network. Another connection followed in 1867 with the Ohligs-Gruiten line. In the same year Sonnborn retired from the Haan mayor's office (Bürgermeisterei). In 1894 Haan left the mayor's office and Millrath, Gruiten and Schöller henceforth formed the mayor's office, later Amt Gruiten. In 1899 Haan got connection to the tram connection from Benrath (today to Düsseldorf) via Hilden to Vohwinkel (today to Wuppertal). City rights were granted to Haan in 1921. At the turn of 1944/1945, World War II left visible traces in the cityscape when residential areas in Upper and Middle Haan were bombed on New Year's and New Year's Day. 70 people were killed. On April 16, 1945, US-American troops entered Haan, which were replaced by British forces in July 1945. In 1956, the Catholic parish replaced its neo-Gothic church from 1869 with the modern St. Chrysanthus and Daria church. Since July 14, 2017, Haan has had the addition of the name "Garden City" to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with section 13 (3) of the municipal code. The city had previously described itself as a “garden city”. In the 19th century, deep garden areas were assigned to the residential buildings; Seed trading played an important role in the urban economy. Population development (each on December 31) 1996: 28,996 inhabitants 1997: 29,213 inhabitants 1998: 29,452 inhabitants 1999: 29,525 inhabitants 2000: 29,677 inhabitants 2001: 29,607 inhabitants 2002: 29,518 inhabitants 2003: 29,472 inhabitants 2004: 29,370 inhabitants 2005: 29,325 inhabitants 2006: 29,411 inhabitants 2007: 29,323 inhabitants 2008: 29,149 inhabitants 2009: 30,074 inhabitants 2010: 29,149 inhabitants 2011: 30,257 inhabitants 2012: 29,848 inhabitants 2013: 29,985 inhabitants 2014: 30,811 inhabitants 2015: 31,137 inhabitants 2016: 31,230 inhabitants 2017: 31,265 inhabitants Twin towns – sister cities Haan is twinned with: Eu, France (1967) Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, United Kingdom (1982) Bad Lauchstädt, Germany (1990) Dobrodzień, Poland (2004) Economy Companies Emerson Electric Company Discher Technik GmbH Anlagenbau Stampfer Ostermann Furnitures Rockwell Automation Bohle Group Unipol Haan Notable people Günter Breithardt (born 1944), cardiologist, pioneer of catheter ablations, professor at University of Münster Jonas Carls (born 1997), footballer from FC Schalke 04 Rahul Peter Das (born 1954), Indologist, professor for South Asian studies at University of Halle-Wittenberg Melanie Hoffmann (born 1974), former footballer for SGS Essen Walter Huppenkothen (1907–1978), lawyer, high-ranking Nazi official, SS member, SD staff Anna Kraft (born 1985), sport journalist and former athlete at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen Nicole Struse (born 1971), former table tennis