DELMENHORST

city, Lower Saxony Land (state), northwestern Germany, on the Delme River, just west of Bremen. First mentioned in 1254, it developed around a moated castle belonging to a branch of the family of the dukes of Oldenburg and was chartered in 1371. Industrialization in the late 19th century caused rapid growth. The city is now a manufacturing centre specializing in linoleum; other products include wool, jute, cork, metalwork, cosmetics, clothing, paper, and chemicals. Pop. (1991 est.) 75,154.