Despite its proximity to the city, Ober-Erlenbach has retained its village character and attaches great importance to cultural independence. The district on the edge of the Wetterau was already inhabited in prehistoric times, as evidenced by archaeological finds.
Ober-Erlenbach is somewhat remote from Bad Homburg. However, the district is well connected to Bad Homburg and the surrounding villages, such as Karben. City buses 2 and 12 take you to the city center. Two day nurseries, a crèche and an after-school care center provide good care.
Pupil care is offered at the Paul Maar School. A family center has been established and there is also a youth center. The cemetery can be found in Wetterauer Straße. There is also the Erlenbachhalle in the town center and a sports facility on Seulberger Straße.
Ober-Erlenbach takes its name from the Erlenbach stream that flows through the district and is surrounded by fields. The nearby Lohwald forest is ideal for recreation. The numerous half-timbered houses in the town center are particularly worth admiring. St. Martin's Church is the center of Catholic parish life and has a Dreymann organ that is well worth seeing. The Protestant community center is located on Holzweg.
The volunteer fire department is stationed in Ahlweg. The Zehntscheune (tithe barn) represents an important cultural aspect; exhibitions and events take place here. There is also the Ober-Erlenbach Heimatstube museum. The annual Kerb takes place in mid-September. Numerous clubs offer a variety of sporting activities and are heavily involved in cultural and social life.
The village, which was independent until its incorporation in 1972, looks back on an interesting history. Under the rule of two counts and the Lords of Eppstein, Ober-Erlenbach became Lutheran in 1538. in 1581, the Archbishopric of Mainz took over the ruling role over the then small farming community. Ober-Erlenbach thus became Catholic again. With the construction of St. Martin's Church, the schoolhouse and the tithe building, buildings were erected that still characterize the district today.
In the 1930s, a fruit processing center developed on the site of today's Erlenbachhalle, which made the town famous in professional circles. After the Second World War, numerous refugee families had to be integrated into the town. With these and many other new residents, the number of Protestants grew again in Ober-Erlenbach, which until then had remained predominantly Catholic.
Ober-Erlenbach has had a local advisory council since 1972 as a result of the agreements on incorporation in the course of the territorial reform. This political body is elected by the citizens of the district in local elections. The rights and duties of the local advisory council can be found in the Hessian municipal code. For example, the local advisory council can comment on all issues affecting the district. The committee usually meets one Tuesday a month in the Erlenbachhalle.
