The term 'City in the Ruhr' refers to two cities in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Essen and Herne. Essen is a city located in the northern part of the Ruhr area and is the ninth largest city in Germany with a population of 593, 085. Herne is a city located in the southern part of the Ruhr area and is the twelfth largest city in Germany with a population of 156, 633. Both cities are important industrial centers and have been heavily impacted by the decline of the coal and steel industries in the region.