Laufenburg, Germany

Laufenburg is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, part of the Waldshut district. It has approximately 4300 inhabitants (including 6 outskirts 8300 inhabitants). Laufenburg is separated from a Swiss city with the same name by the river Rhine.
City administration.
The city of Laufenburg encompasses also Binzgen, Grunholz, Hauenstein, Hochsal, Luttingen, Rhina, Rotzel, Stadenhausen.
Brief history.
The city was first noted in 1207. In November 1638 one side of the city was taken by Imperialist forces. The bridge across the Rhine was burned afterwards. 
Celebrations are planned for 2007 in cooperation with its Swiss counterpart. Laufenburg was one city until about 1800 when Napoleon divided the city, ordering that the Rhine should become the border. Ever since the two cities have been separated by nationality, but not in their minds. The city was well placed on major rapids of the Rhine, which allowed the town to collect taxes as well as catch salmon. In the early 20th century the rapids were demolished in order to build a hydroelectric power plant. The plant provided money, but the town lost a tourist attraction.
In December 2004 a new bridge was opened to the east of the city. The old one had become too congested, because the roads connecting the bridge were single lane roads but were being used for two way traffic. This caused a fair amount of irritation among non-locals. With the opening of the new bridge a new shopping development was erected to the east of the town. The use of this development is questioned at times, because despite creating much needed jobs, the city lost some of its attractiveness and neighboring towns in Switzerland complained about some stores having to close down.