Altona

Altona, the largest and richest city in the Prussian province of Sleswick-Holstein, is situated on the steep right bank of the Elbe, just below Hamburg, so that the two cities are divided only by the state-boundaries. Altona lies higher than Hamburg, and is much healthier; but, in a commercial point of view, the two may be almost regarded as forming a single city. The trade is largely with America. There are many important industrial establishments in Altona, such as cotton and woollen mills, tobacco and soap factories. The celebrated observatory, founded by Schumacher in 1823, was transferred to Kiel in 1874. Of public buildings, the most notable are the churches of the Trinity (1743) and St John (1873); and of four monuments, there is one to the governor, Von Blücher (1832). Invested with special privileges in 1664, and burnt by the Swedes in 1713, Altona has declined in importance since its annexation to Prussia (1866). Its population, however, has increased rapidly—(1840) 28,095; (1860) 45,524; (1885) 104,719; (1890) 143,249.