Näfels
Encyclopedia
Näfels is a former municipality
in the canton
of Glarus in Switzerland
. Effective from 1 January 2011, Näfels is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord
.
In 1388, the Swiss Confederates
beat the Habsburgs at the Battle of Näfels
.
Näfels is located in the Glarner Unterland on the left side of the valley, across from Mollis
. It consists of the village of Näfels and the scattered settlemenst that that make up the Näfelser Berg and the Oberseetal.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SPS
which received 48.6% of the vote. Most of the rest of the votes went to the SVP
with 40.2% of the vote.
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Näfels about 64% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
).
Näfels has an unemployment rate of 1.59%. , there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 39 businesses involved in this sector. 1,399 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 62 businesses in this sector. 918 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 140 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the canton
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 Glarus 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....
. Effective from 1 January 2011, Näfels is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord
Glarus Nord
Glarus Nord is one of three municipalities of the canton of Glarus, Switzerland .Effective from 1 January 2011, Glarus Nord incorporates the former municipalities of Bilten, Filzbach, Mollis, Mühlehorn, Näfels, Niederurnen, Oberurnen and Obstalden....
.
History
Näfels is first mentioned in 1240 as Nevels.In 1388, the Swiss Confederates
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
beat the Habsburgs at the Battle of Näfels
Battle of Näfels
The Battle of Näfels was fought on 9 April 1388 between Glarus with their allies, the Old Swiss Confederation, and the Habsburgs. It was a decisive Glarner victory despite being outnumbered sixteen to one.-History:...
.
Geography
Näfels has an area, , of 36.9 km² (14.2 sq mi). Of this area, 35.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (22.1%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).Näfels is located in the Glarner Unterland on the left side of the valley, across from Mollis
Mollis
Mollis is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Mollis is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord.-Geography:...
. It consists of the village of Näfels and the scattered settlemenst that that make up the Näfelser Berg and the Oberseetal.
Demographics
Näfels has a population (as of ) of . , 19.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -0.6%. Most of the population speaks German (86.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 5.2%) and Albanian being third ( 2.9%).In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
which received 48.6% of the vote. Most of the rest of the votes went to the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
with 40.2% of the vote.
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Näfels about 64% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
Näfels has an unemployment rate of 1.59%. , there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 39 businesses involved in this sector. 1,399 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 62 businesses in this sector. 918 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 140 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1777 | 533 |
| 1850 | 1,869 |
| 1870 | 2,513 |
| 1900 | 2,557 |
| 1950 | 3,327 |
| 2000 | 3,947 |
Notable residents
- Niklaus Franz von BachmannNiklaus Franz von BachmannNiklaus Leodegar Franz Ignaz von Bachmann , was a Swiss general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.- Family and early life :He was born in an aristocratic Swiss family of long-standing military traditions...
1740-1831, Swiss general in the Napoleonic Wars - Karl Josef von BachmannKarl Josef von BachmannKarl Joseph Anton Leodegar Freiherr von Bachmann was a Swiss aristocrat and soldier.- Family and Early life :...
1734–1792, Commander Swiss Guard for King Louis XVI of France, executed during the French Revolution - Friedrich SchröderFriedrich SchröderFriedrich Schröder was a German composer of what could be referred to as light music.-Career:Born in Näfels, Switzerland, Schröder studied music in Stuttgart, Münster, and Berlin. Already in those early days he wrote film scores. For a short period between 1934 and 1937 he also worked as a...
1910—1972, German composer, born in Näfels