Urnäsch
Encyclopedia
Urnäsch is a municipality
in the canton
of Appenzell Ausserrhoden
, Switzerland.
acquired the land.
After the battles in Vögelinsegg (1403) and Stoss (1405) the land gained independence
as part of Appenzell
. In 1417 a church was built. This is considered the formal establishment of Urnäsch. There was a devastating fire in 1641.
The elevation of the village is 838 metres (2,749.3 ft). The lowest elevation is the Murbach which is 722 m (2,368.8 ft), while the highest point is the Petersalp which is 1590 m (5,216.5 ft).
In the 2007 federal election
the FDP
received 70.6% of the vote.
In Urnäsch about 57.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
The historical population is given in the following table:
. The wettest month is June during which time Urnäsch receives an average of 210 mm (8.3 in) of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 15.5 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 15.8, but with only 177 mm (7 in) of precipitation. The driest month of the year is October with an average of 107 mm (4.2 in) of precipitation over 15.5 days.
.
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 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...
, Switzerland.
History
In 831 A.D. a part of Urnäsch known as Färchen was first mentioned. In 1344 the village is sold to the German Earl Werdenberg, but later the Abbey of St. GallAbbey 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...
acquired the land.
After the battles in Vögelinsegg (1403) and Stoss (1405) the land gained independence
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...
as part of Appenzell
Appenzell
Appenzell is a region and historical canton in the northeast of Switzerland, entirely surrounded by the Canton of St. Gallen....
. In 1417 a church was built. This is considered the formal establishment of Urnäsch. There was a devastating fire in 1641.
Geography
Urnäsch has an area, , of 48.3 km² (18.6 sq mi). Of this area, 53.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 41.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 3.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (1.7%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The elevation of the village is 838 metres (2,749.3 ft). The lowest elevation is the Murbach which is 722 m (2,368.8 ft), while the highest point is the Petersalp which is 1590 m (5,216.5 ft).
Demographics
Urnäsch has a population of 2,268, of which about 11.6% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -3%. Most of the population speaks German (93.0%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 2.3%) and Italian being third ( 1.0%). , the gender distribution of the population was 50.6% male and 49.4% female. The age distribution, , in Urnäsch is; 216 people or 9.2% of the population are between 0–6 years old. 316 people or 13.5% are 6-15, and 121 people or 5.2% are 16-19. Of the adult population, 143 people or 6.1% of the population are between 20–24 years old. 651 people or 27.9% are 25-44, and 495 people or 21.2% are 45-64. The senior population distribution is 276 people or 11.8% of the population are between 65–79 years old, and 118 people or 5.1% are over 80.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 FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
received 70.6% of the vote.
In Urnäsch about 57.4% 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...
).
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 2,258 |
| 1990 | 2,431 |
| 2000 | 2,322 |
| 2005 | 2,282 |
| 2007 | 2,297 |
Weather
Urnäsch has an average of 161.6 days of rain per year and on average receives 1803 mm (71 in) of precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is June during which time Urnäsch receives an average of 210 mm (8.3 in) of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 15.5 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 15.8, but with only 177 mm (7 in) of precipitation. The driest month of the year is October with an average of 107 mm (4.2 in) of precipitation over 15.5 days.
Economy
Urnäsch has an unemployment rate of 1.33%. , there were 215 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 96 businesses involved in this sector. 246 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 28 businesses in this sector. 496 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 79 businesses in this sector. There are just under 100 farms and 18 hotels and restaurants in the village.Heritage sites of national significance
The Museum für Appenzeller Brauchtum and the Mill House along with the Mill are listed as heritage sites of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
External links
- Official Page (German)