(Redirected from Zug (canton))
The 'Canton of Zug' (
German ''Kanton '') 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.
Geography
The canton of Zug is located in central Switzerland. The canton of
Lucerne and Canton of
Aargau lie to its west. To the north, the canton is bound by the
Canton of Zurich, whereas to the west and south lies the
Canton of Schwyz.
Most of the land is considered productive. The lakes
Zug and
Ägeri 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.
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 Republic. 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 the canton of Zug regained its independence as a separate canton. The constitution of
1814 abolished open assemblies (''Landsgemeinde''), which had existed for 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.
On the eastern 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.
Transport
Railways connect the canton of Zug both with
Lucerne 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.
Demographics
The population (
2002) is 100,900. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic and German speaking. 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. The population is 100,900 (
2002).
Economy
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'').
The capital Zug is home to a large number of companies which only have their headquarters in the city. This is the case because
Zug 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.
Administration
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
Ständerat, 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:
Zug,
Oberägeri,
Unterägeri,
Menzingen,
Baar,
Cham,
Hünenberg,
Steinhausen,
Risch,
Walchwil,
Neuheim
External links
★
Canton of Zug official page (German)
★
Official statistics
★
Zug-Zuerich border photos
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