Get to know the 16 German states:

Saarland:

Demographics:
1.      Southwest part of Germany, with France as it’s largest border
2.      Population is 1.063 million people
3.      Smallest state (besides the 3 city-states)
4.      It’s size is 991.9 mi squared or 634,816 acres

Economy:
1.      Main Industries:
a.       Saarstahl AG(Steel),                                         
b.      Villeroy & Bock(Ceramics)
c.       Automotive and Engineering
2.      Trade Partners: The United States is Saarland’s largest trading partner followed by Italy and the rest of Europe
3.      Income Per Capita: In the last three years, Saarland has been second to last with 1.19% GDP  in 2011

Cities:
1.      In the heart of Saarland lies its capital, Saarbrucken. The city is located at the Saar river in southwest Germany close to the border of France.
2.      Saarland also holds Homburg, Neunkirchen, Saarlouis, Völklingen, within its state.

History:
1.      Saarland became Germany’s 10^th  Federal State in 1957
2.In 1871 the Battle of Spichern and annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by the German Reich. 3.Roughly around 1918, the treaty of Versailles assigns the Saar mining area to France, while the adjoining workers’ housing area appending to them is put under the rule of a League of Nations government commission.
4.And in 1948, Saarland becomes part of France and is granted limited self-rule.

Cultural Information:
1.      In 1954 Saarland had their own soccer team and qualified for the World Cup.
2.      Between 1954 and 1959 Saarland had its own currency.
3.      Saarbucken, the capital of Saarland switched six times between France and Germany since the late 17 century.

Resources:

1.      http://www.eupedia.com/germany/saarland.shtml  08/29/12
2.http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=saarland,+saarland,+germany 08/29/12 3.http://www.saarland.de/english.htm 08/29/12 4.http://www.ahkitalien.it/fileadmin/ahk_italien/Dokumente/Wirtschaftstag/NEU_Praesentation_Bologna_30.April_engl_01.pdf  08/29/12
5.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_states_by_GDP  08/29/12
6.http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Germany/saarland.