Canton of St. Gallen
Encyclopedia
The Canton of St. Gallen (German: Kanton ) is a canton
of Switzerland
. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population (as of ) of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen
. Spelling variations include: St. Gall, Saint Gall, Saint Gallen, Sankt Gallen, and Son Gagl.
The canton of St. Gallen is an artificial construct of various historical territories, defined by Napoleon Bonaparte in the Act of Mediation
in 1803.
About half of the canton's area corresponds to the acquisitions of the abbey of St. Gall
en over centuries.
The city of St. Gallen became independent of the Abbey in 1405. At the same time, the Abbey lost control of the Appenzell
. Conversely, the Toggenburg
was acquired by the Abbey in 1468.
Both the City and the Abbey were associates (Zugewandte Orte) of the Old Swiss Confederacy
, but unlike Appenzell never joined as full members.
The territories at Lake Zürich
, Walensee and along the Rhine
remained independent until 1798. In the Helvetic Republic, the northern parts of the modern canton together with Appenzell became the Canton of Säntis
, while its southern parts together with Glarus
became the canton of Linth
.
Gallus
(ca 550–620 or 640), who built a hermitage at the river Steinach in 612. Around 720, one hundred years after Gallus's death, the Alemannic priest Othmar
built an abbey and gave it the name Abbey of St. Gall
en.
In 926 Hungarian raiders attacked the abbey and surrounding town. About 1205 the abbot became a prince of the church
in the Holy Roman Empire
. In 1311 St. Gallen became a Free imperial city
. By about 1353 the guild
s, headed by the cloth-weavers guild, gained control of the civic government.
Sigismund
. In 1405 the Appenzell
estates of the abbot successfully rebelled
and in 1411 they became allies of the Old Swiss Confederation. A few months later the town of St. Gallen also became allies. They joined the "everlasting alliance" as full members of the Confederation in 1454 and in 1457 became completely free from the abbot.
However, in 1451 the abbey became an ally of Zürich
, Lucerne
, Schwyz
and Glarus
who were all members of the Confederation. In early 1490 the four cantons supported the Abbot against the rebellious city and the Appenzell. Following their victory the Confederation took ownership of the city of St. Gallen and rejected the inroads of the empire.
and humanist
Joachim von Watt (Vadian) introduced the reformation
in the city of St. Gallen. The town converted to the new reformed religion while the Abbey remained Roman Catholic. While iconoclastic riots forced the monks to flee the city and removed images from the city's churches, the fortified Abbey remained untouched.
The Abbey would remain a Catholic stronghold in the Protestant city until 1803.
during the Helvetic Republic
. This was only possible after secularizing the abbey in 1798. In 1803 as part of the Act of Mediation
the area joined the Swiss Confederation as canton St. Gallen. The constitution was established in 1890.
(Bodensee). To the east lies the Rhine valley. Over the Rhine are Austria
(state of Vorarlberg
) and Liechtenstein
. To the south, the canton of St. Gallen is bounded by the cantons of Graubünden
, Glarus
and Schwyz
. To the west lie the cantons of Zürich
and Thurgau
.
The two half cantons Appenzell Innerrhoden
and Appenzell Ausserrhoden
are completely surrounded by lands of the canton of St. Gallen.
The main rivers of the canton are the Rhine, Thur, Linth
and Seez
. The topography changes from the plains, near river Rhine and Lake Constance, towards the mountainous areas of the Alps
in the south (Appenzell Alps
and Glarus Alps
). About one third (619.7 square kilometres (239.3 sq mi)) of the canton is wooded, while nearly half is 9790.6 km² (3,780.2 sq mi) is used for farming. 278.6 km² (107.6 sq mi) of the farm land is alpine pastures. Of the rest of the canton, 259.1 km² (100 sq mi) is considered unproductive while 176 km² (68 sq mi) is filled with housing or roads.
The altitude above the sea-level varies from 398 m (1,305.8 ft) (the lake of Constance) to 3251 m (10,666 ft) (the Ringelspitz). The canton includes portions of the lake of Constance (54 km² (20.8 sq mi)), of the Walensee (rather over 18 km² (6.9 sq mi)), and of the lake of Zürich (10 km² (3.9 sq mi)), and several small lakes wholly within its limits.
The mountains of the canton include part of a thrust fault that was declared a geologic UNESCO
world heritage site
, under the name Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona
, in 2008.
Since 2003 the canton is subdivided into 8 constituencies (Wahlkreise) replacing the districts (Bezirke).
.
(18,100), Wil
(17,500) and Gossau
(17,000). The majority of the population is Roman Catholic (52%) while a large minority is Protestant
(28%).
and cattle breeding in the mountainous areas. In the plains fruit and wine production are important, but there is also mixed farming.
Industries of the canton include optical goods, pyrotechnics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Tourism plays an important role in the many resorts. There is a thermal spa in Bad Ragaz
and another in St. Margrethen
and a great number of winter sports facilities.
and the University of St. Gallen
.
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population (as of ) of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
. Spelling variations include: St. Gall, Saint Gall, Saint Gallen, Sankt Gallen, and Son Gagl.
History
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
in 1803.
About half of the canton's area corresponds to the acquisitions of the abbey of St. Gall
Abbey of St. Gall
The Abbey of Saint Gall is a religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in present-day Switzerland. The Carolingian-era Abbey has existed since 719 and became an independent principality during the 13th century, and was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe. It was...
en over centuries.
The city of St. Gallen became independent of the Abbey in 1405. At the same time, the Abbey lost control of the Appenzell
Appenzell
Appenzell is a region and historical canton in the northeast of Switzerland, entirely surrounded by the Canton of St. Gallen....
. Conversely, the Toggenburg
Toggenburg
Toggenburg is the name given to the upper valley of the Thur River, in the Swiss Canton of St. Gallen. Currently, it is one of the eight constituencies into which the canton is divided....
was acquired by the Abbey in 1468.
Both the City and the Abbey were associates (Zugewandte Orte) of the Old Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
, but unlike Appenzell never joined as full members.
The territories at Lake Zürich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
, Walensee and along the Rhine
Rheintal
Rheintal is a Wahlkreis of the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, formed under the new constitution of the canton on 10 June 2001...
remained independent until 1798. In the Helvetic Republic, the northern parts of the modern canton together with Appenzell became the Canton of Säntis
Canton of Säntis
Säntis was the name of a canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, consisting of the territory of St. Gallen, Appenzell and Rheintal. Its capital was St. Gallen....
, while its southern parts together with Glarus
Glarus
Glarus is the capital of the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Glarus municipality since 1 January 2011 incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern....
became the canton of Linth
Canton of Linth
Linth was a canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, consisting of Glarus and its subject County of Werdenberg, the Höfe and March districts of Schwyz and the Züricher subject Lordship of Sax, along with a handful of shared territories....
.
Early history of St. Gallen
The founding of St. Gallen is based on the Irish monkMonk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
Gallus
Saint Gall
Saint Gall, Gallen, or Gallus was an Irish disciple and one of the traditionally twelve companions of Saint Columbanus on his mission from Ireland to the continent. Saint Deicolus is called an older brother of Gall.-Biography:...
(ca 550–620 or 640), who built a hermitage at the river Steinach in 612. Around 720, one hundred years after Gallus's death, the Alemannic priest Othmar
Saint Othmar
St. Othmar, O.S.B., was a monk and priest appointed as the first abbot of the Abbey of St. Gall, a Benedictine monastery in St. Gall, Switzerland....
built an abbey and gave it the name Abbey of St. Gall
Abbey of St. Gall
The Abbey of Saint Gall is a religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in present-day Switzerland. The Carolingian-era Abbey has existed since 719 and became an independent principality during the 13th century, and was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine abbeys in Europe. It was...
en.
In 926 Hungarian raiders attacked the abbey and surrounding town. About 1205 the abbot became a prince of the church
Prince of the Church
The term Prince of the Church is nowadays used nearly exclusively for Catholic Cardinals. However the term is historically more important as a generic term for clergymen whose offices hold the secular rank and privilege of a prince or are considered its equivalent...
in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. In 1311 St. Gallen became a Free imperial city
Free Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, a free imperial city was a city formally ruled by the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which were governed by one of the many princes of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops...
. By about 1353 the guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
s, headed by the cloth-weavers guild, gained control of the civic government.
Allies of the Old Swiss Confederacy
In 1415 the city bought its liberty from the German kingKing of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
. In 1405 the Appenzell
Appenzell
Appenzell is a region and historical canton in the northeast of Switzerland, entirely surrounded by the Canton of St. Gallen....
estates of the abbot successfully rebelled
Appenzell Wars
The Appenzell Wars were a series of conflicts that lasted from 1401 until 1429 in the Appenzell region of Switzerland. The wars were a successful uprising of cooperative groups, such as the farmers of Appenzell or the craftsmen of the city of St. Gallen, against the traditional medieval power...
and in 1411 they became allies of the Old Swiss Confederation. A few months later the town of St. Gallen also became allies. They joined the "everlasting alliance" as full members of the Confederation in 1454 and in 1457 became completely free from the abbot.
However, in 1451 the abbey became an ally of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, Schwyz
Schwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
and Glarus
Glarus
Glarus is the capital of the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Glarus municipality since 1 January 2011 incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern....
who were all members of the Confederation. In early 1490 the four cantons supported the Abbot against the rebellious city and the Appenzell. Following their victory the Confederation took ownership of the city of St. Gallen and rejected the inroads of the empire.
Early modern history
Starting in 1526 then-mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
Joachim von Watt (Vadian) introduced the reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in the city of St. Gallen. The town converted to the new reformed religion while the Abbey remained Roman Catholic. While iconoclastic riots forced the monks to flee the city and removed images from the city's churches, the fortified Abbey remained untouched.
The Abbey would remain a Catholic stronghold in the Protestant city until 1803.
Modern history
The canton of St. Gallen was part of the canton of SäntisCanton of Säntis
Säntis was the name of a canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, consisting of the territory of St. Gallen, Appenzell and Rheintal. Its capital was St. Gallen....
during the Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
. This was only possible after secularizing the abbey in 1798. In 1803 as part of the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
the area joined the Swiss Confederation as canton St. Gallen. The constitution was established in 1890.
Geography
The canton is located in the north east of Switzerland. It is bounded to the north by Lake ConstanceLake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
(Bodensee). To the east lies the Rhine valley. Over the Rhine are Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
(state of Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal-state of Austria. Although it is the second smallest in terms of area and population , it borders three countries: Germany , Switzerland and Liechtenstein...
) and Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
. To the south, the canton of St. Gallen is bounded by the cantons of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, Glarus
Canton of Glarus
The Canton of Glarus is a canton in east central Switzerland. The capital is Glarus.The population speaks a variety of Alemannic German.The majority of the population identifies as Christian, about evenly split between the Protestant and Catholic confessions.-History:According to legend, the...
and Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
. To the west lie the cantons of Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
and Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
.
The two half cantons Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden is the smallest canton of Switzerland by population and the second smallest by area, Basel-City having less area.-Foundation:...
and Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Appenzell Ausserrhoden is a canton of Switzerland. The seat of the government and parliament is Herisau, judicial authorities are in Trogen. Appenzell Ausserrhoden is located in the north east of Switzerland, bordering the cantons of St...
are completely surrounded by lands of the canton of St. Gallen.
The main rivers of the canton are the Rhine, Thur, Linth
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
and Seez
Seez
Seez may mean:*Séez, in Savoie, France*Seez River, in Switzerland*A diocese, with see at Sées in northern France, as an alternate spelling...
. The topography changes from the plains, near river Rhine and Lake Constance, towards the mountainous areas of the Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
in the south (Appenzell Alps
Appenzell Alps
The Appenzell Alps are a mountain range in Switzerland on the northern edge of the Alps. They extend into the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and St...
and Glarus Alps
Glarus Alps
The Glarus Alps are a mountain range in central Switzerland. They extend from the Oberalp Pass to the Klausen Pass, and are bordered by the Urner Alps to the west, the Lepontine Alps to the south and the Appenzell Alps to the northeast...
). About one third (619.7 square kilometres (239.3 sq mi)) of the canton is wooded, while nearly half is 9790.6 km² (3,780.2 sq mi) is used for farming. 278.6 km² (107.6 sq mi) of the farm land is alpine pastures. Of the rest of the canton, 259.1 km² (100 sq mi) is considered unproductive while 176 km² (68 sq mi) is filled with housing or roads.
The altitude above the sea-level varies from 398 m (1,305.8 ft) (the lake of Constance) to 3251 m (10,666 ft) (the Ringelspitz). The canton includes portions of the lake of Constance (54 km² (20.8 sq mi)), of the Walensee (rather over 18 km² (6.9 sq mi)), and of the lake of Zürich (10 km² (3.9 sq mi)), and several small lakes wholly within its limits.
The mountains of the canton include part of a thrust fault that was declared a geologic UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
world heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, under the name Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona
Glarus thrust
The Glarus thrust is a major thrust fault in the Alps of eastern Switzerland. Along the thrust the Helvetic nappes were thrusted more than 100 km to the north over the external Aarmassif and Infrahelvetic complex...
, in 2008.
Constituencies
- Rheintal with capital AltstättenAltstättenAltstätten is a town in the district Rhine Valley, in the canton of St. Gall in Switzerland.- Overview :The town consists of the following tracts: Alter Zoll, Altstätten, Bächis, Baumert, Bieser, Büeberg, Bühl, Bühl , Bühl bei Hinterforst, Burgfeld, Bürglen, Burst, Domishäuser, Fidern, Gätziberg,...
- RorschachRorschach (Wahlkreis)Rorschach is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Wahlkreis has been established on June 10, 2001, totalling 40,454 inhabitants on an area of 50.37 km². Rorschach is the capital of the Wahlkreis....
with capital Rorschach - Sarganserland with capital SargansSargansSargans is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Sargans is known for its castle, which dates from before the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291...
- See-GasterSee-Gaster (Wahlkreis)See-Gaster is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis has been established on June 10, 2001 with an area of .It was formed from See District and Gaster District.-Demographics:...
with capital Rapperswil-JonaRapperswil-JonaRapperswil-Jona is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Besides Rapperswil and Jona, which were separate municipalities until 2006, the municipality includes Bollingen, Busskirch, Curtiberg, Kempraten-Lenggis, Wagen, and Wurmsbach.-Today:On... - St. GallenSt. Gallen (Wahlkreis)St. Gallen is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis has been established on June 10, 2001 with an area of . The Wahlkreis has its name by the city of St. Gallen.-Demographics:...
with capital St. GallenSt. GallenSt. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic... - Toggenburg with capital LichtensteigLichtensteigLichtensteig is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Toggenburg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Lichtensteig is first mentioned in 1228 as Liehtvnsteige. In 1310 it was mentioned as Liechtensteig.-Geography:...
- WerdenbergWerdenberg (Wahlkreis)Werdenberg is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis was established on June 10, 2001. The Wahlkreis has its name by the municipality Grabs-Werdenberg.-Demographics:...
with capital BuchsBuchs, St. GallenBuchs is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Werdenberg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:Buchs has an area, , of . Of this area, 39.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 27.8% is forested... - WilWil (Wahlkreis)Wil is a district of the canton of St.Gallen, Switzerland. It is named after the regional centre Wil, which is the largest city of the district.However, the district capital is Jonschwil.-Demographics:District Wil has a population of...
with capital WilWilWil is the capital of the Wahlkreis of Wil in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Wil is the third largest city in the Canton of St. Gallen, after the city of St...
Municipalities
There are 86 municipalities in the cantonMunicipalities of the canton of St. Gallen
The following are the 85 municipalities of the canton of St. Gallen, .-References:...
.
Demographics
88% of the population is German-speaking. The main centres of population are the capital St. Gallen (69,700 inhabitants), JonaJona
Jona is a former municipality in the Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.- Geography :Jona is located at the eastern shore of Lake Zürich...
(18,100), Wil
Wil
Wil is the capital of the Wahlkreis of Wil in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Wil is the third largest city in the Canton of St. Gallen, after the city of St...
(17,500) and Gossau
Gossau
Gossau can mean either of two municipalities of Switzerland:* Gossau, St. Gallen, a city of 17,000 inhabitants* Gossau, Zürich, a town of 9,000 inhabitants...
(17,000). The majority of the population is Roman Catholic (52%) while a large minority is Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
(28%).
Economy
Agricultural activity consists predominantly of dairy farmingDairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
and cattle breeding in the mountainous areas. In the plains fruit and wine production are important, but there is also mixed farming.
Industries of the canton include optical goods, pyrotechnics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Tourism plays an important role in the many resorts. There is a thermal spa in Bad Ragaz
Bad Ragaz
Bad Ragaz is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.It is the home of a famous natural spring and is a popular spa and health resort destination. Bad Ragaz is also surprisingly known as one of the best pizza towns in all of Europe...
and another in St. Margrethen
St. Margrethen
St. Margrethen is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:...
and a great number of winter sports facilities.
Education
Higher educational institutions include the Hochschule für Technik RapperswilHochschule für Technik Rapperswil
HSR or University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil is a technical university in Rapperswil, a town of the City of Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland...
and the University of St. Gallen
University of St. Gallen
The University of St. Gallen is a public research university located in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It is specialized in the fields of business administration, economics, law, and international affairs. The University of St. Gallen is also known as HSG, which is an abbreviation of its former German...
.