View source for Mannheim

{{Short description|City in Baden-Württemberg, Germany}}
{{About|the city in Germany|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox German place
|type = [[List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population|City]]
|German_name = <small>{{native name|pfl|Mannem / Monnem}}</small>
|image_photo = {{multiple image
 |caption_align = center
 |border = infobox
 |total_width = 300
 |perrow = 2/2/1
 |image1 = Altes Rathaus und Sankt Sebastianskirche auf dem Mannheimer Marktplatz.jpg
 |caption1 = Old City Hall and [[St. Sebastian (Mannheim)|St. Sebastian]]
 |image2 = Der Friedrichsplatz und der Wasserturm.jpg
 |caption2 = [[Friedrichsplatz]]
 |image3 = Christ Church Mannheim Night.jpg
 |caption3 = {{ill|Christ Church (Mannheim){{!}}Christ Church|de|3=Christuskirche (Mannheim)}}
 |image4 = SchlossEhrenhof 2017.jpg
 |caption4 = [[Mannheim Palace]]
 |image5 = Der Fernmeldeturm ist Bestandteil der Mannheimer Skyline.jpg
 |caption5 = View of Mannheim from [[Heidelberg]] with wind turbines in the [[Palatine Forest]] in the background
 }}
|image_coa=Wappen Mannheim.svg
|image_flag=Mannheim-Flagge.svg
|coordinates = {{coord|49|29|16|N|08|27|58|E|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan=Baden-Württemberg MA.svg
|plantext=Location of Mannheim in Baden-Württemberg
|state=Baden-Württemberg
|region=Karlsruhe
|year=1607
|district=[[Urban districts of Germany|Urban district]]
|divisions           = 17 [[Stadtbezirke]]
|elevation=97
|area=144.96
<!--|population=311142 
filled via Gemeindeschlüssel -->
<!-- Source: Statistisches Landesamt B-W. http://www.statistik.baden-wuerttemberg.de/Veroeffentl/Statistische_Berichte/3126_08001.pdf -->
|pop_metro = 2,362,046 (2012)<ref name="metro">{{cite web|url=http://www.m-r-n.com/en/home/investment-and-economic-activity/rhine-neckar-in-figures.html|title=Rhine-Neckar: Rhine-Neckar in figures|date=7 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831035106/http://www.m-r-n.com/en/home/investment-and-economic-activity/rhine-neckar-in-figures.html|archive-date=31 August 2014}}</ref>
|demonym = {{lang|de|Mannheimer}}
|postal_code=68001–68309
|Gemeindeschlüssel=08222000
|area_code=0621
|licence=MA
|website=[https://www.mannheim.de/en www.mannheim.de]
|mayor={{interlanguage link|Christian Specht|de|Christian Specht (Politiker)}}<ref>[https://www.staatsanzeiger.de/wahl/oberbuergermeisterwahl-mannheim-2023/ OB Wahl Mannheim 2023] Staatsanzeiger Baden-Württemberg</ref>
|leader_term       = 2023&ndash;31
|Bürgermeistertitel=Lord Mayor
|party=CDU
}}

'''Mannheim''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmanhaɪm|-|Mannheim.ogg}}; [[Palatine German language|Palatine German]]: {{lang|pfl|Mannem}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wörterbuchnetz – Pfälzisches Wörterbuch|url=http://woerterbuchnetz.de/cgi-bin/WBNetz/wbgui_py?sigle=PfWB&sigle=PfWB&mode=Vernetzung&hitlist=&patternlist=&lemid=PM00582|access-date=9 September 2020|website=woerterbuchnetz.de}}</ref> or {{lang|pfl|Monnem}}), officially the '''University City of Mannheim''' ({{langx|de|Universitätsstadt Mannheim}}), is the [[List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population|second-largest city]] in [[Baden-Württemberg]] after [[Stuttgart]], the [[States of Germany|state]] capital, and [[Germany]]'s [[List of cities in Germany by population|21st-largest city]], with a population of over 315,000. It is located at the border with [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]. The city is the cultural and economic centre of the [[Rhine-Neckar]], Germany's [[Metropolitan regions in Germany|seventh-largest metropolitan region]], with nearly 2.4 million inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wirtschaftsstandort|url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/wirtschaft-entwickeln/wirtschaftsstandort|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.mannheim.de}}</ref>

Mannheim is located at the confluence of the [[Upper Rhine]] and the [[Neckar]] in the [[Kurpfalz (region)|Kurpfalz]] ([[Electoral Palatinate]]) region of northwestern Baden-Württemberg. The city lies in the [[Upper Rhine Plain]], Germany's warmest region, between the [[Palatine Forest]] and the [[Oden Forest]]. Mannheim forms a continuous urban zone of around 500,000 inhabitants with [[Ludwigshafen am Rhein]] in the [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], while some northern suburbs lie in [[Hesse]]; [[Hamburg]] is the only other German city with a presence in two states other than its own.

Unusually for a German city, central Mannheim's streets and avenues are laid out in a grid pattern, leading to its nickname as the ''Quadratestadt'' (''Square City'') and the tourism slogan "''Leben im Quadrat''" ("''Life in the''{{efn|in dem → im}} ''Square''").<ref>{{Cite web|last=DPA|title=Slogans: "Leben im Quadrat" {{!}} svz.de|url=https://www.svz.de/deutschland-welt/politik/leben-im-quadrat-id5359551.html|access-date=2021-12-18|website=svz|date=6 January 2014|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218104532/https://www.svz.de/deutschland-welt/politik/leben-im-quadrat-id5359551.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the southern base of this system is [[Mannheim Palace]]. It was the former home of the [[Prince-elector]] of the Electoral Palatinate, and now houses the [[University of Mannheim]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-18|title=The City of Mannheim isn't Germany at its Prettiest|url=https://blog.foster.uw.edu/city-mannheim-isnt-germany-prettiest/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Foster Blog|language=en-US}}</ref> The civic symbol of the city is the [[Mannheim Water Tower]], completed in 1886 and rising to {{convert|60|m|abbr=off}} above the [[Art Nouveau|art nouveau]] area ''[[Friedrichsplatz]]''. Held annually, the [[Mannheim May Market|May Market]] is the largest regional consumer exhibition of Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Die 10 größten Messen in Deutschland {{!}} "Wer liefert was" |url=https://www.wlw.de/de/inside-business/aktuelles/messen/groessten-deutschen-messen |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=wlw.de |language=de}}</ref>

Mannheim is well-known for its inventions, including the [[automobile]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benzin im Blut: Der vergessene Mannheimer Auto-Bauer Franz Heim – Mannheim|url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/ludwigshafen_artikel,-benzin-im-blut-der-vergessene-mannheimer-auto-bauer-franz-heim-_arid,5164780.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.rheinpfalz.de|date=4 February 2021 |language=de}}</ref><ref name="The New Economy-2014">{{cite web|date=2014-03-21|title=The Manhattan of Germany: the innovative Mannheim city|url=http://www.theneweconomy.com/technology/the-manhattan-of-germany-the-innovative-mannheim-city|access-date=23 March 2014|publisher=The New Economy}}</ref> the [[bicycle]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Völklein|first=Marco|title=200 Jahre Fahrrad – Radfahrer erobern Mannheim zurück|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/auto/200-jahre-fahrrad-radfahrer-erobern-mannheim-zurueck-1.3543562|access-date=2021-12-19|website=Süddeutsche.de|date=17 June 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref name="The New Economy-2014" /> and the [[tractor]],<ref name="The New Economy-2014" /> leading to a nickname of the "city of inventions".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mannheim: Die Stadt der Erfindungen – Mannheim – Nachrichten und Informationen|url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-mannheim-die-stadt-der-erfindungen-_arid,1591454.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.mannheimer-morgen.de|date=25 January 2020 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-10-28|title=Stadt der Erfinder – Grünstadt|url=https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/gruenstadt_artikel,-stadt-der-erfinder-_arid,727498.html|website={{ill|Rhein-Neckar Fernsehen|de}}|access-date=2021-12-19|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Stadt der Erfinder: Mannheimer Augustaanlage wird zur "Allee der Innovationen"|url=https://www.rnf.de/mediathek/video/stadt-der-erfinder-mannheimer-augustaanlage-wird-zur-allee-der-innovationen/|language=de-DE|date=2016-10-24|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> The city is the starting and finishing point of the [[Bertha Benz Memorial Route]], which follows the tracks of the first long-distance automobile trip in history.

A {{lang|de|[[Großstadt]]}} (major city with more than 100,000 inhabitants) since 1896,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jan.|first=Van Deth|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/964356167|title=Demokratie in der Großstadt Ergebnisse des ersten Mannheimer Demokratie Audit|date=2015|publisher=Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden|isbn=978-3-658-05849-4|pages=5|oclc=964356167}}</ref> Mannheim is an important industrial and commercial city, a [[university town]], and a major transportation hub between [[Frankfurt]] and Stuttgart, including an [[Intercity Express|ICE]] interchange (the [[Mannheim Hauptbahnhof]]), Germany's second-largest marshalling yard<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mannheim: Dieser Rangierbahnhof stößt an Grenzen|url=https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-dieser-rangierbahnhof-stoesst-an-grenzen-_arid,493647.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref> (the [[Mannheim Rangierbahnhof]]), and Germany's largest inland port<ref>{{Cite web |title=Infrastructure |url=https://www.hafen-mannheim.de/en/data-facts/infrastructure/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Hafen Mannheim |language=de-DE}}</ref> (the [[Mannheim Harbour]]). The city is home to many factories, offices and headquarters of several major corporations such as [[Roche]], [[ABB]], [[IBM]], [[Siemens]], [[Unilever]] and more. Mannheim's [[SAP Arena]] is home to German ice hockey record champions [[Adler Mannheim]] as well as the popular handball team [[Rhein-Neckar Löwen]]. Since 2014, Mannheim has been a member of the [[UNESCO]] [[Creative Cities Network]] and holds the title of "[[UNESCO City of Music]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnz.de/mannheim/00_20141202060000_110796991-Mannheim-ist-jetzt-offiziell-Unesco-City-of-Mu.html|title=Mannheim ist jetzt offiziell "Unesco City of Music"|publisher=RNZ|access-date=29 May 2016|language=de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228150059/http://www.rnz.de/mannheim/00_20141202060000_110796991-Mannheim-ist-jetzt-offiziell-Unesco-City-of-Mu.html|archive-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> In 2020, Mannheim was classified as a [[global city]] with '[[Globalization and World Cities Research Network#Sufficiency|Sufficiency]]' status by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]] (GaWC).<ref>{{cite web|title=The World According to GaWC 2020|url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html|access-date=26 August 2020|website=GaWC – Research Network|publisher=Globalization and World Cities|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mannheim is a [[smart city]];<ref name="The New Economy">{{cite web|title=The rise of the smart city|url=http://www.theneweconomy.com/technology/the-rise-of-the-smart-city|access-date=23 March 2014|publisher=The New Economy}}</ref> the city's [[electrical grid]] is installed with a [[power-line communication]] network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/19/tech/smart-grid-mannheim/|title=Smart City knows who needs power, and when|date=19 February 2015 |publisher=CNN|access-date=31 May 2016|language=en}}</ref>

==History==
{{for timeline|Timeline of Mannheim}}

===Early history===
A brick kiln excavated in 1929 in the Seckenheim district, which operated from 74 AD to the early second century, attests to settlement in Roman times.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Emmi.|first=Brandi, Ulrike, 1957– Federhofer|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/610821190|title=Ton + Technik : römische Ziegel|date=2010|publisher=Limesmuseum Aalen, Zweigmuseum des Archäologischen Landesmuseums Baden-Württemberg|isbn=978-3-8062-2403-0|oclc=610821190}}</ref>

The name of the city was first recorded as ''Mannenheim'' in a legal transaction in 766, surviving in a twelfth-century copy in the ''[[Lorsch codex|Codex Laureshamensis]]'' from [[Lorsch Abbey]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minst, Karl Josef [Transl.]: Lorscher Codex: deutsch; Urkundenbuch der ehemaligen Fürstabtei Lorsch (Band 2): Schenkungsurkunden Nr. 167 – 818, Oberrheingau und Ladengau (Lorsch, 1968)|url=https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/minst1968bd2/0199|access-date=2021-12-18|website=digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de}}</ref> The name is interpreted as "the home of Manno", a short form of a [[Germanic name]] such as ''Hartmann'' or ''Hermann''.<ref>Sonja Steiner-Welz, ''400 Jahre Stadt Mannheim (Dokumente zur Stadtgeschichte). Band 1: bis zur Kaiserzeit'', vol. 1, 2004, {{ISBN|978-3-936041-96-5}}, p. 41.</ref> Mannheim remained a village throughout the Middle Ages.

===Early Modern Age===
In 1606, [[Frederick IV, Elector Palatine]] started building the fortress of Friedrichsburg and the adjacent city centre with its grid of streets and avenues. On 24 January 1607, Frederick IV gave Mannheim the official status of a "city".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grundriß der Stadt Mannheim im 17. Jahrhundert|url=http://www.landeskunde-online.de/rhein/ma/ma_stad.htm|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.landeskunde-online.de}}</ref>

Mannheim was mostly levelled during the [[Thirty Years' War]] around 1622 by the forces of [[Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly|Johan Tilly]]. After being rebuilt, it was again severely damaged by the [[French Army]] in 1689 during the [[Nine Years' War]] (also called “The War of Palatinate Succession” as [[Philippe I, Duke of Orléans]], a younger brother of [[Louis XIV]] made a competing claim to the electorate of the Palatinate).

After the rebuilding of Mannheim from 1698 onwards, the capital of the [[Electorate of the Palatinate]] was moved from Heidelberg to Mannheim in 1720<ref>{{Cite web|title=Verlegung der kurfürstlichen Residenz nach Mannheim – News – lokalmatador|url=https://www.lokalmatador.de/nachricht/verlegung-der-kurfuerstlichen-residenz-nach-mannheim-1416/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.lokalmatador.de|language=de-DE|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221030434/https://www.lokalmatador.de/nachricht/verlegung-der-kurfuerstlichen-residenz-nach-mannheim-1416/|url-status=dead}}</ref> when [[Karl III Philip, Elector Palatine]] began construction of [[Mannheim Palace]] and the [[Jesuit Church (Mannheim)|Jesuit Church]]; they were completed in 1760.

===18th and 19th centuries===
In 1819, [[Norwich Duff]] wrote of Mannheim:

{{Blockquote |Mannheim is in the Duchy of Baden and situated at the confluence of the [[Rhine]] and [[Neckar]] over both of which there is a bridge of boats. This is the third town of this name having been twice burnt. The houses are large, and the streets are broad and at right angles to each other, and is one of the most airy clean towns I have seen in Germany. It was formerly fortified, but the fortifications were razed in 1806 and gardens fill their places. There is a large [[château]] here belonging to the Grand Duke and a very good garden; part of the château was destroyed when the town was bombarded and has never since been repaired, the other part is occupied by the [[Stéphanie de Beauharnais|Grand Duchess, widow]] of the [[Karl, Grand Duke of Baden|late Grand Duke]] who was succeeded by [[Ludwig I, Grand Duke of Baden|his uncle]] having left only three daughters. She is the sister of [[Eugene Beauharnais]] [sic; in fact, she was his second cousin]. There is a cathedral, a theatre which is considered good, an observatory, a gallery of pictures at the château, and some private collections. About {{convert|2|km|mi|spell=on|abbr=off}} below the town the [[Imperial Russian Army|Russian Army]] crossed the Rhine in 1813. Population 18,300.}}

[[File:Mannheim 1758.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Mannheim in 1758]]
[[File:Stadtplan Mannheim 1880.jpg|thumb|left|Historical map of Mannheim in 1880]]
During the eighteenth century, Mannheim was the home of the "[[Mannheim School]]" of [[European classical music|classical music composers]]. Mannheim was said to have one of the best court orchestras in Europe under the leadership of the conductor [[Carlo Grua]]. The royal court of the Palatinate left Mannheim in 1778, as [[Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria|Charles Theodore]] had become [[Elector of Bavaria]] and moved to [[Munich]]. Two decades later, in 1802, Mannheim was removed from the Palatinate and given to the [[Grand Duchy of Baden]].

The [[Year Without a Summer|climate crisis of 1816–17]] caused famine and the death of many horses in Mannheim. That same year [[Karl Drais]] invented the first bicycle.

In 1819, [[August von Kotzebue]] was assassinated in Mannheim.

Infrastructure improvements included the establishment of [[Mannheim Harbour|Rhine Harbour]] in 1828 and the construction of the [[Mannheim–Karlsruhe–Basel railway|first Baden railway]], which opened from Mannheim to Heidelberg in 1840. Influenced by the economic rise of the middle class, another golden age of Mannheim gradually began. In the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the German states|March Revolution of 1848]], the city was a centre for political and revolutionary activity.

In 1865, [[Friedrich Engelhorn]] founded the ''Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik'' (Baden Aniline and Soda Factory, [[BASF]]) in Mannheim, but the factory was constructed across the Rhine in Ludwigshafen because Mannheim residents feared [[air pollution]] from its operations. From this dye factory, BASF has developed into the largest chemical company in the world. After opening a workshop in Mannheim in 1871 and patenting engines from 1878, [[Karl Benz]] patented the first motor car in 1886. He was born in [[Mühlburg]] (now part of Karlsruhe).

===Early 20th century and World War I===
The [[List of Schütte-Lanz airships|Schütte-Lanz company]], founded by Karl Lanz and Johann Schütte in 1909, built 22 airships. The company's main competitor was the [[Zeppelin]] works.

When [[World War I]] broke out in 1914, Mannheim's industrial plants played a key role in Germany's war economy. This contributed to the fact that, on 27 May 1915, Ludwigshafen was the world's first civilian settlement behind the battle lines to be bombed from the air. French aircraft attacked the BASF plants, thereby killing twelve people. The precedent was set for this attack by Germany's repeated air raids against British civilian populations throughout southeastern Britain during the first half of 1915.

When Germany lost the war in 1918, according to the peace terms, the left bank of the Rhine was occupied by French troops. The French occupation lasted until 1930, and some of Ludwigshafen's most elegant houses were erected for the officers of the French garrison.

===Inter-war period===
After the [[First World War]], the Heinrich Lanz Company built the Bulldog, an advanced tractor, powered by heavy oil. As a result of the invention of the pre-combustion chamber by [[Prosper L'Orange]], [[Benz & Cie.]] developed the world's first compact diesel-powered car at its motor works in Mannheim in 1923. In 1922, the ''Grosskraftwerk Mannheim'' (Mannheim large power station) was opened. By 1930, the city, along with its sister city of Ludwigshafen, which had developed out of the old Mannheim Rheinschanze, had a population of 385,000.

===World War II===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971-053-59, Mannheim, US-Truppen im Straßenkampf.jpg|thumb|US troops in street fighting in Mannheim, 1945]]

During [[World War II]], [[Bombing of Mannheim in World War II|air raids on Mannheim]] completely destroyed the city centre. Mannheim was heavily damaged during [[strategic bombing|aerial bombing]] by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF). Allied bombing raids razed the city centre of Mannheim at night-time [[area bombing]], killing thousands of civilians. In the meantime, 2,262 of Mannheim's Jews were sent to [[Nazi concentration camps]]. Some sources state that the first deliberate [[strategic bombing]] of the war occurred at Mannheim during a [[Royal Air Force]] night raid on 16 December 1940.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8J2-kzMxbKYC&q=%22Germany+and+the+Second+World+War%22+%22deliberate+terror%22+Mannheim&pg=PA507 |title=Germany and the Second World War |date= 15 November 2001|access-date=7 April 2011|isbn=978-0-19-822888-2|last1=Boog |first1=Horst |last2=Rahn |first2=Werner |last3=Stumpf |first3=Reinhard |last4=Wegner |first4=Bernd |publisher=OUP Oxford }}</ref> Today around one third of the city consists of buildings from before 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zensus2011.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Publikationen/Aufsaetze_Archiv/2015_12_NI_GWZ_endgueltig.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4|title=Wayback Machine|website=zensus2011.de|access-date=5 June 2024|archive-date=29 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329165923/https://zensus2011.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Publikationen/Aufsaetze_Archiv/2015_12_NI_GWZ_endgueltig.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In late March 1945, the Allied ground advance into Germany reached Mannheim, which was potentially well-defended by German forces. However, the German forces abandoned the city and the [[44th Infantry Division (United States)|U.S. 44th Infantry Division]] entered unopposed on 29 March 1945.<ref>Stanton, Shelby, ''World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division, 1939–1946'' (Revised Edition, 2006), Stackpole Books.</ref> There was later a large American military occupation presence in the Mannheim area with up to 10 barracks. The first one was closed in 2007 and the last in 2013 (see ''United States military installations'' below).

===1950s to 1980s===
[[File:Wasserturm Mannheim.jpg|thumb|right|The Wasserturm Garden]]
After the war, large portions of the city required rebuilding. The [[Mannheim Palace]] and the [[Mannheim Water Tower|water tower]] (''Wasserturm'') were reconstructed, whilst the [[National Theatre Mannheim|National Theatre]] was replaced in a new location. At the old location, there is now a park with a monument to [[Friedrich Schiller]]. The housing shortage led to the development of many new residential areas.

In 1964, the City Hospital (''Städtisches Krankenhaus'') became part of the [[Heidelberg University Faculty of Medicine in Mannheim|Heidelberg University for Clinical Medicine in Mannheim]]. In 1967, the [[University of Mannheim]] was established in the city.

In 1975, the [[Bundesgartenschau]] (''Federal horticulture show'') was celebrated in the [[Luisenpark|Luisen]] and Herzogenried parks. A number of pieces of infrastructure were developed for the show: the [[Fernmeldeturm Mannheim|telecommunications tower]] and a second bridge across the Rhine (the [[:de:Kurt-Schumacher-Brücke (Mannheim)|Kurt Schumacher Bridge]]) were built, the pedestrian zone in the city centre was established, the new Rosengarten conference centre was opened and the [[Aerobus]] was installed as a temporary transport system.

[[File:Skyline von Mannheim aus Heidelberg betrachtet 16-9.jpeg |thumb|300px|right|Mannheim skyline viewed from Heidelberg]]

A number of major projects were completed in the 1980s and 1990s: a planetarium, an extension to the art gallery, the Reiß Museum, the Stadthaus, new [[Mannheim May Market|May Market]] grounds, a synagogue, a mosque, the [[Technoseum|State Museum for Technology and Work]], the [[Carl-Benz-Stadion|Carl-Benz stadium]] and the Fahrlach tunnel were opened.

Mannheim has lost many industrial jobs where previously the city was economically dominated by manufacturing. The city previously tried to prevent the establishment of service providers by designating some locations as industrial areas. A prime example of the current trend is the construction of the Victoria Tower (Victoria-Turm) in 2001, one of the tallest buildings in the city, on railway land.
{{Panorama
|image   =  Victoria-Turm Mannheim am Rangierbahnhof bei Nacht.jpg
|height  = 250px
|width   = 
|alt     = Victoria Tower Mannheim at the marshalling yard at night
|caption = [[Victoria Turm]] Mannheim at the marshalling yard at night
|dir     = 
|align   = center
}}

===Post-reunification===
In 2001, the city hospital was officially and legally renamed to the [[University Hospital Mannheim]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zusammenschluss der Unikliniken Heidelberg und Mannheim untersagt |url=https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2024/26_07_2024_Heidelberg_Mannheim.html#:~:text=Das%20Universit%C3%A4tsklinikum%20Mannheim%20(%E2%80%9E%20UKMA%20%E2%80%9C,die%20Bezeichnung%20Universit%C3%A4tsklinikum%20f%C3%BChren%20darf. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726233810/https://www.bundeskartellamt.de/SharedDocs/Meldung/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2024/26_07_2024_Heidelberg_Mannheim.html#:~:text=Das%20Universit%C3%A4tsklinikum%20Mannheim%20(%E2%80%9E%20UKMA%20%E2%80%9C,die%20Bezeichnung%20Universit%C3%A4tsklinikum%20f%C3%BChren%20darf. |archive-date=26 July 2024 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Bundeskartellamt |language=de |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 400th anniversary of the city was in 2006, since [[Frederick IV, Elector Palatine]] laid the foundations of Mannheim citadel on 17 March 1606. Mannheim instead celebrated its 400th anniversary with a series of cultural and other events throughout 2007. In preparation for the anniversary, some urban activities were implemented, beginning in 2000: the building of the [[SAP Arena]] with access to the city's new eastern ring road, the rehabilitation of the pedestrian zone in Breite Straße, the arsenal and the palace, the complete transformation of the old fairground, and the new Schafweide tram line. The concept of the anniversary of the city was for a diverse range of events rather than a single central event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Encke |first=Nadja |title=Stadtjubiläum Mannheim 2007 |url=http://nadja-encke.de/pics/Stadtjubilaeum_Mannheim_2007.pdf}}</ref>

In 2023, Mannheim again hosted the [[Bundesgartenschau]] 2023 (Federal Garden Show); after first hosting in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BUGA 2023 in Mannheim |url=https://www.visit-mannheim.de/buga-2023 |access-date= |website=Stadtmarketing Mannheim GmbH}}</ref>

On 31 May 2024, a [[2024 Mannheim stabbing|mass stabbing took place]] at a [[counter-jihad]] [[Citizens' Movement Pax Europa|BPE]] rally in the market square. A police officer was killed and six others, including guest speaker Michael Stürzenberger, were injured. The suspect confessed to having [[Islamism|Islamist]] motivations behind the attack, which was meant to be an assassination attempt on Stürzenberger for his [[criticism of Islam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-25 |title=Geständnis im Mordprozess: Was der Attentäter von Mannheim vor Gericht selbst aussagt |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/mannheim/mordprozess-stammheim-messerangriff-polizist-rouven-laur-angeklagter-sagt-aus-100.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=SWR Aktuell |language=de}}</ref>

On 3 March 2025, a [[2025 Mannheim car attack|car was intentionally driven into a crowd]] at Paradeplatz. Two pedestrians were killed and 14 were injured. The suspect, who had a history of mental health issues, as well as previous convictions for assault and hate speech, refused to give motivations for the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-27 |title=Täter schweigt weiter nach Mannheimer Amokfahrt: Was ein psychiatrisches Gutachten bringen soll |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/mannheim/amokfahrt-mannheim-taeter-schweigt-motiv-unklar-100.html#:~:text=Ergebnis%20des%20Gutachtens%20zur%20Amokfahrt%20dauert%20Wochen&text=Dabei%20hat%20er%20zwei%20Menschen,Schreckschusswaffe%20in%20den%20Mund%20geschossen. |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=SWR Aktuell |language=de}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
Mannheim features a [[Temperateness|temperate]] [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Dobk'').<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web|title=Average Temperature by month, Mannheim water temperature - Climate Data|url=https://en.climate-data.org/europa/alemanha/baden-wuerttemberg/mannheim-2123|publisher=Climate-Data.org|access-date=25 July 2025}}</ref>
The city is located in Germany's warmest summer region, the "[[Upper Rhine Plain|Rhine shift]]". The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|39.8|°C|0|abbr=on}} on 7 August 2015.

In comparison to other regions of Germany, Mannheim has a higher humidity in summer, causing a higher heat index. Snow is rare, even in the cold months. Precipitation occurs mostly during afternoon thunderstorms during warmer weather (average days with thunderstorms annually is 40–50). The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The city is one of the warmest in [[Germany]] in [[winter]].

{{Clear}}
{{Weather box
|location = Mannheim (1991–2020 normals)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 16.9
|Feb record high C = 20.2
|Mar record high C = 26.1
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 33.2
|Jun record high C = 38.9
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 39.8
|Sep record high C = 34.3
|Oct record high C = 28.5
|Nov record high C = 22.6
|Dec record high C = 17.5
|year record high C = 39.8
|Jan record low C = -18.7
|Feb record low C = -21.1
|Mar record low C = -13.6
|Apr record low C = -6.4
|May record low C = -0.1
|Jun record low C = 4.0
|Jul record low C = 4.7
|Aug record low C = 5.3
|Sep record low C = 2.5
|Oct record low C = -5.0
|Nov record low C = -8.7
|Dec record low C = -18.3
|year record low C = -21.1
|Jan high C = 	5.3
|Feb high C = 	7.3
|Mar high C = 	12.2
|Apr high C = 	17.2
|May high C = 	21.0
|Jun high C = 	24.5
|Jul high C = 	26.7
|Aug high C = 	26.5
|Sep high C = 	21.6
|Oct high C = 	15.5
|Nov high C = 	9.3
|Dec high C = 	6.1
| year high C =	16.1
|Jan mean C = 	2.7
|Feb mean C = 	3.9
|Mar mean C = 	7.1
|Apr mean C = 	11.3
|May mean C = 	15.3
|Jun mean C = 	18.8
|Jul mean C = 	20.7
|Aug mean C = 	20.3
|Sep mean C = 	15.8
|Oct mean C = 	10.9
|Nov mean C = 	6.2
|Dec mean C = 	3.4
|year mean C = 	11.3
|Jan low C = 	0.2
|Feb low C = 	0.5
|Mar low C = 	2.1
|Apr low C = 	5.1
|May low C = 	9.2
|Jun low C = 	12.7
|Jul low C = 	14.6
|Aug low C = 	14.4
|Sep low C = 	10.6
|Oct low C = 	6.7
|Nov low C = 	2.8
|Dec low C = 	0.7
| year low C =	6.5
| precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	41.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 	40.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 	42.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 	40.5
|May precipitation mm = 	67.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 	63.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 	71.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 	61.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 	50.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 	53.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 	52.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 	55.0
| year precipitation mm =	640.5
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	15.1
|Feb precipitation days = 	13.9
|Mar precipitation days = 	13.5
|Apr precipitation days = 	12.0
|May precipitation days = 	14.4
|Jun precipitation days = 	13.0
|Jul precipitation days = 	14.4
|Aug precipitation days = 	13.5
|Sep precipitation days = 	11.8
|Oct precipitation days = 	13.8
|Nov precipitation days = 	15.5
|Dec precipitation days = 	17.2
|year precipitation days = 	168.3
|Jan sun = 	56.0
|Feb sun = 	82.1
|Mar sun = 	135.9
|Apr sun = 	190.8
|May sun = 	216.9
|Jun sun = 	225.6
|Jul sun = 	235.6
|Aug sun = 	224.2
|Sep sun = 	169.7
|Oct sun = 	108.1
|Nov sun = 	56.1
|Dec sun = 	44.1
|year sun = 	1733.7
|Jan humidity = 	82.4
|Feb humidity = 	77.8
|Mar humidity = 	70.7
|Apr humidity = 	64.8
|May humidity = 	67.0
|Jun humidity = 	66.0
|Jul humidity = 	65.2
|Aug humidity = 	66.6
|Sep humidity = 	72.9
|Oct humidity = 	81.3
|Nov humidity = 	85.4
|Dec humidity = 	84.9
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 	5.7
|Feb snow days = 	3.1
|Mar snow days = 	1.0
|Apr snow days = 	0
|May snow days = 	0
|Jun snow days = 	0
|Jul snow days = 	0
|Aug snow days = 	0
|Sep snow days = 	0
|Oct snow days = 	0
|Nov snow days = 	0.6
|Dec snow days = 	3.0
|year snow days = 
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163021/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Mannheim_10729.csv
| archive-date = 12 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Mannheim_10729.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2010
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Data derived from [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/appmanager/bvbw/dwdwwwDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=_dwdwww_klima_umwelt_klimadaten_deutschland&T82002gsbDocumentPath=Navigation%2FOeffentlichkeit%2FKlima__Umwelt%2FKlimadaten%2Fkldaten__kostenfrei%2Fausgabe__monatswerte__node.html%3F__nnn%3Dtrue
  |title=Ausgabe der Klimadaten: Monatswerte
  }}
|date=July 2014
|source 2= {{cite web
  |url= http://www.wettergefahren-fruehwarnung.de/Artikel/dekaden_jan.htm
  |title=Dekadenrekorde
  }}</ref>
|date=November 2015
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Mannheim 2019–present
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 7.2
|Feb high C = 11.3
|Mar high C = 13.0
|Apr high C = 19.1
|May high C = 19.3
|Jun high C = 25.9
|Jul high C = 27.5
|Aug high C = 27.6
|Sep high C = 21.4
|Oct high C = 16.6
|Nov high C = 8.7
|Dec high C = 7.6
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 4.4
|Feb mean C = 6.1
|Mar mean C = 8.2
|Apr mean C = 12.3
|May mean C = 13.7
|Jun mean C = 19.9
|Jul mean C = 21.0
|Aug mean C = 20.9
|Sep mean C = 16.0
|Oct mean C = 12.6
|Nov mean C = 6.0
|Dec mean C = 4.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 1.0
|Feb low C = 1.6
|Mar low C = 3.1
|Apr low C = 4.8
|May low C = 7.0
|Jun low C = 12.9
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 14.8
|Sep low C = 10.2
|Oct low C = 9.0
|Nov low C = 3.0
|Dec low C = 1.9
|year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 15.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 49.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 35.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 22.6
|May precipitation mm = 55.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 81.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 38.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 63.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 77.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 89.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 48.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 52.3
|year precipitation mm = 
| snow colour    = 
| Jan snow cm  = 4.0
| Feb snow cm  = 1.6
| Mar snow cm  = 1.2
| Apr snow cm  = 0
| May snow cm  = 0
| Jun snow cm  = 0
| Jul snow cm  = 0
| Aug snow cm  = 0
| Sep snow cm  = 0
| Oct snow cm  = 1.0
| Nov snow cm  = 2.0
| Dec snow cm  = 5.6
| year snow cm = 2.6
|Jan sun = 57.3
|Feb sun = 116.2
|Mar sun = 164.0
|Apr sun = 251.2
|May sun = 247.9
|Jun sun = 268.1
|Jul sun = 286.1
|Aug sun = 248.9
|Sep sun = 199.1
|Oct sun = 97.5
|Nov sun = 38.2
|Dec sun = 53.4
|year sun = 
|source 1 = ''Deutscher Wetterdienst''<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/klimadatendeutschland.html?nn=540998 |title=Heidelberg historic weather averages |access-date= 13 August 2020 |publisher=weather-online}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

=== Population ===
{{Historical populations|1450|570|1663|3000|1729|15760|1777|25353|1802|18818|1852|24316|1871|39606|1890|79058|1895|97780|1900|141131|1919|229576|1925|247486|1933|275162|1939|284957|1945|186310|1950|245634|1956|287210|1961|313890|1966|329301|1971|332378|1976|309059|1981|304219|1986|294648|1990|310411|2001|308385|2011|290117|2022|313693|align=right|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.}}

Mannheim, with a population of 315,000, is the 2nd largest city in [[Baden-Württemberg]]. Its location near the [[Rhine]] and [[Neckar]] rivers spurred Mannheim's industrialization and transition into a major city in the early 19th century. The city was heavily damaged during WWII but soon regained prominence as an industrial centre, causing rapid population growth in the 1950s. Many motor, electronic and power plant companies came to Mannheim and other cities in the Rhine-Neckar Region, including [[Ludwigshafen]] and [[Heidelberg]]. The population of Mannheim started to decline in the 1980s but began to rebound in the 2010s, partially due to its large [[University of Mannheim|university]] population.

====Nationalities====
The following list shows the most significant groups of foreigners in the city of Mannheim by nationalities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Staatsangehörigkeiten der Ausländerinnen und Ausländer zum 31.12.2017 |url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/stadt-gestalten/daten-und-fakten/bevoelkerung/einwohner-mit-migrationshintergrund |access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> In total 44.7% of all Mannheim inhabitants are of foreign descent. The Neckarstadt-West district has the biggest foreign population with 68.9%, while the Wallstadt district has the smallest with 23.1%. A large proportion of the immigrants are from the Balkans and European countries.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" |Rank
! style="background:#efefef;" |Nationality
! style="background:#efefef;" |Population (31 December 2022)
|-
|1||Turkey|| 15,779 (5.12%)
|-
|2||Italy|| 8,165 (2.65%)
|-
|3||Bulgaria|| 6,997 (2.27%)
|-
|4||Poland|| 6,595 (2.14%)
|-
|5||Romania|| 5,663 (1.83%)
|-
|6||Croatia|| 4,565 (1.48%)
|-
|7||Ukraine|| 4,207 (1.32%)
|-
|8||Greece|| 3,341 (1.08%)
|-
|9||Spain|| 1,754 (0.56%)
|-
|10||Bosnia and Herzegovina|| 1,680 (0.54%)
|-
|11||Syria|| 1,642 (0.53%)
|-
|12||India|| 1,541 (0.5%)
|-
|13||Hungary|| 1,341 (0.43%)
|-
|14||France|| 1,266 (0.41%)
|-
|15||Kosovo|| 1,164 (0.37%)
|}

==== Religion ====
The distribution of Mannheim's population by religious affiliation (as of December 31, 2020) is [[Roman Catholic]] 25.4%, [[Protestant]] 20.0%, and other/[[Irreligion|none]] 54.6%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Religionszugehörigkeit in Mannheim {{!}} Mannheim.de|url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/stadt-gestalten/daten-und-fakten/bevoelkerung/religionszugehoerigkeit|access-date=2021-12-18|website=www.mannheim.de}}</ref>

== Culture ==
===Theatre===
The [[National Theatre Mannheim]] was founded in 1779 and is the oldest "Stage" in Germany. In 1782 the premiere of ''Die Räuber'', written by [[Friedrich Schiller]], was given.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fühner|first=Ruth|date=2007-01-13|title=Neues in der Theaterwelt|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/neues-in-der-theaterwelt-100.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[Deutschlandfunk]]|language=de}}</ref>

Recently, smaller stages have opened, such as the Oststadt-Theater, the TIG7 (Theater im Quadrat G7), the Theater Oliv, the Freilichtbühne, the Theater31, the Theater ImPuls, the Theater Felina-Areal, the Mannheimer Puppenspiele, the Kleinkunstbühne Klapsmühl', Schatzkistl, and [[zeitraumexit]].

===Sport===
[[File:Carl-Benz-Stadion 2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Carl-Benz-Stadion]], the home stadium of SV Waldhof Mannheim]]
There are two nationally renowned football clubs in Mannheim. [[SV Waldhof Mannheim]] currently play in the third tier [[3. Liga]], but previously appeared in the top tier [[Bundesliga]]. [[VfR Mannheim]], winners of the [[History of German football#Postwar football|German championship in 1949]], now play in the sixth tier [[Verbandsliga Baden]].

[[Adler Mannheim]] (formerly MERC, Mannheimer Eis- und Rollsport-Club) is an [[ice hockey]] team that plays in the professional [[Deutsche Eishockey Liga]]. They have won the German championship a total of eight times (7 times the Deutsche Eishockey Liga and once the former [[Eishockey-Bundesliga|Bundesliga]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Championnat d'Allemagne de hockey sur glace 1979/80|url=http://www.passionhockey.com/hockeyarchives/Allemagne1980.htm|access-date=1 September 2020|website=www.passionhockey.com}}</ref>

The city is home to the [[Mannheim Tornados]], the oldest operational baseball and softball club in Germany. The Tornados play in the first division of the [[Bundesliga (baseball)|Baseball Bundesliga]] and have won the championship 11 times, more than any other club.<ref>[http://www.tornados.de/modules/info/index.php?cat=2&id=180]{{dead link|date=April 2011}}</ref>

In 2003, the [[American football]] club [[Rhein-Neckar Bandits]] was founded. They play in the first German Football League (also known as GFL1). As of 2018, between 500 and 900 people watch each game.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|title="Leute sollen Spaß am Sport haben" – Bitte keine Fußball-Verhältnisse im Football|url=https://www.vereinsleben.de/neuigkeiten/8/2019-02-01-interview-essam-shurbaji-mannheim-bandits-leute-sollen-spass-am-sport-haben|access-date=2021-12-18|website=www.vereinsleben.de|language=de}}</ref>

[[Rhein-Neckar Löwen]] are a [[Team Handball|handball]] team who play in the professional [[Bundesliga (handball)|German Handball League]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|date=2021-12-12|title=Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Stuttgart und Göppingen mit Pleiten|url=https://www.swr.de/sport/mehr-sport/handball/bundesliga/rhein-neckar-loewen-kiel-106.html|access-date=2021-12-18|website=swr.online|language=de|archive-date=18 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218194152/https://www.swr.de/sport/mehr-sport/handball/bundesliga/rhein-neckar-loewen-kiel-106.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[WWE]] visited Mannheim in 2008 where around 10,000 fans attended the event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RAW Survivor Series Tour 2008 Ergebnisse aus Mannheim/Deutschland (5.11.08) {{!}} Wrestling-Infos.de|date=5 November 2008 |url=https://www.wrestling-infos.de/2858.html|access-date=2021-12-18|language=de}}</ref>

UFC fighter [[Dennis Siver]] lives and trains in Mannheim.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-14|title=Dennis Siver im Schnelldurchlauf {{!}} UFC|url=https://kr.ufc.com/node/72212|access-date=2021-12-18|website=kr.ufc.com|language=ko}}</ref>

The [[Maimarkt-Turnier Mannheim]] is an annual international horse show held during the Mannheimer Maimarkt since 1964. Mannheim hosted the [[European Show Jumping Championships]] in 1997, and the [[2007 FEI European Jumping Championship|FEI European Jumping Championships in 2007]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.em2007.de/ |title=FEI European Jumping Championship, Mannheim |publisher=Em2007.de |access-date=7 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718234211/http://www.em2007.de/ |archive-date=18 July 2011  }}</ref>

In 2002, [[Hobby horse polo]] was invented in Mannheim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.steckenpferdpolo.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Express_23_06_2013_Steckenpferdpolo-001.jpg|title=Express 23 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.steckenpferdpolo.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Rheinpfalz_25_Juli_2008.jpg|title=Rheinpfalz July 25 2008}}</ref><ref name="Eva Gerten-2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/steckenpferdpolo-trendsportart-in-duesseldorf-im-rheinpark-a-994129.html|title=Steckenpferdpolo: Trendsportart in Düsseldorf im Rheinpark|author=Eva Gerten |date=27 September 2014|work=SPIEGEL ONLINE}}</ref>

===Inventions===
[[File:Monument of first motorcar.jpg|thumb|Monument of first car, in Mannheim]]
Many significant inventions originate from Mannheim:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mannheimer Erfindungen |url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/wirtschaft-entwickeln/wirtschaftsstandort/forschung-entwicklung/mannheimer-erfindungen |website=Mannheim.de |language=de}}</ref>
*[[Karl Drais]] built the first two-wheeled ''[[draisine]]'' in 1817, the first [[bicycle]] in history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scally |first=Derek |date=10 June 2017 |title=World's first bicycle ride took place 200 years ago |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/world-s-first-bicycle-ride-took-place-200-years-ago-1.3112354 |access-date=29 March 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Karl Benz]] drove the first [[automobile]] in history on the streets of Mannheim in 1886. He had produced [[Benz Patent Motorwagen|a three-wheeled vehicle]] powered by a single cylinder [[gasoline|petrol/gasoline]]-fueled engine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.edn.com/karl-benz-drives-the-first-automobile-july-3-1886/ | title=Karl Benz drives the first automobile, July 3, 1886 | date=3 July 2019 | access-date=16 July 2023 | archive-date=16 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716110035/https://www.edn.com/karl-benz-drives-the-first-automobile-july-3-1886/}}</ref> In August 1888, Karl's wife [[Bertha Benz]] undertook the world's first [[road trip]] by automobile from Mannheim to [[Pforzheim]] and back,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bertha Benz Memorial Route|url=http://www.bertha-benz.de/indexen.php?inhalt=home|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.bertha-benz.de}}</ref> a journey of roughly 65 miles.
* The Lanz Bulldog, a popular tractor with a rugged, simple Diesel engine was developed in 1921.
* Karl Benz developed the world's first compact diesel-powered car at the [[Benz & Cie.]] motor works in Mannheim in 1923.
* [[Julius Hatry]] built the world's first rocket plane in 1929.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lessing |first=Hans-Erhard |title=Mannheimer Pioniere |publisher=Wellhöfer |year=2007 |isbn=9783939540137 |pages=215 |language=de}}</ref>
* Dario Fontanella, an Italian [[Gastarbeiter|guest worker]], invented [[Spaghettieis]] (spaghetti ice cream) in 1969.
<gallery>
File:draisine1817.jpg|The world's first [[draisine|bicycle]], built in Mannheim by [[Karl Drais|Karl Freiherr von Drais]] in 1817
File:The first bicycle.png|The first bicycle by Von Drais
File: 1885Benz.jpg|The [[Benz Patent-Motorwagen|world's first automobile]], built in Mannheim by [[Karl Benz]] in 1885
File:berthabenzmemorialrouteschild.jpg|Official sign of [[Bertha Benz Memorial Route]], commemorating the world's first long-distance journey by automobile from Mannheim to Pforzheim in 1888 {{convert|104|km|0|abbr=on}}
</gallery>

==Education==
{{Panorama
|image   = SchlossMannheim-Pano-130616.jpg
|height  = 200px
|width   = 
|alt     = The University of Mannheim's main campus – the Palace in a 180-degree panoramic view
|caption = The [[University of Mannheim]]'s main campus – the Palace in a 180-degree panoramic view
|dir     = 
|align   = center
}}
The [[University of Mannheim]] is one of Germany's younger universities. Although founded in 1967, it has its origins in the ''Palatine Academy of Sciences'', established in 1763, and the former Handelshochschule (Commercial College), founded in 1907. Situated in [[Mannheim Palace]], it is Germany's leading university in the fields of business and economics and attracts students from around the world. Described by ''[[Die Zeit]]'' as the '[[Harvard University|Harvard]] of Germany',<ref name="www.zeit.de-2002">{{Cite web |date=2002-05-23 |title=Deutsches Havard |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2F2002%2F22%2FDeutsches_Harvard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004153921/http://www.zeit.de/2002/22/Deutsches_Harvard |archive-date=4 October 2017 |access-date=2022-01-17 |website=www.zeit.de}}</ref> it is seen as the training grounds of German business leaders. Just under 12,000 students were enrolled at the end of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Studierendenstatistik Herbst-/Wintersemester 2024/2025 |url=https://www.uni-mannheim.de/media/Universitaet/Dokumente/Studierendenstatistik/2020-/Studierendenstatistik_HWS_2024_UniMA.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-06-19}}</ref>

The university town also houses one of the medical schools of [[Heidelberg University]] (at the [[University Hospital Mannheim]]), the [[Hochschule Mannheim]], a branch of the [[Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University|Duale Hochschule of the State of Baden-Württemberg]] and several musical and theatrical academies, including the Pop Academy Mannheim, the Musikhochschule and the Theaterakademie. These institutions draw a large and diverse student body.

Dependents of U.S. military personnel attended Mannheim Elementary School until it closed in June 2012.<ref>Casebeer, Elizabeth. "[http://www.army.mil/article/81729/Mannheim_Elementary_closes_doors_after_66_years__Teachers__students_all_attend_ceremony_to_say_goodb/ Mannheim Elementary closes doors after 66 years: Teachers, students all attend ceremony to say goodb]." [[U.S. Army]]. 14 June 2012. Retrieved on 16 November 2015.</ref> In the 1980s the school had 2,200 students.<ref>Montgomery, Nancy. "[http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/germany/closing-of-bases-in-mannheim-ends-special-relationship-between-germans-u-s-troops-1.144258 Closing of bases in Mannheim ends special relationship between Germans, U.S. troops]." ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]''. 22 May 2011. Retrieved on 16 November 2015.</ref>

== Government and politics ==
===Mayor===

[[File:Christian Specht 2.jpg|thumb|Christian Specht in 2011]]

The mayor is the head of the city council and chairman of the council, being selected by direct suffrage for a term of eight years. The current mayor is {{interlanguage link|Christian Specht|de|Christian Specht (Politiker)}} from the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU).

In 2023, Specht ran in the election for mayor of Mannheim, in which incumbent [[Peter Kurz]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]) did not contest the election, and was supported by the CDU Mannheim, the {{interlanguage link|Mannheimer Liste|de}} and the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] Mannheim.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-12|author=Timo Schmidhuber|date=2023-01-23|title=CDU-Politiker Christian Specht tritt bei OB-Wahl in Mannheim an|url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-cdu-politiker-christian-specht-tritt-bei-ob-wahl-in-mannheim-an-_arid,2041987.html|website=mannheimer-morgen.de}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-01-20|author=Timo Schmidhuber|date=2023-01-20|publisher=Mannheimer Morgen|title=OB-Kandidat Specht: "Mannheim ist für mich eine Herzensangelegenheit"|url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-ob-kandidat-specht-mannheim-ist-fuer-mich-eine-herzensangelegenheit-_arid,2041993.html}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In the first round of voting on June 18, 2023, he received 45.64% of the vote. On July 9, 2023, he won the second round of voting with 49.9% of the vote, ahead of SPD candidate Thorsten Riehle (48.7%) and independent candidate Uğur Çakir (1.3%).<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-12|date=2023-07-09|title=Christian Specht neuer Oberbürgermeister|url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/nachrichten/christian-specht-neuer-oberbuergermeister|website=mannheim.de}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> 
Due to an objection to the election results, Specht was initially elected as appointed mayor by the city council.<ref name="Amtsantritt 2023">{{cite web|access-date=2023-08-04|date=2023-08-03|language=de|title=Christian Specht zum bestellten Oberbürgermeister gewählt {{!}} Mannheim.de|url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/nachrichten/christian-specht-zum-bestellten-oberbuergermeister-gewaehlt}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The objection was rejected by the {{interlanguage link|Karlsruhe Regional Council|de|Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe}} on August 2, 2023, making Specht's election valid.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-08-13|date=2023-08-03|language=de|title=Einsprüche zurückgewiesen: Was das für Christian Specht bedeutet|url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-einsprueche-zurueckgewiesen-was-das-fuer-christian-specht-bedeutet-_arid,2111918.html}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> He took office on August 4, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-10|author=Holger Neumann|date=2023-07-10|publisher=swr.de|title=Amtsantritt am 4. August: Mannheims neuer OB Specht setzt auf "Koalition der Willigen"|url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/mannheim/interview-ob-wahl-mannheim-sieger-christian-specht-100.html|website=SWR4 BW Regional}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> making him the first CDU mayor in Mannheim since [[:de:Josef Braun|Josef Braun]] (1945–1948).<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-12|author=Peter Kiefer|date=2023-06-22|title=OB-Wahl in Mannheim – dieses Ergebnis gab es in der Quadratestadt noch nie zuvor|url=https://www.mannheim24.de/mannheim/rathaus-endergebnis-ob-wahl-mannheim-ergebnis-premiere-cdu-kandidat-christian-specht-mitte-92352372.html|website=mannheim24.de}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| '''Christian Specht'''
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]]
| 34,329
| 45.6
| '''35,981'''
| '''49.9'''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Thorsten Riehle
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 22,748
| 30.2
| 35,122
| 48.7
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| Raymond Fojkar
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]
| 10,379
| 13.8
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| Thomas Bischoff
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]]
| 2,327
| 3.3
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| David Frey
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 1,081
| 1.4
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Tanja Krone
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 903
| 1.2
| align=center colspan=2| ''Withdrew''
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Uğur Çakir
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 638
| 0.85
| 947
| 1.3
|-
| colspan=3 align=left| ''Others''
| 41
| 0.1
| 70
| 0.1
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 75,222
! 99.4
! 72,120
! 99.4
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 467
! 0.6
! 415
! 0.6
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 75,689
! 100.0
! 72,535
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 234,942
! 32.2
! 234,861
! 30.9
|-
| colspan=7| Source: [https://wahlergebnisse.komm.one/lb/produktion/wahltermin-20230618/08222000/praesentation/index.html City of Mannheim]
|}

The city leaders since 1810 are:
{{div col|colwidth=21em}}
* 1810–1820: Johann Wilhelm Reinhardt
* 1820–1832: Valentin Möhl
* 1833–1835: Heinrich Andriano
* 1836–1849: Ludwig Jolly
* 1849–1852: Friedrich Reiß
* 1852–1861: Heinrich Christian Diffené
* 1861–1870: Ludwig Achenbach
* 1870–1891: Eduard Moll
* 1891–1908: Otto Beck
* 1908–1913: Paul Martin
* 1914–1928: Theodor Kutzer
* 1928–1933: Hermann Heimerich (SPD)
* 1933–1945: Carl Renninger ([[NSDAP]])
* 1945–1948: Josef Braun (CDU)
* 1948–1949: Fritz Cahn-Garnier (SPD)
* 1949–1955: Hermann Heimerich (SPD)
* 1956–1972: Hans Reschke (independent)
* 1972–1980: Ludwig Ratzel (SPD)
* 1980–1983: Wilhelm Varnholt (SPD)
* 1983–2007: Gerhard Widder (SPD)
* 2007–2023: Peter Kurz (SPD)
* 2023–present: Christian Specht (CDU)
{{div col end}}

===City council===
[[File:Technisches Rathaus in Mannheim.jpg|thumb|Town hall in E&nbsp;5]]
The council has 48 seats and is elected by direct suffrage every five years. In the local elections in Baden-Württemberg, voters are allowed to take advantage of [[cumulative voting]] and [[Panachage|vote splitting]]. Since the Second World War, the SPD has received more votes than the CDU in all elections except for 1999, 2004, and 2024. In the 2019 election, the Greens received the most votes for the first time.

The most recent city council election was held on 9 June 2024, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 1,110,883
| 21.6
| {{increase}} 2.5
| 10
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 1,035,384
| 20.1
| {{decrease}} 4.3
| 9
| {{decrease}} 3
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 952,919
| 18.5
| {{decrease}} 2.7
| 9
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 731,679
| 14.2
| {{increase}} 5.0
| 7
| {{increase}} 3
|-
| 
| align=left| Free Voters/Mannheimer List (ML)
| 346,759
| 6.7
| {{decrease}} 0.7
| 3
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 276,672
| 5.4
| {{decrease}} 0.7
| 3
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 254,373
| 4.9
| {{decrease}} 1.1
| 2
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Human Environment Animal Protection Party}}| 
| align=left| [[Human Environment Animal Protection Party|Animal Protection Party]] (Tierschutz)
| 112,496
| 2.2
| {{increase}} 1.1
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| 
| align=left| [[Die PARTEI]] (PARTEI)
| 108,638
| 2.1
| {{decrease}} 0.9
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| 
| align=left| Middle-Class for Mannheim (MfM)
| 76,555
| 1.5
| {{increase}} 0.2
| 1
| {{steady}} 0
|-
| 
| align=left| The Mannheimers
| 64,393
| 1.3
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Klimaliste}}| 
| align=left| [[Klimaliste|Climate List Baden-Württemberg]] (Klima)
| 59,228
| 1.2
| New
| 1
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Protect the Cars
| 12,632
| 0.2
| New
| 0
| New
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 5,142,611
! 100.0
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid ballots
! 2,479
! 2.1
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total ballots
! 120,729
! 100.0
! 
! 48
! ±0
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 238,394
! 51.5
! {{increase}} 1.7
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=7| Source: [https://wahlergebnisse.komm.one/lb/produktion/wahltermin-20240609/08222000/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=1677&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_-10065_id_16232 City of Mannheim]
|}

==United States military installations==
A number of [[U.S. Army Europe]] installations were located in and near to Mannheim during the [[Cold War]]. The following locations provided services to and housed the "U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim" and other units of the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim was formally deactivated on 31 May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/59265/Mannheim_Deactivation_Ceremony/|title=Mannheim Deactivation Ceremony|author=USAG BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG PUBLIC AFFAIRS|date=9 June 2011}}</ref>

* Coleman Barracks and [[Coleman Army Airfield]] (Mannheim-Sandhofen): the headquarters of the [[American Forces Network]]-Europe, and the location of the [[United States Army Corrections Facility-Europe]].
* Funari Barracks (Mannheim-Käfertal), vacated in 2014.
* Spinelli Barracks (Mannheim-Feudenheim), vacated in 2015, the home of the Army's 28th Transportation [[Battalion]]. 
* Sullivan Barracks (Mannheim-Käfertal): formerly the headquarters of the [[7th Signal Brigade (United States)|U.S. Army's 7th Signal Brigade]] and the 529th Military Police Honor Guard Company's 2nd Platoon; vacated in 2014.
* [[Taylor Barracks]] (Mannheim-Vogelstang): formerly the headquarters of the [[2nd Signal Brigade (United States)|U.S. Army's 2nd Signal Brigade]]; vacated in 2011.
* Turley Barracks (Mannheim-Käfertal): in the early 1990s was home to the 181st Transportation Bn, with companies of 40th, 41st, 51st, 590th, TTP, and HHC transportation companies and also the headquarters of the NATO [[ACE Mobile Force (Land)]] (AMFL).
* The [[Benjamin Franklin Village]] (Mannheim-Käfertal), housing. Also home to the Mannheim American High School and the Middle School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mann-ms.eu.dodea.edu/|title=DoDEA: Mannheim Middle School|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070923115250/http://www.mann-ms.eu.dodea.edu/|archive-date=23 September 2007|access-date=7 June 2007}}</ref> which closed on 9 June 2011 before the last soldier and his family moved out in 2012.

The following locations were part of the "U.S. Army Garrison [[Heidelberg]]" but were within the area of the city of Mannheim until they were vacated in 2010 and 2011:
* Friedrichsfeld Service Center (Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld)
* Hammonds Barracks (formerly Loretto Kaserne) (Mannheim-Seckenheim)
* Stem Kaserne (Mannheim-Seckenheim)

All personnel of the U.S. Army military community left Mannheim by 2015, some of them moving to Wiesbaden. With the exception of four barracks, all other barracks formerly occupied by the U.S. military had been returned to the German state for conversion to civilian use in 2011.

==Main sights==
[[File:Jesuitenkirche West.jpg|thumb|upright|Jesuit Church (background) and Sternwarte (defunct observatory; in the foreground)]]
[[File:NUB Mannheim 2014-03-13.jpg|thumb|[[Neckaruferbebauung Nord]] in 2014]]
* [[Fernmeldeturm Mannheim]] – 217.8-metre-high telecommunication tower, landmark of Mannheim
* {{ill|Synagoge (Mannheim)|de}} – post World War II synagogue
* [[Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque]]
* [[Luisenpark]] – named one of the most beautiful parks in Europe with around 1.2 million visitors annually<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tagesausflug Luisenpark Mannheim|url=https://www.cbf-suedpfalz.de/termin/tagesausflug-luisenpark-mannheim/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Club Behinderter und ihrer Freunde Südpfalz e.V.|language=de-DE}}</ref>
* [[Mannheim Palace]] (''Mannheimer Schloss'') – the city castle, main building of the [[University of Mannheim]] and second-largest palace complex in [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style after [[Versailles]]
* [https://www.visit-mannheim.de/en/Media/attractions/water-tower Wasserturm – the town's landmark water tower]
* [[Jesuit Church (Mannheim)|Jesuit Church]]
* [[SAP Arena]] – multifunctional indoor [[arena]], home of Mannheim's ice-hockey team [[Adler Mannheim|"Die Adler"]] ("The Eagles")<ref>{{Cite web|title=SAP-Arena|url=http://www.mannheim.citysam.de/sap-arena.htm#sap-arena-1|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.mannheim.citysam.de|language=de}}</ref>
* Breite Strasse, Kunststrasse, and [[Kapuzinerplanken]] – Mannheim's main shopping destinations
* [[International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg]]
*[[Kunsthalle Mannheim]] – museum of modern and contemporary art
*[[Technoseum]] – technology museum
*[https://www.visit-mannheim.de/en/Media/attractions/multihalle-mannheim Multihalle – multi-purpose hall in Mannheim's Herzogenriedpark, the world's largest self-supporting wooden lattice-shell construction]
* Wildpark and Waldvogelpark am Karlstern
* The city centre – designed in squares (Quadratestadt)
* Reißinsel – a natural area bequeathed to the residents of Mannheim by honorary citizen Carl Reiß<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reißinsel in Mannheim|url=https://www.visit-mannheim.de/Media/attraktionen/reissinsel-mannheim|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Stadtmarketing Mannheim GmbH}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Reiss Engelhorn Museum]] – museum with four exhibition halls presenting exhibits in archaeology, world cultures, history of art and culture, photography, and history of theater and music
*[[Mannheim May Market|Maimarkt]] – largest regional trade fair in Germany<ref>{{Cite web|title=Messehostessen für die Maimarkt Messe in Mannheim|url=https://messehostessen.info/messehostessen/maimarkt-hostessenagentur-mannheim/|access-date=2021-12-24|language=de-DE}}</ref>
* Marktplatz (Market square) – hosts a farmers' market every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Marktplatz Mannheim|url=https://www.visit-mannheim.de/Media/attraktionen/marktplatz-mannheim|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Stadtmarketing Mannheim GmbH}}</ref> Fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers are sold.
* {{ill|Mannheimer Mess|de}} (Mannheim Fair) – twice a year (spring & autumn), a big fair that takes place on Neuer Messplatz-square<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mannheimer Maimess – Themen – lokalmatador|url=https://www.lokalmatador.de/thema/mannheimer-maimess-1260/|access-date=2021-12-19|website=www.lokalmatador.de|language=de-DE}}</ref>

==Economy==
With a [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of €20.921 billion, Mannheim ranks 17th on the [[list of German cities by GDP]] as of 2018.

In the 2019 edition of the {{ill|Zukunftsatlas|de}}, the independent city of Mannheim ranked 35th out of 401 counties and independent cities in Germany, making it one of the places with "high future opportunities".<ref>{{Cite web|title=TPMA {{!}} TPMA|url=https://www.tp-ma.de/der-technologiepark/rund-um-den-tpma/lebensqualitat-in-der-region.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=www.tp-ma.de|language=de}}</ref>

Mannheim is among the most attractive business locations in Germany thanks to its competitive business environment and growth opportunities and is considered the economic centre of the [[Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region]], which is one of Germany's most important business locations.<ref name="The New Economy" />

The New Economy Magazine elected Mannheim under the 20 cities that best represent the world of tomorrow, emphasizing Mannheim's positive economic and innovative environment.<ref name="The New Economy" />

The [[Unemployment|unemployment rate]] of Mannheim is 7.2% as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arbeitslosenquote Mannheim bis 2020|url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1199291/umfrage/arbeitslosenquote-mannheim/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[Statista]]|language=de}}</ref>

The successor to the Karl Benz automobile manufacturing companies begun in Mannheim, [[Daimler AG]], has had a large presence in Mannheim. Today, diesel engines and buses are assembled there. The Swiss [[Hoffmann–La Roche]] diagnostic group (formerly known as Boehringer Mannheim) has its division headquarters in Mannheim.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim: Daten – der digitale Schatz des medizinischen Fortschritts|url=https://www.rhein-neckar.ihk24.de/system/veranstaltungen/roche-diagnostics-gmbh-mannheim-daten-der-digitale-schatz-des-medizinischen-fortschritts/4937340|access-date=2021-12-21|website=IHK Rhein-Neckar|language=de-DE}}</ref> Additionally, the city hosts large factories, headquarters and/or offices of [[ABB]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mannheim: ABB kehrt in den Gewerbepark zurück|url=https://www.rnz.de/wirtschaft/wirtschaft-regional_artikel,-mannheim-abb-kehrt-in-den-gewerbepark-zurueck-_arid,687277.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref> [[IBM]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dietmar Hopp: Sein Bruder Rüdiger – bester Freund|url=https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/bergstrasse_artikel,-dietmar-hopp-sein-bruder-ruediger-bester-freund-_arid,511105.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref> [[Alstom]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alstom: Auch Mannheim vom Stellenabbau betroffen|url=https://www.rnz.de/wirtschaft/wirtschaft-regional_artikel,-alstom-auch-mannheim-vom-stellenabbau-betroffen-_arid,786643.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alstom in Mannheim: Neue Standortleiterin Karin Sautter sagt "sehr positive Zukunft" voraus – Wirtschaft|url=https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/wirtschaft_artikel,-wirtschaft-alstom-in-mannheim-neue-standortleiterin-karin-sautter-sagt-sehr-positive-zukunft-voraus-_arid,1827588.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.mannheimer-morgen.de|date=24 July 2021 |language=de}}</ref> [[BASF|BASF (Ludwigshafen)]], [[Bilfinger Berger]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bilfinger in Mannheim: Neues Hauptquartier symbolisiert Neuanfang|url=https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/mannheim_artikel,-bilfinger-in-mannheim-neues-hauptquartier-symbolisiert-neuanfang-_arid,392394.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref> [[Reckitt Benckiser]], [[Unilever]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Unsere Standorte im Überblick|url=https://www.unilever.de/our-company/unsere-standorte/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Unilever|language=de-DE}}</ref> [[Essity]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Essity: Unternehmen verlagert "Tempo" nach Mannheim|url=https://www.rnz.de/wirtschaft/wirtschaft-regional_artikel,-essity-unternehmen-verlagert-tempo-nach-mannheim-_arid,761344.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref> [[Phoenix Group]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-23|title=Mannheim: Phoenix-Gruppe auf stabilem Wachstumskurs|url=https://www.rnf.de/269321-269321/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=de-DE}}</ref> [[Bombardier Inc|Bombardier]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-05|title=Mannheim: Beschäftigte von Bombardier kämpfen um Arbeitsplätze|url=https://www.rnf.de/mannheim-beschaeftigte-von-bombardier-kaempfen-um-arbeitsplaetze-223737/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=de-DE}}</ref> [[Pepperl+Fuchs]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Exzellenzbetrieb: Pepperl+Fuchs SE – Die Deutsche Wirtschaft|url=https://die-deutsche-wirtschaft.de/exzellenzbetrieb-peppel-fuchs-se/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=de-DE}}</ref> [[Caterpillar Inc|Caterpillar]], [[Fuchs Petrolub]], [[John Deere]], [[Siemens]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Siemens {{!}} Niederlassung Mannheim|url=https://new.siemens.com/de/de/unternehmen/standorte/niederlassung-mannheim.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Siemens Deutschland|language=de}}</ref> [[Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget|SCA]], [[Südzucker]], and other companies. The [[University Hospital Mannheim]] provides health care to the inhabitants of Mannheim and the [[Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region]].

With a market value of €4.5 billion for its [[DAX]], [[TecDAX]] and [[MDAX]] companies, Mannheim ranks 22nd on the list of German cities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Platz 22: Mannheim – Die 25 "wertvollsten" Städte Deutschlands {{!}} Top-Ranking|url=https://www.finanzen.net/top_ranking/top_ranking_detail.asp|access-date=2021-12-20|website=finanzen.net|language=de|archive-date=20 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220165147/https://www.finanzen.net/top_ranking/top_ranking_detail.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[MVV Energie]] based in Mannheim is the largest municipal energy supplier in Germany.

== Media ==
In addition to the only local daily newspaper ''{{ill|Mannheimer Morgen|de}}''; the Ludwigshafen newspaper ''[[Die Rheinpfalz]]'', the Heidelberg newspaper ''{{ill|Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung|de}}'' and the ''[[Bild]] Rhein-Neckar'' offer a local section for Mannheim. The ''Wochenblatt Mannheim'' is also published weekly whilst the ''[[Kommunal-Info Mannheim]]'' is published fortnightly. Free district newspapers are distributed in almost all parts of the city.

==Transport==

===Road transport===
[[File:Karte Verkehrswege Großraum Mannheim.png|Roadmap of Mannheim|thumb]]

The Mannheim/Ludwigshafen area is surrounded by a ring of motorways connecting it to [[Frankfurt]] in the north, [[Karlsruhe]] in the south, [[Saarbrücken]] in the west and [[Nuremberg]] in the east.

===Railway transport===
[[Mannheim Hauptbahnhof]] (central station) is the terminal of the [[Mannheim-Stuttgart high-speed rail line]] and the most important railway junction in southwestern Germany. It is served by the [[InterCityExpress|ICE]] high-speed train system via the routes [[Frankfurt am Main]]–[[Berlin]], [[Karlsruhe]]–[[Basel]], and [[Stuttgart]]–[[Munich]]. A new [[Frankfurt–Mannheim high-speed railway|high speed line to Frankfurt]] is also planned to relieve the existing [[Mannheim–Frankfurt railway]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-14|title=Bahnstreckenausbau In 29 Minuten mit dem ICE von Frankfurt nach Mannheim|url=https://m.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/frankfurt/bahn-baut-aus-in-29-minuten-mit-dem-ice-von-frankfurt-nach-mannheim-17584807.html|access-date=2021-12-19|website=FAZ.NET|language=de|last1=Köhler |first1=Manfred}}</ref>

===River transport===
{{Location mark|image=Neckar watershed closer.gif|caption=Mannheim on the Rivers Rhine and Neckar|type=thumb|x=296|y=195}}
[[Mannheim Harbour]] is the second-largest [[river port]] in Germany and is 1131 [[hectares]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Millenet|first=Jan|date=9 January 2019|title=Mannheimer Binnenhafen ist einer der größten seiner Art|url=https://www.echo-online.de/lokales/nachrichten-rhein-neckar/mannheimer-binnenhafen-ist-einer-der-grossten-seiner-art_19886771|access-date=9 September 2020|website=www.echo-online.de|language=de}}</ref> In 2016, 6.9 million tons of goods were handled on the water side.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-01-31|title=Mannheim und Ludwigshafen stabil|work={{ill|Täglicher Hafenbericht|de}}}}</ref> Around 500 companies, with about 20,000 employees, work in the harbour.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hafen Mannheim: Trockensommer forderte seinen Tribut|url=https://www.rnz.de/nachrichten/mannheim_artikel,-hafen-mannheim-trockensommer-forderte-seinen-tribut-_arid,420044.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=www.rnz.de|language=de}}</ref>

===Air transport===
[[File:Aerial image of the Mannheim City airport.jpg|thumb|Mannheim City Airport]]
Although [[Frankfurt International Airport]] is only {{convert|65|km|0|abbr=on}} to the north, at various times over the years there were daily passenger flights from [[Mannheim City Airport]] ([[IATA code]] MHG) to [[London]], [[Dresden]], [[Berlin]], [[Hamburg]], [[Munich]], and [[Saarbrücken]]. Currently, commercial passenger flights serve Sylt.

===Local public transport===
{{See also|Trams in Mannheim/Ludwigshafen}}
Local public transport in Mannheim includes the [[RheinNeckar S-Bahn]], eleven [[tram]] lines, and numerous bus lines operated by [[Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr]] (Rhine-Neckar transport) (RNV).

The [[RheinNeckar S-Bahn]], established in 2003, connects most of the Rhine-Neckar area, including lines into the [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]], [[Odenwald]] and southern [[Hesse]]. All S-Bahn lines run through Mannheim Hauptbahnhof except S5. Other S-Bahn stations are Mannheim-Rangierbahnhof, Mannheim-Seckenheim, and Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld-Süd.

The {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} integrated [[Trams in Mannheim/Ludwigshafen|Mannheim/Ludwigshafen tramway network]] also extends to Heidelberg. It is operated by RNV, a company that is owned by these three cities and some further municipalities in the Palatinate. RNV is the result of a merger on 1 October 2009 between the region's five former municipal transportation companies.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.rnv-online.de/rnvGips/Gips;jsessionid=D599A53604ABB5F1D24D663A7F42FD3C?SessionMandant=RNV&Anwendung=CMSTickerEintrag&Methode=ShowHTMLAusgabe&SessionMandant=&RessourceID=56833 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20110719075638/http://www.rnv-online.de/rnvGips/Gips;jsessionid=D599A53604ABB5F1D24D663A7F42FD3C?SessionMandant=RNV&Anwendung=CMSTickerEintrag&Methode=ShowHTMLAusgabe&SessionMandant=&RessourceID=56833 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 19 July 2011 | title= Press release announcing the merger to form RNV (German-language)| date= 23 September 2009 | access-date= 6 October 2009}}</ref> Interurban trams are operated by RNV on a triangular route between Mannheim, [[Heidelberg]], and [[Weinheim]] which was originally established by the [[Upper Rhine Railway Company]] (''Oberrheinische Eisenbahn'', OEG), and the company also operates interurban trams between [[Bad Dürkheim]], Ludwigshafen, and Mannheim. In the 1970s a proposal to build a [[Rapid transit in Germany#U-Bahn|U-Bahn]] out of the Mannheim and Ludwigshafen tramways was begun, but only small sections were built due to lack of funds. The only underground station in Mannheim is the Haltestelle Dalbergstraße and U-Bahn planning has now ceased. All public transport is offered at uniform prices set by the [[Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar]] (Rhine-Neckar Transport Union, VRN).

==Block numbering==
[[File:Mannheim Quadratstadt beschriftet.png|thumb|293px|The squares with their numbers]]
The city centre uses an address system seen nowhere else in Germany. The grid system is given addresses based on letters and numbers rather than street names. The practice dates back centuries and is a result of the original use of the city centre as a fort, with the fort's internal system being retained when the streets became public.

The codes are laid out in a systematic pattern. The historical Breite Straße passes through the centre of the grid system from north to south and divides the centre into east and west. Rows A–K are found on the west side and L–U on the east, with letters progressing alphabetically going northwards. Intersecting roads divide rows into blocks numbered from 1 to 7 based on the distance from Breite Straße. Thus, C3 is between C2 and C4 when moving west and B3 and D3 when moving north. Further, a number is given to each building: C3, 17 is block C3, building 17. House numbers begin on the south corner nearest Breite Straße and go counterclockwise for A–K and clockwise for L–U.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/7-awesome-things-mannheim-germany/|title=Mannheim, Germany – 7 Awesome Things To Do|website=twomonkeystravelgroup.com|date=14 November 2015}}</ref>

This system causes major issues for most mapping software as each apparent street name references the four pieces of road encompassing a block. A variety of fixes have been tried, none with a high level of success. Attempts to fix the issue by giving the roads false names within the database have often failed to give accurate results, but such can still be seen on some platforms like [[Google Maps]]. Finding an address in the area thus generally requires resorting to asking directions or using one of the many posted public maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSG-zxGRkJw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/DSG-zxGRkJw| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live|title=The European City Centre With No Street Names|last=Tom Scott|date=19 February 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
[[File:Luisenpark Gondoletta 05.jpg|thumb|120px|Telecommunication tower and [[Luisenpark]]]]
Mannheim is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partner- und Freundesstädte|url=https://www.mannheim.de/de/stadt-gestalten/europa-und-internationales/partner-und-freundesstaedte|website=mannheim.de|publisher=Mannheim|language=de|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Swansea]], Wales, United Kingdom (1957)
*[[Toulon]], France (1959)
*[[Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf|Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (Berlin)]], Germany (1961)
*[[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], Canada (1980)
*[[Riesa]], Germany (1988)
*[[Chișinău]], Moldova (1989)
*[[Bydgoszcz]], Poland (1991)
*[[Klaipėda]], Lithuania (2002)
*[[Zhenjiang]], China (2004)
*[[Haifa]], Israel (2009)
*[[Qingdao]], China (2016)
*[[Chernivtsi]], Ukraine (2022)
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
{{see also|:de:Liste von Persönlichkeiten der Stadt Mannheim|l1=:de:Liste von Persönlichkeiten der Stadt Mannheim (List of personalities of Mannheim)|:de:Liste der Ehrenbürger von Mannheim|l2=:de:Liste der Ehrenbürger von Mannheim (List of honorary citizens of Mannheim)}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Josepha von Heydeck]] (1748–1771), mistress of Charles Theodore, [[Electorate of Bavaria|Elector of Bavaria]]
*[[Johann Baptist Cramer]] (1771–1858), English pianist and composer
*[[Friedrich Engelhorn]] (1821–1902), industrialist, founder of [[BASF]]
*[[Marcus Otterbourg]] (1827–1893), American diplomat, lawyer, and judge
*[[Richard von Krafft-Ebing]] (1840–1902), Austro-German psychiatrist
* [[Carl Benz]] (1844–1929), engine designer and automotive engineer. He built the first practical motorcar.
*[[Henry Morgenthau Sr.]] (1856–1946), American politician and real estate investor
*[[Robert Kahn (composer)|Robert Kahn]] (1865–1951), composer and pianist
*[[Otto Hermann Kahn]] (1867–1934), investment banker, collector and philanthropist
*[[Emmy Wehlen]] (1887–1977), musical comedy actress and silent screen star 
*[[Sepp Herberger]] (1897–1977), football player and manager
*[[Wilhelm Fuchs]] (1898–1947), Nazi SS officer and Holocaust perpetrator executed for war crimes
*[[Hedwig Hillengaß]] (1902–1970), operatic soprano
*[[Albert Speer]] (1905–1981), Nazi architect, Minister for Armaments and Munitions during World War II
*[[Julius Hatry]] (1906–2000), aircraft designer and builder. He created the world's first purpose-built rocket plane.
*[[Hans Filbinger]] (1913–2007), politician 
*[[Samuel Adler (composer)|Samuel Hans Adler]] (born 1928), German-American composer, conductor and professor
*[[Claus Leininger]] (1931–2005), theatre director and manager 
*[[Wolf Wolfensberger]] (1934–2011), German-American psychologist
*[[Roger Fritz]] (1936–2021), actor
*[[Rudi Altig]] (1937–2016), cyclist
*[[Christiane Schmidtmer]] (1939–2003), actress
*[[Fred Breinersdorfer]] (born 1946), writer
*[[Karl W Schweizer]] (born 1946), historian and author
*[[Kurt Fleckenstein]] (born 1949), artist/sculptor
*[[Peter Dani]] (1956–2002), American footballer
*[[Schwefel|Norbert Schwefel]] (1960–2015), musician
*[[Juergen Adams]] (born 1961), ice hockey player
*[[Uwe Rahn]] (born 1962), footballer
*[[Christine Lambrecht]] (born 1965), politician (SPD)
*[[Franz Jung (bishop)|Franz Jung]] (born 1966), Roman Catholic bishop
*[[Steffi Graf]] (born 1969), tennis player
*[[Xavier Naidoo]] (born 1971), pop singer 
*[[Christian Wörns]] (born 1972), footballer
*[[Lexi Alexander]] (born 1974), director
*[[Bülent Ceylan]] (born 1976), German-Turkish comedian
*[[Jochen Hecht]] (born 1977), ice hockey player
*[[Uwe Gensheimer]] (born 1989), handball player
*[[Giulia Enders]] (born 1990), writer and medical researcher
*[[Pascal Groß]] (born 1991), footballer
*[[Hakan Çalhanoğlu]] (born 1994), Turkish footballer
*[[Paulina Krumbiegel]] (born 2000), footballer
{{div col end}}

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===References===
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Timeline of Mannheim#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Mannheim}}
* Wiederkehr, Gustav: Mannheim in Sage und Geschichte, H. Haas'schen Buchdruckerei, 1907, (Festgabe zur Feier des dreihundertjährigen Bestehens der Stadt).
* David, Manfred: Mannheimer Stadtkunde. Edition Quadrat, Mannheim 1982, {{ISBN|3-87804-125-X}}.
* Staatl. Archivverwaltung Baden-Württemberg in Verbindung mit d. Städten u. d. Landkreisen Heidelberg u. Mannheim (Hrsg.): Die Stadt- und die Landkreise Heidelberg und Mannheim: Amtliche Kreisbeschreibung. Band 1: Allgemeiner Teil. Karlsruhe 1966, DNB 458203858. Band 3: Die Stadt Mannheim und die Gemeinden des Landkreises Mannheim. Karlsruhe 1970, DNB 366145509.
* Landesarchivdirektion Baden-Württemberg (Hrsg.): Das Land Baden-Württemberg – Amtliche Beschreibung nach Kreisen und Gemeinden. Band V.
* [[Kohlhammer Verlag]], Stuttgart 1976, {{ISBN|3-17-002542-2}}.
* Huth, Hans: Die Kunstdenkmäler des Stadtkreises Mannheim. München 1982, {{ISBN|3-422-00556-0}}.
* Oesterreich, Carmen And Volker (Hrsg.): Mannheim, wo es am schönsten ist – 55 Lieblingsplätze. Berlin 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-936962-43-7}}.
* Schenk, Andreas: Mannheim und seine Bauten 1907–2007. Hrsg. v. Stadtarchiv Mannheim und Mannheimer Architektur- und Bauarchiv e. V. 5 Bde. Edition Quadrat, Mannheim 2000–2007, {{ISBN|3-923003-83-8}}.
* Walz, Guido (Red.): Der Brockhaus Mannheim. 400 Jahre Quadratestadt – Das Lexikon. Bibliographisches Institut & F. A. Brockhaus, Mannheim 2006, {{ISBN|3-7653-0181-7}}.
* Naturführer Mannheim. Entdeckungen im Quadrat. Hrsg. von der Stadt Mannheim und der Bezirksstelle für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege Karlsruhe. Verlag Regionalkultur, Ubstadt-Weiher 2000, {{ISBN|3-89735-132-3}}.
* Ellrich, Hartmut: Mannheim. Sutton, Erfurt 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-86680-148-6}}.
* Nieß, Ulrich and Caroli, Michael (Hrsg.): Geschichte der Stadt Mannheim. Verlag Regionalkultur, Ubstadt-Weiher, Band 1: 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-89735-470-8}}. Band 2: 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-89735-471-5}}. Band 3: 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-89735-472-2}}.
* Mannheimer Altertumsverein/[[Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen]]: Mannheim vor der Stadtgründung – Teile I und II. Hrsg. Hansjörg Probst, 4 Bände. Mannheim 2007/08, {{ISBN|978-3-7917-2074-6}}.
* Vetter, Roland "Kein Stein soll auf dem andern bleiben" Mannheims Untergang während des Pfälzischen Erbfolgekrieges im Spiegel französischer Kriegsberichte {{ISBN|3-89735-204-4}}.

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[https://www.mannheim.de/en Official website]
*[https://www.visit-mannheim.de/en Official tourism site]
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Germany tourism Heidelberg area}}
{{Cities in Germany}}
{{Germany_districts baden-württemberg}}

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[[Category:Mannheim| ]]<!--Please leave the empty space as standard.-->
[[Category:Cities in Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities]]
[[Category:Karlsruhe (region)]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Rhine]]
[[Category:Planned capitals]]
[[Category:Cities built on a grid]]
[[Category:History of the Palatinate (region)]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Germany]]
[[Category:Urban districts of Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Neckar basin]]