In 767, Frettenheim had its first documentary mention in the Lorsch codex. It then still bore the name Frittenheim, as the founder who built his farm there was named Frido. Only in 1402 did Frettenheim get its current name.
In 1575, Frettenheim became part of Electoral Palatinate. Beginning in 1755, the Barons of Heddersdorf were tithe lords. In 1792, Frettenheim lay under French administration and belonged to the Department of Mont-Tonnerre (or Donnersberg in German).
In 1816 came the transfer to the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Frettenheim became autonomous in 1868.
Population development
In 1772, the population amounted to 90 persons. Since then, the figure has risen to almost fourfold. The municipality is among the smallest Ortsgemeinden in the district.
Politics
Municipal council
The council is made up of 8 council members, who were elected by proportional representation at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:[3]
Frettenheim’s Ortsbürgermeister (mayor) is Carsten Claß (independent), who was elected in May 2019.
Previous mayors were:
Bernd Weber (FWG), 2006–2019
Heinz Martin (SPD), until 2006
Wendelin Mathias Kiefer, first to hold office, 1868
Coat of arms
The municipality’s arms might be described thus: Per fess, sable a lion passant Or armed, langued and crowned gules, and lozengy argent and azure.
Culture and sightseeing
Buildings
The little municipality has at its disposal two Baroque churches and a Dorfgemeinschaftshaus (village hall), which until 1967 was used as a school, having been given its current function in 1981.
In 2006, the municipality counted seven full-time farmers.
Transport
Beginning in 1897, the Osthofen–Gau-Odernheimrailway line led through Frettenheim, over which there were links to Worms at Osthofen and to the Alzey–Bodenheim railway (known locally as the Amiche) at Gau Odernheim; however, it has been out of service since the mid-1980s.