RIBE

city, seat of Ribe amtskommune (county commune), southwestern Jutland, Denmark, on the Ribe River, 4 miles (6 km) from the North Sea. One of Denmark's oldest towns, it was first mentioned in 862 and became a bishopric in 948. In the Middle Ages it was a thriving port and favourite royal resort, centred on Riberhus (a castle founded in the early 12th century and destroyed by the Swedes in 1658). The Romanesque Ribe Cathedral dates from 1122 to 1170. The church and monastery of St. Catharin were founded in 1228. Many half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries, including one that served as a school from 1500 to 1856. Local industries include iron founding, food processing, and textile mills. Ribe amtskommune (area 1,209 square miles [3,131 square km]) is hilly in the east. Its economy is based on agriculture and dairying. Esbjerg is the chief city. The crusading American journalist Jacob August Riis was a native of Ribe. Pop. (1985 est.) city, 7,798; (1987 est.) mun., 17,956; (1988 est.) amtskommune, 217,973.