Städtepartnerschaft zwischen Leipzig und Houston - sister cities

Exchange and mutual understanding: sister cities in the US and Germany

In an increasingly globalized world, establishing international connections is an effective way for cities to co-operate economically, culturally, scientifically and academically and to tackle infrastructural and social challenges. So-called city partnerships are one way in which co-operation can be fostered. They also help residents of partner cities to learn more about each other – they promote peace through mutual understanding. The oldest German-American city partnership was established in 1947 between Crailsheim and Worthington, MN. Since then, around 130 similar partnerships have been founded between cities in the two countries. Here's a selection:

Hamburg/Chicago, IL
The idea for an official partnership between the northern German port city of Hamburg and Chicago first came up in the late 1950s. However, it wasn't until July 1994 that an official city partnership agreement was signed by mayors Henning Voscherau and Richard M. Daley. The two cities have a lot in common: although neither is situated directly on the sea, both are characterized by their proximity to water – Chicago is located on Lake Michigan, Hamburg on the Elbe River. Both are also major centers of business, media and culture in their respective countries.

Dortmund/Buffalo, NY
The western German city of Dortmund and Buffalo in New York State officially became sister cities in 1978. The partnership had been strongly advocated by those citizens of Buffalo with German heritage who wanted to preserve their German cultural values. The desire for economic and cultural exchange was another key factor in the decision for the partnership. In 2018, Buffalo dedicated a public space as Dortmund Park to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the close ties between the two cities.

Berlin/Los Angeles, CA
Having signed an official partnership agreement in 1967, the German capital and the City of Los Angeles were able to celebrate half a century of being sister cities in 2017. However, close connections between Berlin and L.A., both of which are considered major cities for arts and the creative industries, first developed in the 1920s and 1930s, when hundreds of Germans emigrated from Nazi Germany and made a new home for themselves on the Pacific coast. Until today, the cities have been able to sustain their reputations as major creative hubs with flourishing communities in the arts, tech and film industries. Los Angeles Square in the center of Berlin, as well as Berlin Forest in L.A.’s Griffith Park, serve as symbols of the partnership.

Munich/Cincinnati, OH

During the 19th century, many German immigrants to the US chose Cincinnati, Ohio as their new home. Around the year 1900, two-thirds of the city's population had German roots. In the present day, more than one in four residents still claims German ancestry and among the US metro areas with more than one million people, Cincinnati ranks among the four most German. The city also organizes the largest Oktoberfest on the North American continent. The relationship between Munich and Cincinnati was formalized in 1989 and 1990 with respective contract signing ceremonies in the two cities. Today, the partnership is maintained through academic and cultural exchange programs and annual events in both cities.

Leipzig/Houston, TX
1993, a few years after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Houston became the first sister city in the western hemisphere for the eastern German city of Leipzig. As opposed to many other city partnerships, which are the result of political initiatives, the town twinning between Leipzig and Houston is the fruit of a private campaign. A student from Leipzig approached Sister City International in Washington D.C. in 1990, asking whether any American city was interested in establishing closer links with his native town. Today there's an active exchange between business people, doctors, students and other citizens from the two cities. The partnership's 25th anniversary was celebrated in 2018 with a series of special events on both sides of the Atlantic.

More about German-American Encounters:
https://wunderbartogether.org/

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