Baden-Wuerttemberg is the only German state that was created by popular referendum. On Dec. 16, 1951, the majority of citizens in Wuerttemberg-Baden, Wuerttemberg-Hohenzllern and Baden agreed to join together as one state. It became official in April 1952.

Baden-Wuerttemberg quickly became one of Germany's most successful states. The mean income is significantly higher than the country's overall average, and unemployment has remained relatively low.

Innovative region

Baden-Wuerttemberg is considered one of the most innovative regions in the European Union, especially in the field of industrial high-technology research and development. Research spending here is higher than in any other European region. Moreover, Baden-Wuerttemberg is home to four of Germany's best universities.

The automobile industry is behind much of this excellence. Daimler, Porsche, Bosch - all have their headquarters in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Yet the key to success for the state lies above all in the many small and medium-sized businesses that bring prosperity to people outside of the big cities.

Excellent quality of life also draws people to live here. The region boasts Germany's top gourmet restaurants, prize-winning wines, interesting cultural attractions, and unspoiled nature.

It also draws tourists. With some 40 million overnight stays per year, it is the most beloved tourist-destination in Germany outside of Bavaria. They are drawn to the Black Forest, with its romantic valleys, gorges, and typical farmhouses; Lake Constance, with its garden-covered Mainau Flower Island and monastic island Reichenau (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and many picturesque towns, like Heidelberg, Tuebingen, Freiburg and Constance.