The earliest evidence of human settlement in the Beckum area dates from the Neolithic Age, from which the gallery grave of Beckum-Dalmer south of the city has been preserved. In the early Middle Ages, the area around Beckum was populated by Germanic tribes. Several grave finds from the period 600-800 AD, as well as a rampart south of Beckum, bear witness to this. In 1959, a princely tomb was uncovered during construction work. Rich grave goods were found in it, such as horse skeletons and valuable weapons.
Beckum was first mentioned in a document in 1134 as parrochia Bikeheim[4] and was first referred to as a town in 1224.[5] The name derives from the name Beckhem (Bachheim or Heim an Bächen), which is due to the confluence of three streams in the city area. The three streams Kollenbach, Siechenbach and Lippbach, reproduced in the town's coat of arms, result in the Werse, which thus has its origin in Beckum. The city was surrounded by a wall in the Middle Ages to protect against enemy troops and raids from other cities. The Feldmark, the area used for agriculture in the vicinity of the town, was also protected by double or triple ramparts. The fortifications were supplemented by four city gates and 22 watchtowers, of which a fortified tower of the city wall and the so-called Soestwarte have been preserved. The latter is available to visitors today as an observation tower and, thanks to its location on the Höxberg, allows a wide view of the surrounding area.
According to legend, Beckum is said to be identical to the town of Schilda, the home of the Schildbürger (Beckum attacks).
Due to its strategically favorable location at the crossroads of two trade routes, Beckum already achieved some wealth in the Middle Ages. Numerous merchants and craftsmen settled in the city, which was fortified by a wall. In the later Middle Ages, Beckum became a member of the Hanseatic League. The first mention of these trade relations dates back to 1433.
In connection with the so-called Spanish winter of 1598/99, Beckum was taken by Spanish troops under the command of Admiral Mendoza. During the Thirty Years' War, the city was also occupied and plundered several times.
The city became impoverished as a result of these wars, plagues (plague of 1635) and devastating fires (1655, 1657 and 1734), in which a large part of the city was destroyed. From the 17th century until 1942 there is evidence of a permanent Jewish community in Beckum.
Only from the 19th century does the economy gradually recover. In 1872, the first cement plant was built in Beckum, and many more followed. The cheap raw material deposits (marl), the proximity to the Ruhr area and the connection to the new main line of the Cologne-Minden railway company in 1847 made Beckum one of the most important cement districts in the world. Today there are still two large cement plants in Beckum: LafargeHolcim WestZement GmbH and Phoenix Zementwerke Krogbeumker GmbH & Co. KG.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the mining of strontianite was added as an economic sector. At that time, the Münsterland was the only deposit for strontianite in the world. The mineral was needed in the sugar industry as a catalyst for molasses desugaring. However, the demand for strontianite lasted only a few years. After the cheaper celestite was used as a substitute, the mostly small mines ceased operations.
In 1900, the city, which was growing ever faster due to the flourishing cement industry and the emerging secondary trades, received a municipal power station[6]. In 1908 the district council of Beckum decided to set up a central water supply, which led to the construction of the Vohren an der Ems waterworks and a water tower in Beckum by 1910.[7] From 1909, a sewage system including a sewage treatment plant was built within five years.
During the Second World War, the town of Beckum was largely spared from being destroyed by bombing raids. On April 1, 1945, the city was handed over to the advancing American forces by commander Rudolf Dunker without a fight. There are also some bunkers in the city that are occasionally open for viewing.
In the period from 1816 to 1974, Beckum was the district town (see district of Beckum); however, it lost this status to Warendorf with the Münster/Hamm Act (§ 53). The former license plate BE has been available again since April 2014.