourth azure, second and third argent a fleur-de-lis gules. The town's earliest seal, from 1277, showed an effigy of Charlemagne, who is said to have founded and named the town. The next seal after this one also bore Charlemagne's likeness, and this appeared on town seals until the 18th century. However, in 1544, the town began using a quartered shield as its arms. This is thought to have come from the banner of state borne by the Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg, to which the town once belonged. The fleurs-de-lis were added in the early 19th century, and they refer to Charlemagne.
Infrastructure
Transport
Karlstadt lies at the junction of two Bundesstraßen, the B 26 and the B 27. On two road bridges, the Old Main Bridge built in 1953 and the more northerly New Main Bridge built in 2005, the river Main can be crossed.
Through the municipal area runs the Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line, north-south. Within the municipal territory lie a section of the Mühlberg Tunnel and part of the Nantenbach Curve.
Karlstadt has a small airfield east of the town.
Economy
Crafts and industry
Local industry includes Düker Ironworks, the Schwenk Cement Works and the Kohl Wood Veneer Factory. Besides these three large industrial plants, many handicraft businesses have also set up shop in Karlstadt. Another big employer is the Main-Spessart Landratsamt. Many inhabitants commute to Würzburg, 25 km away, or Lohr am Main, 18 km away.
Winegrowing
has only a small economic importance nowadays but still has great cultural significance. Even if very few people in Karlstadt earn their livelihoods from winegrowing, it is still important for self-perception and the localway of life. Vineyards in Karlstadt are the Roßtal and Im Stein. There are also others in many of the outlying centres, especially in Stetten and on the way from the main town out to Gambach.
Education
In 1999 the following institutions existed in Karlstadt:
Kindergartens: 549 places with 548 children
Primary schools: 5 with 63 teachers and 1,147 pupils
