The name of the city derives from the fact that the river Pader originates in more then 200 springs near the cathedral of Paderborn. It is Germany's shortest river. See also Rivers of Germany.
It is the headquarters of the former Nixdorf computer company, bought by Siemens in the early 1990s and known as Siemens-Nixdorf for about 10 years.
Paderborn is also home of the beer "Paderborner Pilsener".