The size of St. Goarshausen has changed greatly over the centuries. If the village at that time lost 178 of 250 inhabitants due to the plague in 1635, it grew strongly in the following decades. In 1816, St. Goarshausen was therefore also declared a town and the official seat in the newly founded Duchy of Nassau. In the past, the town was mainly a fishing and wine-growing community, and then over time it transformed into an administrative center and tourist destination. Especially because of the famous sight Loreley, numerous visitors come to the city every year, so that tourism is also by far the most important economic sector in St. Goarshausen.
