Uznach
Encyclopedia
Uznach is a municipality
in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of See-Gaster
in the canton
of St. Gallen in Switzerland
.
In the late 12th Century, the village was transferred from the Abbey of St. Gallen to the Counts of Toggenburg
. Between 1180 and 1195 Diethelm VI. married Guta of Rapperswil and received as dowry
the county
of Uznach and a rose from the crest of Rapperswil. From their castle in Uznach, the Toggenburgs raided trade caravans from Zurich
until 1268 when the castle was conquered and destroyed by Rudolf von Habsburg.
Following the extinction of the Toggenburg line in 1436, the Old Zürich War
war broke out between the canton of Zürich and the other seven cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy
over the Toggenburg inheritance. The war lasted from 1436 until 1450 and ended with Zurich being brought back into the Confederation.
In 1529, a Reformation
preacher was arrested in Uznach by Schwyz troops. This led to the outbreak of the First war of Kappel
. Two years later the Second war of Kappel
broke out and Uznach was again attacked by Zurich.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Gules a Rose Argent barbed seeded slipped and leaved Vert.
, 275 are from Italy
, 642 are from ex-Yugoslavia
, 12 are from Austria
, 116 are from Turkey
, and 305 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 5.2%. Most of the population speaks German (83.6%), with Albanian being second most common ( 3.8%) and Italian being third ( 3.3%). Of the Swiss national languages , 4,486 speak German
, 14 people speak French
, 176 people speak Italian
, and 22 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Uznach is; 755 children or 14.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 749 teenagers or 14.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 664 people or 12.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 816 people or 15.2% are between 30 and 39, 815 people or 15.2% are between 40 and 49, and 582 people or 10.8% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 437 people or 8.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 358 people or 6.7% are between 70 and 79, there are 153 people or 2.8% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 39 people or 0.7% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.
there were 532 persons (or 9.9% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,078 (or 20.1%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 3,240 (or 60.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 220 (or 4.1%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 26 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 27 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 33 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 213 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 37.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(24.4%), the SP
(12.5%) and the FDP
(10.7%).
In Uznach about 62.6% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). Out of the total population in Uznach, , the highest education level completed by 1,184 people (22.1% of the population) was Primary, while 1,773 (33.0%) have completed their secondary education, 483 (9.0%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 334 (6.2%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
the average unemployment rate was 4.5%. There were 311 businesses in the municipality of which 71 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 219 were involved in the third.
there were 1,406 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,329 residents worked outside Uznach and 2,124 people commuted into the municipality for work.
. Of the rest of the population, there are 2 individuals (or about 0.04% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
faith, there are 185 individuals (or about 3.45% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 80 individuals (or about 1.49% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 279 (or about 5.20% of the population) who are Islam
ic. There are 84 individuals (or about 1.56% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 190 (or about 3.54% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
or atheist
, and 163 individuals (or about 3.04% of the population) did not answer the question.
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 Wahlkreis (constituency) of See-Gaster
See-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:...
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 St. Gallen 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....
.
History
Uznach is first mentioned in 741 as Uzinaa in a grant from a noble lady at Benken Abbey to the Abbey of Saint Gall. It was also mentioned later as both Uzinaha and Uzzinriuda.In the late 12th Century, the village was transferred from the Abbey of St. Gallen to the Counts of Toggenburg
Counts of Toggenburg
The Counts of Toggenburg ruled the Toggenburg region of today's Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, as well as parts of the Canton of Glarus, Thurgau, Grisons, Vorarlberg, and Zurich when their influence was most extensive....
. Between 1180 and 1195 Diethelm VI. married Guta of Rapperswil and received as dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Uznach and a rose from the crest of Rapperswil. From their castle in Uznach, the Toggenburgs raided trade caravans from 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...
until 1268 when the castle was conquered and destroyed by Rudolf von Habsburg.
Following the extinction of the Toggenburg line in 1436, the Old Zürich War
Old Zürich War
The Old Zürich War , 1440–46, was a conflict between the canton of Zürich and the other seven cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy over the succession to the Count of Toggenburg....
war broke out between the canton of Zürich and the other seven cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
over the Toggenburg inheritance. The war lasted from 1436 until 1450 and ended with Zurich being brought back into the Confederation.
In 1529, a 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...
preacher was arrested in Uznach by Schwyz troops. This led to the outbreak of the First war of Kappel
First war of Kappel
The first war of Kappel was an armed conflict in 1529 between the Protestant and the Catholic cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy during the reformation in Switzerland...
. Two years later the Second war of Kappel
Second war of Kappel
The second war of Kappel was an armed conflict in 1531 between the Protestant and the Catholic cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy during the Reformation in Switzerland.-Cause:...
broke out and Uznach was again attacked by Zurich.
Geography
Uznach has an area, , of 7.6 km² (2.9 sq mi). Of this area, 47.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 24.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 23.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (5.3%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Gules a Rose Argent barbed seeded slipped and leaved Vert.
Demographics
Uznach has a population (as of ) of . , about 26.2% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 58 are from GermanyGermany
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...
, 275 are from 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...
, 642 are from ex-Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, 12 are from 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...
, 116 are from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and 305 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 5.2%. Most of the population speaks German (83.6%), with Albanian being second most common ( 3.8%) and Italian being third ( 3.3%). Of the Swiss national languages , 4,486 speak German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, 14 people speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, 176 people speak Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and 22 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Uznach is; 755 children or 14.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 749 teenagers or 14.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 664 people or 12.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 816 people or 15.2% are between 30 and 39, 815 people or 15.2% are between 40 and 49, and 582 people or 10.8% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 437 people or 8.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 358 people or 6.7% are between 70 and 79, there are 153 people or 2.8% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 39 people or 0.7% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.
there were 532 persons (or 9.9% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,078 (or 20.1%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 3,240 (or 60.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 220 (or 4.1%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 26 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 27 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 33 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 213 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
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 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...
which received 37.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(24.4%), the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(12.5%) and 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....
(10.7%).
In Uznach about 62.6% 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...
). Out of the total population in Uznach, , the highest education level completed by 1,184 people (22.1% of the population) was Primary, while 1,773 (33.0%) have completed their secondary education, 483 (9.0%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 334 (6.2%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
Economy
, Uznach had an unemployment rate of 1.62%. , there were 42 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 19 businesses involved in this sector. 1,253 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 72 businesses in this sector. 2,118 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 227 businesses in this sector.the average unemployment rate was 4.5%. There were 311 businesses in the municipality of which 71 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 219 were involved in the third.
there were 1,406 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,329 residents worked outside Uznach and 2,124 people commuted into the municipality for work.
Religion
From the , 3,691 or 68.7% are Roman Catholic, while 695 or 12.9% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
. Of the rest of the population, there are 2 individuals (or about 0.04% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith, there are 185 individuals (or about 3.45% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 80 individuals (or about 1.49% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 279 (or about 5.20% of the population) who are Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic. There are 84 individuals (or about 1.56% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 190 (or about 3.54% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
or atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, and 163 individuals (or about 3.04% of the population) did not answer the question.