The placename "Bobingen" goes back to the
Alamannic settler "Pobo" (
ca 506). About 993, Bobingen was called "Pobinga" ("at Pobo's people's house"). Also about 993 came Bobingen's first documentary mention in the
Vita S. Udalrici. Bobingen in today's administrative region of
Swabia was later an administrative centre of the Augsburg Church Estate. As a result of the
Reichsdeputationshauptschluss in 1803, the city came under Bavarian
sovereignty. In 1847, the
railway arrived, joining Bobingen to
Lindau and
Hof. In 1899, the
rayon factory was founded, starting production in 1902. In 1953, the town was raised to
market town, and in 1969 to city. In 1972, the communities of Straßberg, Reinhartshausen and Burgwalden were amalgamated into Bobingen. Bobingen now belongs to the Augsburg district. In 1975, the communities of Waldberg and Kreuzanger were also amalgamated into Bobingen. In 1993, the city hall (Singoldhalle) was completed. In 1994, the city held a thousandth-anniversary celebration, as well as celebrating 25 years as a city. In 2004, the city saw the completion of the rehabilitation and expansion of the city
hospital. In 2005, the city's buildings underwent beautification.
The Bobingen "Büble" Legend There is more than one version of the story about the Bobingen
Büble ("lad" or "young man"). In a second, later version, the story even ends with the characters' arrest and execution. This, however, cannot be true from an historical point of view, as there were no
gallows in Bobingen, and therefore no hangings could be carried out. The Church Estate's
High Justice establishment had its execution place at
Schwabmünchen. The following legend is the earliest version, drawn from Alexander Schöppner's "Bayerische Sagen" (Bavarian Legends): :''Three hours south of Augsburg on the so-called Hochstraße (a "high road", built on embankments or viaducts), lies the great and beautiful village of Bobingen. There, however, it is not good to ask "Wo geht's Bobingen zu?" ("How does one get to Bobingen"), and quite a few have ended up with bloody heads from it. At the least one will be mauled with insult and scoffing, and with blasphemous talk, whomever one wishes to ask. This came about as follows: Once, a long time ago, there was a young man from Bobingen who was prosecuted before a court. The accused appealed to a
lawyer with a good name in Augsburg to fight his case for him. He advised the young man to behave like an idiot before the court, to answer every question asked of him by saying "Bobingen zu" (which is rather nonsensical), at the same time pointing with his right hand under his nose from right to left. He did just as he was advised, and since neither a confession nor anything else could be got out of him, the court released him. After a time, he came to the town on business and met the lawyer, who was curious to know the case's outcome. After hearing of the fortunate success, he said "It is now time for you to pay me for this advice; I demand two Karolins for my troubles."'' :
The young man, however, replied with a "Bobingen zu", turned round the street corner and since that time has left the lawyer waiting for his fee. == Constituent communities ==