The brook Kraichbach divides the town in an eastern and a smaller western area, and flows into the Rhine to the north near Ketsch.

[3] The municipal area is divided into two large natural regions, the "Rheinaue" to the west and the slightly higher "Niederterrasse" to the east.

The "Rheinbogen" offers biologically diverse, secondary wetlands as habitat for endangered plants and animals, it is also an internationally important resting and feeding area for migrating birds in winter.

With the growing tobacco crop the village flourished and was awarded town rights on 22 July 1895 by Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden.

[7] In order to provide an interconnection between the high-speed line and the classic Rhine railway, the latter was moved west by 130 metres (430 ft) and the land freed up by the removal of the old alignment was converted into a public park.

The town is led by the Lord Mayor ("Oberbürgermeister"), who is elected directly by the population every 8 years; since 2004 this office is held by Dieter Gummer (SPD).

In 1975 the Hockenheim government agreed upon a municipal association ("Verwaltungsgemeinschaft") with the neighboring villages Altlußheim, Neulußheim and Reilingen.

Adopted in 1609, the coat of arms of Hockenheim has diagonally crossed silver hooks in a sign, below a crowned golden lion.

Since 2007 Formula One races in Germany are alternating annually between the Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring; Hockenheim hosts the event on even years.

So far the track has not been utilised for the Grand Prix ever since (2024) A museum for tobacco cultivation was founded 1984 as the first of its kind in Baden-Württemberg.

The "Gartenschaupark" was created in 1991 to host the State Horticultural Show and is, with an area of 16 ha, Hockenheim's largest park.

The old Catholic church, with a classical hall (1817) and a late Gothic choir tower (1490), serves as a community center today.