Laichingen

Laichingen is a town in the district of Alb Donau near Ulm in Baden Württemberg, Germany. It has 10,964 inhabitants (2005).

Laichingen is located on the Laichingen Alb, a branch of the Swabian Jura. It is located on a former volcanic vent on the Alb plateau, about 25 kilometers west of Ulm.

The municipality borders to Hohenstadt in Göppingen district, in the east to Merklingen and Dornstadt, on the south to Berghülen, to the town Blaubeuren and Heroldstatt and on the west to Gutsbezirk Münsingen and to Römerstein, both in the district of Reutlingen and to Westerheim.

In 1364 offered Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor the town privileges to the population, these however rejected, allegedly because they did not want to build any walls. The tradition of Laichingen linen weaving goes back until the Middle Ages. The poor soils on the Alb gave only small harvests, and so the inhabitants have relied on the growing of flax and the trade with the town of Ulm. One of the in 1677 built weber houses stood in Laichingen till 2002. It was dismantled and rebuilt and can now be visited in the open air museum in Beuren. From 1871, the water supply for the Swabian Jura was planned and built, also Laichingen was connected. Laichingen came to the Münsingen district in 1938. In 1945 the town became part of the French occupation zone and in 1947, it was assigned to the newly founded state of Württemberg Hohenzollern, which was incorporated in the state of Baden Württemberg in 1952. In 1950, Laichingen received again the town privileges. In the course of the reform of the municipal area in Baden Württemberg, Suppingen on January 1, 1972, Feldstetten and Machtolsheim on January 1, 1975, became parts of the city of Laichingen. Laichingen is the largest suburb of the city.

Traditional weaving establishments are located in Laichingen. The iron processing, particularly the tooling flourished in Laichingen in the 20th century. The to STADA Arzneimittel belonging aliud Pharma has its headquarters in Laichingen. Laichingen is home of the " Inter municipal industrial and commercial area Laichinger Alb". It is the association with Heroldstatt, Merklingen, Nellingen and Westerheim.

The linen weaving was an important economic activity. In the period after the Second World War, the consequences of the war were still very noticeable. Many of the Laichingen companies were used during the war for making war necessary materials. After the war six companies of Laichingen were authorized by the American military government to resume their production. So many looms were rebuilt and put into operation. With the currency reform the windows of the shops were filled and also Laichingen textile industry could benefit. The demand for textiles rose after the war enormously, especially bed linen was now in demand. This led to a veritable boom in this industry. In 1948, all companies were fully occupied in Laichingen and then followed from 1950 to 1960, a wave of start ups, because everyone wanted to participate in the upswing. Over the next 10 years, many textiles were produced in Laichingen.

The public transport is guaranteed by the Donau Iller Nahverkehrsverbund. From 1901 to 1985 Laichingen was connected to the rail network by the railway Amstetten Laichingen of the Württemberg railway company (WAY). Laichingen has its own airfield, which is operated since 1964 by the Flugsportverein Laichingen.

In the district of Machtolsheim is the campsite Heidehof, which counts 1050 parking spaces in an area of 25 hectares.

In Laichingen is a local section of the Schwäbische Zeitung.

Laichingen is also known by the Laichingen deep cave. The cave is located about 1 km south of Laichingen. It was discovered in 1892 by Johann Georg Mack.