Districts of Cologne within city limits), while 174,87 km² (43.2 percent) lie right of the Rhine. In regard to population, Cologne is the largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the fourth largest city in Germany. Since the city's foundation in 38 BC, Cologne grew through numerous extensions and incorporation of surrounding municipalities. Since the construction of the Medieval wall in 1180, the area of the old imperial city of Cologne has not changed for more than 600 years and was only extended over the old city walls in 1794, just short before the arrival of French troops and Cologne's incorporation
Districts of Cologne Districts of Cologne Since the last administrative reform in 1975, the City of Cologne is made up of nine Stadtbezirke and 86 Stadtteile. "Stadtbezirk" literally translates as city district, which are further subdivided into "Stadtteile" (city parts). The Stadtteile of Cologne's old and new town ("Alt-" and "Neustadt") further consist of quarters, known as ""Veedel"" in both Kölsch and most often, the Rhinelandic regiolect, as well. City districts are differentiated of being "links-" or "rechtsrheinisch" – "left" or "right of the Rhine", with the old town being left of the Rhine, as are 230,25 km² (56.8 percent of 405,14 km²