Kaltennordheim
Town
Coat of arms
Location of Kaltennordheim within Schmalkalden-Meiningen district
Kaltennordheim Show map of Germany Kaltennordheim Show map of Thuringia
Coordinates: 50°38′N 10°10′E / 50.633°N 10.167°E / 50.633; 10.167
Country	Germany
State	Thuringia
District	Schmalkalden-Meiningen
Municipal assoc.	Hohe Rhön
Government
• Mayor (2020–26)	Erik Thürmer[1] (CDU)
Area
• Total	94.41 km2 (36.45 sq mi)
Elevation	440 m (1,440 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)[2]
• Total	5,716
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	36452
Dialling codes	036966
Vehicle registration	SM

Kaltennordheim (German: [ˌkaltn̩ˈnɔʁthaɪm] ^ⓘ) is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated in the Rhön Mountains, 22 km southwest of Bad Salzungen, and 35 km east of Fulda. The former municipalities Aschenhausen, Kaltensundheim, Kaltenwestheim, Melpers, Oberkatz und Unterweid were merged into Kaltennordheim in January 2019. At the same time, Kaltennordheim passed from the Wartburgkreis to Schmalkalden-Meiningen.

Origin of the Name

The location was named "Nordheim im Tullifeld" in the middle ages. The prefix "Kalten-" first appeared in the 14th century, likely in reference to the relatively harsh weather in the region which can be attributed to its position south of the Neuberg Dermbach mountain range. Three other nearby towns bear the same prefix: Kaltensundheim, Kaltenlengsfeld and Kaltenwestheim. The prefix also differentiates Kaltennordheim from other towns like Nordheim vor der Rhön.

History

Within the German Empire (1871-1918), Kaltennordheim was part of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.