What is Steinfurt Rural District?
{{Infobox German district |name=Steinfurt |image_coa=DEU Kreis Steinfurt COA.svg |image_flag=Flagge Kreis Steinfurt.svg |state=North Rhine-Westphalia |capital=[[Steinfurt]] |regierungsbezirk=[[Münster Government Region|Münster]] |Kreisschlüssel = 05566 |area=1,792.097 |population=438,765 |population_as_of=2002 |density=245 |carsign=ST |url=http://www.kreis-steinfurt.de |map=North_rhine_w_st.png |coordinates = {{Coord|52.17|7.67|display=title|format=dms}} }} '''Steinfurt''' is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the northern part of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Germany]]. Neighboring districts are [[Bentheim]], [[Emsland]], district-free [[Osnabrück]] and the [[Osnabrück (district)|Osnabrück district]], [[Warendorf (district)|Warendorf]], district-free [[Münster]], [[Coesfeld (district)|Coesfeld]], [[Borken (district)|Borken]]. ==Geography== The district is at the [[Lower Saxony|Lower Saxon]] border, north of [[Münster]]. The [[Ems (river)|Ems]] river runs through the district from south to north. The highest point in Steinfurt is the ''Westerbecker Berg'' with 234m, the lowest point is the Bentlage castle at 32m. ==History== In late medieval times Steinfurt became an independent earldom. At first it was a part of the earldom of [[Bentheim]], before it became independent in [[1454]]. [[1804]] Steinfurt was joined back with Bentheim, before it became a part of the [[Prussia]]n [[province of Westphalia]] in [[1815]]. The new government in [[1816]] made the districts Steinfurt and Tecklenburg. In [[1975]] the old district Steinfurt was merged with the district Tecklenburg, and together with [[Greven]] and [[Saerbeck]] from the old district Münster the current district was made. ==Coat of arms== {| |- valign=top ||[[File:DEU Kreis Steinfurt COA.svg|thumb|Coat of arms]] ||The coat of arms combines elements from the coat of arms of the former districts Steinfurt, Tecklenburg and Münster. The swan in the middle comes from the earldom Steinfurt, the center of the district. The red bar around the swan symbolizes the clerical