Alb-Donau-Kreis – History
1973
During a municipal territory reform, the Alb-Donau-Kreis district is created out of the former regional districts of Ulm and Ehingen as well as parts of the districts of Münsingen and Biberach.
1974
Martin-Schule, a school for children with special needs, is opened in the district.
1978
Valckenburgschule, a school focussing on nutritional science, health and social matters, is moved to the new building at the banks of the Danube river in Ulm.
1984
Schmiechtalschule, a school for mentally disabled children, is opened at its new location in Ehingen-Berkach. The “Litzholz” domestic waste landfill in Ehingen-Sontheim goes into operation.
1986
The administrative district’s new joint building complex (Haus des Landkreises) is inaugurated at Schillerstraße, Ulm, accommodating the district’s administration offices and a meeting venue for the district council.
1988
The district road between Erbach and Dellmensingen (including 3 bridges over the Danube river) is expanded – the largest single project in the district’s road building history (completed in 1990).
1993
The completion of the theory building of Gewerbliche Schule marks the final stage of the relocation of the commercial school to its new location on the outskirts of Ehingen.
1994
Krankenhaus GmbH Alb-Donau-Kreis is founded. The administrative district’s fully-owned subsidiary is responsible for the three district hospitals in Blaubeuren, Ehingen and Langenau.
1995
Kaufmännische Schule (commercial school) and Magdalena-Neff-Schule (home economics, social matters and nursing care) in Ehingen have been combined under one roof (Schulgasse 11). More responsibilities for the district administration: the Health Department and the Veterinary Office as well as parts of the Water Management Office are integrated into the district administration as per state law.
1997
The Ulm-Donautal waste-to-energy plant goes into operation. It serves as a disposal site for the entire domestic and bulk waste of the inhabitants in the district and the city of Ulm, the regional districts of Heidenheim, Sigmaringen and the Memmingen city district (including domestic waste from the regional districts of Biberach and Tuttlingen as well as Ostalbkreis as of June 2005).
1998
The local traffic association “DING” (Donau-Iller-Nahverkehrsgesellschaft) starts operating in the territory of the regional districts of Alb-Donau and Neu-Ulm as well as in the city of Ulm. In the meantime, the Biberach regional district has also become a member.
1999
The works to expand Schmiechtalschule in Ehingen-Berkach are completed. The school is now also able to meet the needs of mentally and physically disabled children.
2001
The Ehingen Healthcare Centre is opened, offering numerous facilities, including a rehabilitation clinic for the elderly, doctor’s surgeries, a psychiatric department with day care hospital, a restaurant and a gym. A technical higher-level secondary school (Technisches Gymnasium) is added to Gewerbliche Schule in Ehingen.
2002
The expansion of Valckenburgschule is completed. The extension building now houses a biotechnological higher-level secondary school (Biotechnologisches Gymnasium) among other facilities.
2003
The extension of Haus des Landkreises (joint building complex for the administrative district) is completed. Space requirements had increased due to the district administration’s growing responsibilities and service offering.
2004
The Blaubeuren District Hospital is expanded to serve as a healthcare centre, including doctor’s surgeries, a gym, a restaurant, a pharmacy, a medical supply retailer, a hearing aid specialist store and a podiatry service. Gewerbliche Schule is expanded to accommodate the new technical higher-level secondary school (Technisches Gymnasium) among other facilities.
2005
The comprehensive state administration reform in Baden-Württemberg adds numerous new responsibilities and competences to the district administration. These include consumer protection, services for disabled people, agriculture, forestry, land surveying, land consolidation, road building and maintenance as well as trade supervision.
2006
The creation of the Ehingen conservation area, with its more than 2,700 hectares, marks the completion of the district-wide conservation area revision. There are now 42 conservation areas in Alb-Donau-Kreis, encompassing nearly 42,000 hectares and about 31 per cent of the entire district area.
2007
At the beginning of the 2007/08 school term, the new commercial higher-level secondary school at Kaufmännische Schule of Alb-Donau-Kreis starts to welcome new students in Ehingen. On 1 December, ADK GmbH für Gesundheit und Soziales is founded. The umbrella organisation combines the group of companies consisting of Krankenhaus GmbH and Kreisbaugesellschaft mbH.
2008
The Ulm Regional Energy Agency starts operations. Alb-Donau-Kreis is one of the shareholders of the independent energy consulting organisation.
2009
The new building of Magdalena-Neff-Schule at the vocational school centre in Ehingen welcomes students as of the 2009/10 school term. At the same time, the new higher-level secondary school opens (focus on social studies). All vocational schools in the administrative district now include vocational secondary schools. In May, the Langenau Healthcare Centre at the local district hospital is opened – including doctor’s surgeries, a pharmacy, a medical supply retailer, a gym and health studio as well as other medical and nursing services.
2010
In May, the new administrative building at Ritterhaus (branch office of the district administration) in the Ehingen city centre is taken into service. At this location, the district administration’s departments are combined under one roof.
2011
Nearly 6,000 visitors are welcomed to the first open day at Haus des Landkreises (joint building complex for the administrative district) in Ulm. On the same day, the new joint Motor Vehicle Registration Office of Alb-Donau-Kreis and the city of Ulm opens. It is the first of its kind in the state.
2012
On 1 January, the Alb-Donau Unemployment Office, which is jointly operated by the Administrative District and the Ulm Employment Agency, is opened with branch offices in Ulm and Ehingen.
2013
Alb-Donau-Kreis celebrates its 40th anniversary. In March, the new Joint Department of Land Consolidation of the administrative districts Alb-Donau and Biberach is taken into service in Ehingen.
2014
Alb-Donau-Kreis is honoured with the European Energy Award for its climate protection measures and energy saving activities. In June, the newly founded Landschaftserhaltungsverband Alb-Donau-Kreis e.V. starts its work on protecting the local landscape.
Together with the administrative district Heidenheim and the city of Ulm, Alb-Donau-Kreis creates the joint umbrella brand “Weltkulturursprung” (world origin of culture): a coalition of politicians, municipalities, scientists and volunteers to promote the development of “ice age art” as a common theme in our region.
2015
Valckenburgschule Ulm celebrates its 140th anniversary. At the same time, the school’s new and expanded gym hall is opened.
2016
Ground-breaking for the 480-kilometere long “backbone” fibre-optic cable network, spanning the entire administrative district
2017
6 caves – 2 valleys – 1 world heritage! At the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session held on 9 July, six ice-age caves found in the Ach and Lone River Valleys are declared an UNESCO World Heritage as “Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura”.
2019
In May, the Digitalisation Centre Ulm I Alb-Donau I Biberach is taken into service. The official inauguration of the regional centre for digitalisation issues was held in BED Business Park in Ehingen. The target groups primarily include small and mid-sized companies as well as start-ups.
Last revised: August 2019