- This article is about the German city. For the town in the United States, see Manheim, New York.
 Location of Mannheim in Germany The Wasserturm (water tower), Mannheim's landmark  Coat of Arms of Mannheim Watershed of the Neckar River Mannheim is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With 318,873 inhabitants it is the second largest city in the state of Baden-Württemberg after the capital Stuttgart.
Mannheim is situated in the delta of the Rhein and Neckar rivers, in the northwestern corner of Baden-Württemberg. To the west of Mannheim, across the Rhine, lies the Rhineland-Palatinate city of Ludwigshafen. The Hessian border is north of the city.
Mannheim is unique among German cities in that its downtown area is laid out in a grid pattern (called Quadrate - squares), much like many North American cities. The main route through the squares leads to an enormous 18th century castle that houses the University of Mannheim.
DaimlerChrysler is present with an assembly hangar for trucks and buses. The Swiss Roche Diagnostic group formerly known as Boehringer Mannheim has its division headquarter in Mannheim.
Mannheim's main station is an important train junction and part of the ICE high speed train system. The city is also home to the largest river port in Germany.
Mannheim is also home of the Nationaltheater Mannheim (National Theatre).
Mannheim's city symbol is the Wasserturm (Water tower), located in the east of the downtown area.
History
In 1720, Mannheim replaced Heidelberg as the capital of the Palatinate. Mannheim was home to the so-called Mannheim School of 18th century classical composers.
Carl Benz invented and drove the worlds first car in Mannheim in 1885. Earlier still in 1817, Karl Drais invented and rode the first two-wheeled contraption called Laufmaschine or velocipede - the very start of horseless personal transport. And banker Otto Hermann Kahn was born there.
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