Hesse (Hessen) Historical Geography

Historical Background
The present-day state of Hesse was founded on 19 September 1945 under the name of Groß-Hessen and was the first surviving state in the Federal Republic to receive a new democratic constitution. The immediate predecessor states were the People's State of Hesse and the Prussian provinces of Kurhessen and Nassau, which the Free State of Prussia had created on April 1, 1944 by division of the province of Hesse-Nassau. During the German Empire, the state Hesse consisted of: Part of Hessen-Nassau (the former Westerwaldkreis) was also moved into the Rhineland-Palatinate. The Rheinhessen part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse (Hessen) was also moved into the Rhineland-Palatinate.
 * the previously independent Hesse-Kassel,
 * the Duchy of Nassau,
 * the Free City of Frankfurt,
 * areas gained from the Kingdom of Bavaria, and
 * part of the Grand Duchy of Hesse (including part of the former Landgraviate of Hesse-Homburg),

Maps
Germany was first unified as a nation in 1871. For German research prior to 1945, the Research Wiki, FamilySearch Catalog, and FamilySearch Historical Records are organized by the place names in use from 1871 to 1945. For research in that time period, use the Wiki links in the chart below:
 * To find the 1871 duchy or province for your town, use Meyer's 1871 Gazetteer Online.