Melle () is a city in the district of Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. The city corresponds to what used to be the district of Melle until regional territorial reform in 1972. Since then Melle is the third largest city in Lower Saxony in terms of surface area. History Melle was first mentioned in a document from 1169. In 1443 Heinrich von Moers, Bishop of Osnabrück, gave Melle the privilege of a Wigbold. Osnabrück looked after Melle's interests in the Westphalian Hanseatic League. Melle belonged to the Kingdom of Hanover until 1866 when it became part of Prussia. In 1885 Amt Grönenberg and the municipality Melle formed the prussian district Kreis Melle. The district Melle later on became the municipality Melle. In 1972 the former district with its 56 municipalities were united to the city Melle which since then is part of Osnabrück (district). Geography Geographical position Melle is situated in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills in the North and the Teutoburg Forest in the South. The cities of Osnabrück and Bielefeld are some away each. The Münster Osnabrück International Airport is located about to the southwest. Neighbouring towns Neighbouring towns are Preußisch Oldendorf in the North Rhine-Westphalian Minden-Lübbecke district, Rödinghausen, Bünde and Spenge in the North Rhine-Westphalian Herford district, Werther and Borgholzhausen in the North Rhine-Westphalian Gütersloh district, as well as Dissen, Hilter, Bissendorf, and Bad Essen in the Osnabrück district. Municipalities The city consists of the eight municipalities of Melle-Mitte, Buer, Bruchmühlen, Gesmold, Neuenkirchen, Oldendorf, Riemsloh and Wellingholzhausen. Religion Christian confessions: Evangelical Lutheran Church: 22.579 Evangelical Reformed Church: 244 Roman Catholic Church: 15.036 Old Catholic Church Evangelical Free Church (Baptists) Russian Orthodox Church Greek Orthodox Church New Apostolic Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon): 9 Muslims Jews none: 10.061 not known: 91 Last updated: 31 December 2007 Politics Mayor Jutta Dettmann (SPD) is mayor of Melle, elected in 2021. City council The city council is composed of 40 members. Additionally the city mayor is eligible to vote. (As of: Local elections on 11 September 2011) Further election results (Source: Official election results of the County of Osnabrück) Twin towns – sister cities Melle is twinned with: Bad Dürrenberg, Germany Cires-lès-Mello, France Eecke, France Eiken, Switzerland Eke (Nazareth), Belgium Ghent, Belgium Jēkabpils, Latvia Melle, Belgium Melle, France Niğde, Turkey Reinickendorf (Berlin), Germany Torzhok, Russia Melle also has friendly relations with New Melle, Missouri, United