Amt Ferndorf-Krombach

Ferndorf and Krombach were separate parishes and Gerichte in the 14th century. The Gerichte (but not the parishes) were combined prior to 1607, but I don’t know exactly when—I simply assume that it was before 1561. I also don’t know when the combined Gerichte began being referred to as an Amt, but I nevertheless use that term from 1561 on. Finally, Krombach was not always included in the name. In that spirit, I use Ferndorf alone as the simplified name.

 

When the Ottonian lands were partitioned in 1607, Amt Ferndorf-Krombach was assigned to the County of Siegen and remained part of that county/Landesteil (or a spinoff thereof) through 1806. When the partition of the County of Siegen was first attempted in 1624, a few villages were transferred from Amt Netphen, and Müsen was transfered to Amt Hilchenbach. When the partition of the county actually occurred in 1648, Amt Ferndorf was assigned to the Calvinist county governed out of Hilchenbach. The Amt corresponds closely to the modern city of Kreuztal—a name that did not come into usage until the mid-19th century but that was formally adopted by the village of Ernsdorf in 1928.