GLADBECK

city, North Rhine-Westphalia Land (state), western Germany, situated in the Ruhr industrial region. First documented in 1019, Gladbeck was a small rural village until the first coal mine was opened in 1873. Thereafter it developed rapidly, its economy resting almost exclusively on coal, and was chartered in 1919. It suffered heavy damage in World War II, but the moated castle of Wittringen survived (along with its museum), in 247 acres (100 hectares) of municipally owned woodland. After 1948, while mining remained the leading industry, the city made a deliberate effort to diversify its economy by expanding into ironworking and the production of chemicals and textiles. Pop. (1989 est.) 79,187.