Oberhausen (/ˈoʊbərhaʊzən/,[3][4][5] German: [ˈoːbɐhaʊzn̩] ⓘ) is a city on the river Emscher in the Ruhr Area, Germany, located between Duisburg and Essen (c. 13 km or 8 mi).

The new borough was formed in 1862 following inflow of people for the local coal mines and steel mills.

Awarded town rights in 1874, Oberhausen absorbed several neighbouring boroughs including Alstaden, parts of Styrum and Dümpten in 1910.

In 1973, Thyssen AG employed 14,000 people in Oberhausen in the steel industry, but ten years later the number had fallen to 6,000.

The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows: Oberhausen is home to Regionalliga West football team Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, who play at the Niederrheinstadion situated on the banks of the Rhine–Herne Canal.