Formed under post-World War II occupational rule and confirmed by referendum in December 1951, Baden-Württemberg consists of three former states: Württemberg-Baden (in the American zone) and Südwürttemberg-Hohenzollern and Südbaden (both in the French zone). The merger of these states took effect in 1952.

Baden-Württemberg is one of Germany's most geographically varied states, with the forests of the upland regions alternating with fertile highlands, green meadows, lakes, and marshes. Its geographical boundaries are the Main River to the north, the Iller River to the east, the waters of Lake Constance (Constance, Lake) (Bodensee) and the upper Rhine (Rhine River) to the south, and the widening Rhine Valley to the west. The source of the Danube River (Donau) is in Baden-Württemberg, at Donaueschingen (Danube River), and the river cuts through the eastern area of the state on the first part of its journey across the European continent. The Danube is the main drainage basin south of the European water divide, which bisects the state.

The fertile southern part of the upper Rhine Valley is an important agricultural region, with many orchards and vineyards, including the sun-drenched vineyards around Mount Kaiserstuhl, which produce wine that ranks among the finest of all wines produced in Germany.

Baden-Württemberg contains Germany's largest continuous forest area, the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), which spreads westward to the banks of the Rhine River. Idyllic valleys break its uniformity, and over the years low-lying portions have filled with water, with many small lakes now contributing to the forest's enchanting, if somewhat foreboding, scenery. The highest point is the Feldberg, which rises to 4,898 feet (1,493 metres). The Black Forest edges into the Hotzen Forest (Hotzenwald) in the south, where many lakes and reservoirs feed numerous power stations. Fruit is grown in valleys cutting into the western escarpment, most commonly grapes, plums, and cherries used in kirsch, the famous Black Forest cherry brandy.

The Hohenlohe district is the granary of Baden-Württemberg. It lies around the old free city of Schwäbisch Hall and extends all the way to the borders of Bavaria at Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Large farms and numerous, often well-preserved, castles provide ample evidence of the wealth of Hohenlohe in past centuries.

Located between the Rhine and Neckar rivers, the fertile Kraichgau district is the site of wheat, corn (maize), tobacco, and fruit farming. The Schwetzinger asparagus of this area is quite famous.

The Odenwald (Oden Forest) is often called the “Siberia of Baden” because of its location outside the main traffic arteries as well as its raw climate. Only in the years since 1950 has the development of small industry created extra income possibilities for the local small farmer.

The climate of Baden-Württemberg differs greatly among the various regions of the state. The upper Rhine Valley is the warmest area, with a yearly mean average in the high 40s °F (about 9 °C), whereas the Alps are the most inhospitable, with a mean average in the low 40s °F (about 5. 5 °C).

A characteristic feature of Baden-Württemberg is its great number of urban settlements; the urban density is two to three times that of northern Germany. By the late 20th century, Baden-Württemberg ranked third in both area and population among the German states, having grown more than any other in the period following World War II.

Baden-Württemberg may be regarded as the one German state in which economic life is dominated by middle-class businesspeople and small farmers. Although such world-famous firms as Daimler AG started as small workshops in Stuttgart and Mannheim, there is virtually no heavy industry in the region. In general, Baden-Württemberg is a producer of high-value-added industrial products. It is the centre for specialized mechanical industries that produce the majority of all the clocks, watches, and custom-made jewelry that originate in the country. Substantial amounts of Germany's leather goods, musical instruments, medical instruments, food, agricultural produce, and hardware are also produced in Baden-Württemberg. However, the relative decline in the importance of manufacturing as an employer affected the state's economy during the 1990s, and Baden-Württemberg endeavoured to expand employment in high technology, manufacturing, and business services in order to maintain its traditionally high standard of living.

Making a living in agriculture continues to pose problems for farmers with small holdings. Many supplement their farm income with factory jobs or by converting either their own homes or other nearby property to tourist use. The well-known spas of Baden-Baden, Wildbad, and Badenweiler provide additional tourist facilities, while many other smaller spas have been enlarged and improved considerably with financial help from the state government.

Representatives to the Landtag (state parliament) are directly elected to five-year terms. The Landtag passes legislation, approves the state budget, and chooses the minister-president and members of the state constitutional court.

The state theatres in Karlsruhe and Stuttgart have an international reputation, with the Stuttgart Ballet perhaps being the most notable troupe to perform at the Stuttgart theatre. Of the provincial and city theatres, the Mannheim National Theater merits special mention: Friedrich von Schiller (Schiller, Friedrich von)'s Die Räuber (The Robbers) had its world premiere on that stage. In addition to Schiller, famous natives of Baden-Württemberg include poets and writers such as Friedrich Hölderlin (Hölderlin, Friedrich) and Hermann Hesse (Hesse, Hermann), philosophers Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel (Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich) and Martin Heidegger (Heidegger, Martin), and painter and engraver Otto Dix (Dix, Otto), who made an important contribution to German Expressionism.