Backnang is a town in Germany, in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg (formerly the kingdom of Württemberg), roughly 30 kilometers northeast of Stuttgart. Its population has increased greatly over the past century or so, from 7,650 (1900) to 34,465 (1999).

It has an interesting church named Stiftskirche, dating from the 12th century. Backnang was known as Gerberstadt due to several tanneries and leather factories, and woollen and cloth mills. These have vanished nowadys, and telecommunication companies like Marconi followed.

In 1325, Backnang was ceded to Württemberg by the Baden (Zähringer family).

In the vicinity is the Wilhelmsheim sanatorium for consumptives.

The town is twinned with Chelmsford (in England), Annonay (in France) and Bácsalmás (in Hungary).

External link

• http://www.backnang.de - Official homepage

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.