To the west, the Friedberg area extends into the Taunus mountain range up to the 518 meters (1,699 ft) high Steinkopf.

The town consists of 7 districts: The old city was refounded by the Hohenstaufen dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire, conveniently located at important trading routes.

In central Italy and Lombardy similar struggles between count and commune fueled the politics of Guelf and Ghibelline parties.

[3] Between 1337 and 1498, the constitution for the castle developed with a network of knightly families with rights to elect a Burggraf (burgrave), two Baumeister, and twelve Regimentsburgmannen.

Friedberg's old town quarter once housed a prosperous Jewish community that was totally wiped out during World War II.

Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, diamond mining entrepreneur and former owner of De Beers was born and raised in Friedberg.

The base is notable as the duty station of Elvis Presley during his military stint in Europe, who lived in nearby Bad Nauheim.