It is known for its jewelry and watch-making industry, and as such has gained the nickname "Goldstadt" "Golden City". With an area of From to , it was the home to the Margraves of Baden-Durlach.
The City of Pforzheim is a Stadtkreis , meaning it is both a municipality and a district at the same time. Also, it hosts the administrative offices of the Enz district that surrounds the city.
The Allies believed that precision instruments were being produced here for use in the German war effort and that the town was a transport centre for the movement of German troops. In the 20 years following the end of the war, Pforzheim was gradually rebuilt.
The town reflects the architecture of the postwar period and has some landmark buildings of the s. The following towns and communities share borderlines with the City of Pforzheim. Below they are mentioned in clockwise order, beginning to the north of the city.
Except for Unterreichenbach, which belongs to the district of Calw , all of them are part of the Enz district. The city of Pforzheim consists of 16 city wards. In important matters concerning any of these communities the opinions of the respective community councils must be taken into consideration. However, final decisions on the matter will be made by the Pforzheim city council.
