Canton of Zug
Encyclopedia
The Canton of Zug is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland
. It is located in central Switzerland
and its capital is Zug
. With 239 km² the canton is one of the smallest of the cantons in terms of area. It is not subdivided into districts.
. The canton of Waldstätten also consisted of what is today the Canton of Schwyz
, the Canton of Lucerne
, Unterwalden
and the Canton of Uri
.
In 1803, in the Act of Mediation
, the canton of Zug regained its independence as a separate canton. The constitution of 1814 abolished open assemblies (Landsgemeinde
), which had existed in the canton since 1376. In 1845 the canton of Zug became a member of the Sonderbund and shared in the war of 1847 which was lost to the Swiss confederation. In 1848 the remaining functions of the open assemblies (Landsgemeinde) were abolished. Both in 1848 and in 1874 the canton voted against the federal constitutions. The constitution of 1876 was amended in 1881, and replaced by a new one in 1894.
Near the southern shore of the lake of Ägeri is the site of the famous Battle of Morgarten
, won by the Swiss in 1315. In this battle the powerful Habsburgs were defeated. The hamlet
of Morgarten (Municipality of Oberägeri
) borders the Canton of Schwyz and is home to the Morgarten Battle Monument (Morgarten Denkmal). The actual battle ground is just across the border in the hamlet of Schornen (Municipality of Sattel
) in the Canton of Schwyz
.
and Canton of Aargau
lie to its west. To the north, the canton is bound by the Canton of Zurich
, whereas to the east and south lies the Canton of Schwyz
.
Most of the land is considered productive. The lakes Zug
(known locally as Zugersee) and Ägeri (known locally as Agerisee) make up a considerable area of the canton's lands. The Lake Ägeri is wholly within the canton, whereas the Lake Zug is shared with the cantons of Lucerne and Schwyz.
The canton is located on a hilly plateau. The Höhrohnen (nr Gottschalkenberg) is the highest elevation (1,205 m) in the east of the canton. The Zugerberg (1,040 m) in the south is another notable elevation. It is part of the Rossberg massif which rises to the Wildspitz
(1,583 m) east of the lake of Zug. This massif separates Lake Zug from the basin and lake of Aegeri. It also separates the hilly district of Menzingen
from Lake Zug.
The Lorze
river is the principal drainage in the canton. It originates in Lake Ägeri from where it flows northward through moraine deposits in a deep gorge with fine stalactite caverns. The river eventually enters the lake of Zug very near from where the river Reuss
originates. The river Reuss forms the boundary of the canton in the north west.
, as well as the three members of the Federal Nationalrat, are also elected by a popular vote.
, Oberägeri
, Unterägeri
, Menzingen
, Baar
, Cham
, Hünenberg
, Steinhausen
, Risch
, Walchwil
, Neuheim
minority (18%). While the majority of the population understands German most residents speak the Swiss German
dialect of central Switzerland. Until 1814, Zug was in the Diocese of Konstanz, but on the reconstruction of the diocese of Basel
in 1828 it was assigned to the latter.
has one of the lowest taxes in Switzerland
. Trade in particular is of great significance. There are a large number of small and middle sized businesses in all areas of the economy. There are over 24,300 registered companies and over 70,000 jobs in the canton, with 12,900 of the registered companies in the city of Zug.
In the higher regions of the canton the population is mainly engaged in pastoral pursuits and cattle-breeding. There are 61 alps (high pastures) in the canton (1911). At Cham is a well-known factory of condensed milk
, now united with that of Nestlé
of Vevey
. The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. was founded in Cham in 1866. At Baar there are factories. Round the town of Zug
there are great numbers of fruit trees, and Kirsch
(a high grade clear cherry schnapps) and cider
are largely manufactured. Apiculture flourishes in the canton. A number of factories have sprung up in the new quarter of the town. The formerly important silk-weaving industry has now disappeared. Today's main industries are the manufacture of metal
goods, textiles, machinery, electronics and alcoholic beverages (Kirsch).
and with Zurich
, while lines running along either shore of the lake of Zug join at the Arth-Goldau station of the St. Gotthard railway. It is connected to both Germany
and Italy
. Motorways link the roads of the canton with other areas. The motorway through the St. Gotthard massif is of particular importance.
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...
. It is located in central 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....
and its capital is Zug
Zug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
. With 239 km² the canton is one of the smallest of the cantons in terms of area. It is not subdivided into districts.
History
The earlier history of the canton is practically identical with that of its capital Zug. From 1728 to 1738 it was distracted by violent disputes about the distribution of the French pensions. In 1798 its inhabitants opposed the French. The canton formed part of the Tellgau and later was one of the districts of the huge canton of the Waldstätten in the Helvetic RepublicHelvetic 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...
. The canton of Waldstätten also consisted of what is today the Canton of 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....
, the Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
, Unterwalden
Unterwalden
Unterwalden is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or Talschaften, now organized as two half-cantons, an upper part, Obwalden, and a lower part, Nidwalden.Unterwalden was one of the three participants...
and the Canton of Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
.
In 1803, in 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 canton of Zug regained its independence as a separate canton. The constitution of 1814 abolished open assemblies (Landsgemeinde
Landsgemeinde
The Landsgemeinde or "cantonal assembly" is one of the oldest forms of direct democracy. The first historically documented assembly took place in 1294...
), which had existed in the canton since 1376. In 1845 the canton of Zug became a member of the Sonderbund and shared in the war of 1847 which was lost to the Swiss confederation. In 1848 the remaining functions of the open assemblies (Landsgemeinde) were abolished. Both in 1848 and in 1874 the canton voted against the federal constitutions. The constitution of 1876 was amended in 1881, and replaced by a new one in 1894.
Near the southern shore of the lake of Ägeri is the site of the famous Battle of Morgarten
Battle of Morgarten
The Battle of Morgarten occurred on November 15, 1315, when a Swiss Confederation force of 1,500 infantry archers ambushed a group of Austrian soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire near the Morgarten Pass...
, won by the Swiss in 1315. In this battle the powerful Habsburgs were defeated. The hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Morgarten (Municipality of Oberägeri
Oberägeri
Oberägeri, until 1798 simply known as Ägeri, is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-History:Oberägeri is first mentioned in 1150 as Agregia. In 1538 it was mentioned as Ober Egere....
) borders the Canton of Schwyz and is home to the Morgarten Battle Monument (Morgarten Denkmal). The actual battle ground is just across the border in the hamlet of Schornen (Municipality of Sattel
Sattel, Switzerland
Sattel is a municipality in Schwyz District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland. Its name is the German word for saddle.-History:thumb|left|Battle of Morgarten Chapel...
) in the Canton of 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....
.
Geography
The canton of Zug is located in central Switzerland. The canton of LucerneCanton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
and Canton of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
lie to its west. To the north, the canton is bound by the Canton of Zurich
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...
, whereas to the east and south lies the Canton of 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....
.
Most of the land is considered productive. The lakes Zug
Lake of Zug
Lake Zug is a lake in Central Switzerland, situated between Lucerne and Zurich. The Lorze as the main feeder river empties its waters into the lake at its northern extremity, but 1 km further west issues from the lake to pursue its course towards the Reuss...
(known locally as Zugersee) and Ägeri (known locally as Agerisee) make up a considerable area of the canton's lands. The Lake Ägeri is wholly within the canton, whereas the Lake Zug is shared with the cantons of Lucerne and Schwyz.
The canton is located on a hilly plateau. The Höhrohnen (nr Gottschalkenberg) is the highest elevation (1,205 m) in the east of the canton. The Zugerberg (1,040 m) in the south is another notable elevation. It is part of the Rossberg massif which rises to the Wildspitz
Wildspitz
Wildspitz is a mountain in the Glarus Alps, located above Goldau in Switzerland. It is the highest summit of the Canton of Zug.-References:* Swisstopo maps* geofinder.ch...
(1,583 m) east of the lake of Zug. This massif separates Lake Zug from the basin and lake of Aegeri. It also separates the hilly district of Menzingen
Menzingen
Menzingen is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Geography:Menzingen has an area, , of . Of this area, 62.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.3% is forested...
from Lake Zug.
The Lorze
Lorze
Lorze is the main river of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland. It flows from Ägerisee through Lake Zug into the Reuss River....
river is the principal drainage in the canton. It originates in Lake Ägeri from where it flows northward through moraine deposits in a deep gorge with fine stalactite caverns. The river eventually enters the lake of Zug very near from where the river Reuss
Reuss River
The Reuss is a river in Switzerland. With a length of and a drainage basin of , it is the fourth largest river in Switzerland...
originates. The river Reuss forms the boundary of the canton in the north west.
Political subdivisions
The canton forms a single administrative district, which comprises eleven municipalities. The legislature (Kantonsrat) has 80 members.The executive (Regierungsrat) has seven members. Members of both governments are elected directly by popular vote. The term of office in both cases is four years. The two members of the Federal StänderatSwiss Council of States
The Council of States of Switzerland is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly's upper house. There are 46 Councillors....
, as well as the three members of the Federal Nationalrat, are also elected by a popular vote.
Municipalities
The eleven municipalities of the canton are: ZugZug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
, Oberägeri
Oberägeri
Oberägeri, until 1798 simply known as Ägeri, is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-History:Oberägeri is first mentioned in 1150 as Agregia. In 1538 it was mentioned as Ober Egere....
, Unterägeri
Unterägeri
Unterägeri is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-History:Oberägeri is first mentioned in 1150 as Agregia. In 1538 it was mentioned as Ober Egere.The first church in the valley was built in 876...
, Menzingen
Menzingen
Menzingen is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Geography:Menzingen has an area, , of . Of this area, 62.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.3% is forested...
, Baar
Baar, Switzerland
Baar is a village in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Geography:Baar has an area, , of . Of this area, 55% is used for agricultural purposes, while 24.5% is forested...
, Cham
Cham, Switzerland
Cham is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Location:Cham has an area, , of . Of this area, 63.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 13.2% is forested...
, Hünenberg
Hünenberg
Hünenberg is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-History:Hünenberg is first mentioned in 1173 as de Hunberg, though this document is considered a forgery. In 1185 it was mentioned as de Hunoberg and in 1239 as de Hunaberc....
, Steinhausen
Steinhausen, Switzerland
Steinhausen is a city in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Geography:Steinhausen has an area, , of . Of this area, 50.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 15.1% is forested...
, Risch
Risch
Risch-Rotkreuz is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland. Four villages belong to the municipality Risch-Rotkreuz. On the 24th of November, 2007, the name of the municipality changed from Risch to Risch-Rotkreuz...
, Walchwil
Walchwil
Walchwil is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-Geography:Walchwil has an area, , of . Of this area, 41.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 45.5% is forested...
, Neuheim
Neuheim
Neuheim is a municipality in the canton of Zug in Switzerland.-History:Neuheim is first mentioned in 1080 as Niuheim. In 1173 the parish church of St. Blasien was built and Neuheim became the center of the parish of Neuheim. The parish was originally part of Einsiedeln and in 1363 was transferred...
Demographics
The population of the canton (as of ) is . , the population included 23,997 foreigners, or about 22% of the total population. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic (62%) with a ProtestantProtestantism
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...
minority (18%). While the majority of the population understands German most residents speak the Swiss German
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
dialect of central Switzerland. Until 1814, Zug was in the Diocese of Konstanz, but on the reconstruction of the diocese of Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
in 1828 it was assigned to the latter.
Economy
The capital Zug is home to a large number of companies which only have their headquarters in the city. This is the case because ZugZug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
has one of the lowest taxes in 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....
. Trade in particular is of great significance. There are a large number of small and middle sized businesses in all areas of the economy. There are over 24,300 registered companies and over 70,000 jobs in the canton, with 12,900 of the registered companies in the city of Zug.
In the higher regions of the canton the population is mainly engaged in pastoral pursuits and cattle-breeding. There are 61 alps (high pastures) in the canton (1911). At Cham is a well-known factory of condensed milk
Condensed milk
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is cow's milk from which water has been removed and to which sugar has been added, yielding a very thick, sweet product which when canned can last for years without refrigeration if unopened. The two terms, condensed milk and sweetened...
, now united with that of Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
of Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
. The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. was founded in Cham in 1866. At Baar there are factories. Round the town of Zug
Zug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
there are great numbers of fruit trees, and Kirsch
Kirschwasser
Kirschwasser is a clear, colorless fruit brandy traditionally made from double distillation of morello cherries, a dark-colored cultivar of the sour cherry. However, it is now also made from other kinds of cherries. The cherries are fermented complete...
(a high grade clear cherry schnapps) and cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
are largely manufactured. Apiculture flourishes in the canton. A number of factories have sprung up in the new quarter of the town. The formerly important silk-weaving industry has now disappeared. Today's main industries are the manufacture of metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
goods, textiles, machinery, electronics and alcoholic beverages (Kirsch).
Transport
Railways connect the canton of Zug both with LucerneLucerne
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...
and with Zurich
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...
, while lines running along either shore of the lake of Zug join at the Arth-Goldau station of the St. Gotthard railway. It is connected to both Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Motorways link the roads of the canton with other areas. The motorway through the St. Gotthard massif is of particular importance.