was over in 1945, a displaced persons camp was outfitted in the city to help relocate Jewish displaced persons. The camp, housing at times up to 2,300 individuals, was dissolved in August 1949. Mergelstetten was first mentioned in an official document by Bishop Walter von Augsburg in 1143 in which he confirmed that the nearby Cloister of Anhausen owned a mill, a fish pond and a farm. However, it is estimated that the first settlement was founded in the 7th or 8th century by the Alamanni. Other important dates for the local economy are 1828 when Jakob Zoeppritz from Darmstadt founded a woolen blanket factory and 1901 when Carl Schwenk of Ulm built the concrete factory. Religion Heidenheim's residents originally belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg from where they were assigned to the Heidenheim Chapter. But already in 1524 the Reformation burst into the city via Ulm. As at the time Heidenheim was part of Württemberg and Duke Ulrich championed the Reformation (from 1535 on), residents of city have adhered over the centuries primarily to the Protestant faith. In those days, Heidenheim became seat of a Deacony, its church being Paul's Church of today (built in 1897). But Heidenheim's first parish church was Peter's Church at the top of the Totenberg. Originally a Roman church, it was remodeled several times and now serves as the chapel for the cemetery. During the 16th century, Michael's Church became the seat of the Heidenheim parish. This church was built ca. 1200, completely rebuilt in 1578 and expanded in 1621. The tower was erected in 1687, and the addition was added on to again in 1767. With the construction of Paul's Church the seat of the deaconry moved there, however, Michael's Church remains a church of Paul's Parish to this day. In the meantime, Heidenheim's population kept growing and during the 20th century several additional parishes were founded: Christ Parish was founded in 1958 (its church built in 1956), John's Parish with church and community center in 1963, Forestchurch Parish in 1972 (its church was built in 1975 but the community had had the use of a wooden chapel built in 1926), plus Reconciliation Parish and Zinzendorf Parish. These six parishes located in Heidenheim (proper) form the Protestant United Parish of Heidenheim. As they belonged to Württemberg as well, the boroughs of Mergelstetten and Schnaitheim also converted to Protestantism early on. As a result,