Toggenburg: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox settlement |
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| official_name = Toggenburg |
| official_name = Toggenburg |
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| native_name = Wahlkreis Toggenburg |
| native_name = Wahlkreis Toggenburg |
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| |
| other_name = |
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| |
| settlement_type = constituency, geographical region |
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| image_map = {{Swiss subdivision OSM map|district}} |
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| subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |
| subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |
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| subdivision_name = {{CHE}} |
| subdivision_name = {{CHE}} |
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| subdivision_type2 = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]] |
| subdivision_type2 = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]] |
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| subdivision_name2 = {{Flag|St. Gallen}} |
| subdivision_name2 = {{Flag|St. Gallen}} |
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| coordinates = {{coord|47|17|58|N|9|5|13|E|region:CH-SG_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}} |
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| latd = 47 |latm = 17 |lats = 58 |latNS = N |
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| longd = 9 |longm = 5 |longs = 13 |longEW = E |
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| coordinates_type = region:CH-SG_type:adm2nd |
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| coordinates_display = inline, title |
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| area_total_km2 = 488.75 |
| area_total_km2 = 488.75 |
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| area_footnotes = |
| area_footnotes = |
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| population_as_of |
| population_as_of ={{Swiss populations YM|CH-SG}} |
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| population_total = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-SG|B1727}} |
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| population_footnotes = |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| timezone |
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] |
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| utc_offset |
| utc_offset = +1 |
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| timezone_DST |
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] |
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| utc_offset_DST |
| utc_offset_DST = +2 |
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| blank_name_sec1 = Municipalities |
| blank_name_sec1 = Municipalities |
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| blank_info_sec1 = |
| blank_info_sec1 = 10 |
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}} |
}} |
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[[File:2010-08-08 07-40-53 Switzerland St. Gallen Nesslau Nesslau.jpg|thumb|View of the Thur |
[[File:2010-08-08 07-40-53 Switzerland St. Gallen Nesslau Nesslau.jpg|thumb|View of the Thur and the church of [[Stein, St. Gallen|Stein]], facing north, with the [[Churfirsten]] visible in the backdrop.]] |
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[[File:Toggenburg Ostende.jpg|thumb|[[Streusiedlung]] at the eastern end of the Toggenburg]] |
[[File:Toggenburg Ostende.jpg|thumb|[[Streusiedlung]] at the eastern end of the Toggenburg]] |
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[[File:Teile St Gallen.png|thumb|Map of the historical territories of the Canton of St. Gallen. The former county of Toggenburg is shown in pink.]] |
[[File:Teile St Gallen.png|thumb|Map of the historical territories of the Canton of St. Gallen. The former county of Toggenburg is shown in pink.]] |
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[[ |
[[File:Toggenburg view.jpg|thumb|The [[Churfirsten]] (view from Alpstein with Toggenburg below)]] |
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'''Toggenburg''' is a |
'''Toggenburg''' is a region of [[Switzerland]]. It corresponds to the upper valley of the River [[Thur (Switzerland)|Thur]]<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |inline=y|wstitle=Toggenburg, The |volume=26 |pages=1045–1046 |first=William Augustus Brevoort |last=Coolidge |author-link=W. A. B. Coolidge}}</ref> and that of the [[Necker (river)|Necker]], one of its afluents. Since 1 January 2003, Toggenburg has been a constituency (''Wahlkreis'') of the [[canton of St. Gallen]] ([[Community Identification Number#Switzerland|SFOS number]] 1727). |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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The valley descends in a northwestern direction from the watershed between the [[Rhine]] and the Thur, and is enclosed on the northeast by the chain of the [[Säntis]] ({{convert|8216|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}) and on the southwest by that of the [[Churfirsten]] ({{convert|7566|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}) and of the [[Speer (mountain)|Speer]] ({{convert|6411|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}). It is a fertile valley of about {{convert|45|km|mi}} in length from the source of the river to [[Wil]] |
The valley descends in a northwestern direction from the watershed between the [[Rhine]] and the Thur, and is enclosed on the northeast by the chain of the [[Säntis]] ({{convert|8216|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}) and on the southwest by that of the [[Churfirsten]] ({{convert|7566|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}) and of the [[Speer (mountain)|Speer]] ({{convert|6411|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}). It is a fertile valley of about {{convert|45|km|mi}} in length from the source of the river to [[Wil]].<ref name=EB1911/> |
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At [[Wildhaus]], the highest village ({{convert|3632|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}), the house wherein [[Huldrych Zwingli]], the Swiss Reformer, was born in 1484, is still shown. Other villages are [[Lichtensteig]], [[Kirchberg, St. Gallen|Kirchberg]] and [[Wattwil]]. |
At [[Wildhaus]], the highest village ({{convert|3632|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=x| [|]}}), the house wherein [[Huldrych Zwingli]], the Swiss Reformer, was born in 1484, is still shown.<ref name=EB1911/> Other villages are [[Lichtensteig]], [[Kirchberg, St. Gallen|Kirchberg]] and [[Wattwil]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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There are traces of the paleolithic [[Mousterian Industry]] throughout the [[Appenzell Alps]], in the Toggenburg notably in [[Wildenmannlisloch]] cave. |
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| ⚫ | The name of the region is derived from that of the [[House of Toggenburg]] (named for their castle near [[Kirchberg, St. Gallen|Kirchberg]]) who ruled over parts of the Toggenburg region since the 12th century, in the 13th century taking the title of counts ( |
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| ⚫ | The extinction of the main line of the counts of Toggenburg (1436) led to the [[Old Zürich War]] (1440–46) ultimately resulting in the temporary expulsion of [[Canton of Zürich|Zürich]] from the Swiss confederacy. Eventually, the Toggenburg passed to the lord of [[Raron]] (in [[Valais]]), who sold it |
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The upper Thur valley was part of the province of [[Raetia]] in the [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman era]], and was reached by [[Alemanni|Alemannic-speaking]] settlers only in the early medieval period. This is evidenced by a substantial [[Stratum (linguistics)|substrate]] of [[Late Latin|Romance]] toponyms in the upper Toggenburg (upstream of [[Stein, St. Gallen|Stein]]).<ref>Wilhelm Götzinger, '' [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24343743M/Die_romanischen_Ortsnamen_des_Kantons_St._Gallen Die romanischen Ortsnamen des Kantons St. Gallen]'' (1891).</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Part of the Toggenburg followed the [[Swiss Reformation]] led by Zwingli, and the valley declared itself independent in 1530, but was forced to re-submit to the Abbot of St. Gall in 1538. The Abbot was, however, pressured into toleration of either confession, so that the Toggenburg became one of the few regions of Switzerland where Catholicism and Protestantism have a tradition of co-existence. |
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| ⚫ | The name of the region is derived from that of the [[House of Toggenburg]] (named for their castle near [[Kirchberg, St. Gallen|Kirchberg]]) who ruled over parts of the Toggenburg region since the 12th century, in the 13th century taking the title of counts ({{lang|la|comes}}) and extending their domain to include all of the upper Thur valley. |
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| ⚫ | The extinction of the main line of the counts of Toggenburg (1436)<ref name=EB1911/> led to the [[Old Zürich War]] (1440–46) ultimately resulting in the temporary expulsion of [[Canton of Zürich|Zürich]] from the Swiss confederacy. Eventually, the Toggenburg passed to the lord of [[Raron]] (in [[Valais]]), who sold it to the [[abbot of St. Gall]] in 1468.<ref name=EB1911/> |
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| ⚫ | Part of the Toggenburg followed the [[Swiss Reformation]] led by Zwingli, and the valley declared itself independent in 1530, but was forced to re-submit to the Abbot of St. Gall in 1538. The Abbot was, however, pressured into toleration of either confession, so that the Toggenburg became one of the few regions of [[Switzerland]], where Catholicism and Protestantism have a tradition of co-existence. |
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In 1707, the Toggenburg again declared its independence of St. Gall, in reaction to the Abbey's plans to build a road across the [[Ricken Pass]], which was seen as a strategic arrangement towards a Catholic military alliance. The ensuing [[Toggenburg war]] of 1712 resulted in a balance of power between Catholic and Protestant cantons, ultimately leading to the formation of [[Switzerland as a federal state]]. |
In 1707, the Toggenburg again declared its independence of St. Gall, in reaction to the Abbey's plans to build a road across the [[Ricken Pass]], which was seen as a strategic arrangement towards a Catholic military alliance. The ensuing [[Toggenburg war]] of 1712 resulted in a balance of power between Catholic and Protestant cantons, ultimately leading to the formation of [[Switzerland as a federal state]]. |
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| Line 51: | Line 53: | ||
==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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The Toggenburg |
The Toggenburg {{lang|de|Wahlkreis}} has a population of {{Swiss populations| CH-SG | B1727 }} (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-SG}}).{{Swiss populations ref|CH-SG}} Of the foreign population, ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}), 584 are from [[Germany]], 952 are from [[Italy]], 3,124 are from ex-[[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], 167 are from [[Austria]], 1,137 are from [[Turkey]], and 1,123 are from another country.<ref name=SG_kennzahlen>[http://www.statistik.sg.ch/home/publikationen/ksgmz/Ausgabe_2009.html Der Kanton St. Gallen und seine Menschen in Zahlen - Ausgabe 2009] {{in lang|de}} accessed 30 December 2009</ref> Of the Swiss national languages ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}), 41,718 speak [[German language|German]], 107 people speak [[French language|French]], 673 people speak [[Italian language|Italian]], and 47 people speak [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=SG_personen/> |
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The age distribution, {{as of|2000|lc=on}}, is; 6,296 children or 13.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 7,444 teenagers or 16.2% are between 10 and 19. |
The age distribution, {{as of|2000|lc=on}}, is; 6,296 children or 13.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 7,444 teenagers or 16.2% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 5,046 people or 11.0% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 6,784 people or 14.8% are between 30 and 39, 6,390 people or 13.9% are between 40 and 49, and 4,926 people or 10.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 3,773 people or 8.2% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 3,269 people or 7.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 1,652 people or 3.6% who are between 80 and 89, and there are 326 people or 0.7% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.<ref name=SG_personen>[http://www.statistik.sg.ch/home/portraet/Regionen-Gemeinden/reggem-quer.html Canton St. Gallen Statistics-Hauptergebnisse der Volkszählung 2000: Regionen- und Gemeindevergleich-Personen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909205553/http://www.statistik.sg.ch/home/portraet/Regionen-Gemeinden/reggem-quer.html |date=2010-09-09 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 30 December 2009</ref> |
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{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 4,967 persons (or 10.8% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. |
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 4,967 persons (or 10.8% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 8,910 (or 19.4%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 27,097 (or 59.0%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 2,202 (or 4.8%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 318 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 165 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 198 people who lived in a household made up of unrelated persons, and 2,050 who are either institutionalized or lived in another type of collective housing.<ref name=SG_personen/> |
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Out of the total population in the region, {{as of|2000|lc=on}}, the highest education level completed by 11,393 people (24.8% of the population) was [[Education in Switzerland#Primary|Primary]], while 15,123 (32.9%) have completed [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|Secondary]], 3,627 (7.9%) have attended a [[Education in Switzerland#Tertiary|Tertiary]] school, and 2,291 (5.0%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.<ref name=SG_personen/> |
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{{as of|2009 | October}} the average unemployment rate was 2.9%.<ref>[http://www.statistik.sg.ch/home/themen/b03/arblos.html St Gallen Canton statistics-Unemployment] {{de |
{{as of|2009 | October}} the average unemployment rate was 2.9%.<ref>[http://www.statistik.sg.ch/home/themen/b03/arblos.html St Gallen Canton statistics-Unemployment] {{in lang|de}} accessed 30 December 2009</ref> |
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From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 21,238 or 46.3% are [[Roman Catholic]], while 15,930 or 34.7% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. |
From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 21,238 or 46.3% are [[Roman Catholic]], while 15,930 or 34.7% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. Of the rest of the population, there are 29 individuals (or about 0.06% of the population) who belong to the [[Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland|Christian Catholic]] denomination, there are 939 individuals (or about 2.05% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 1,033 individuals (or about 2.25% of the population) who belong to another denomination. There are 11 individuals (or about 0.02% of the population) who are [[Judaism|Jewish]], and 2,889 (or about 6.29% of the population) who are [[Islam]]ic. There are 245 individuals (or about 0.53% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 2,183 (or about 4.76% of the population) belong to no church, are [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 1,410 individuals (or about 3.07% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=SG_personen/> |
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== Municipalities == |
== Municipalities == |
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Since 1 January 2013, the Toggenburg district has consisted of |
Since 1 January 2013, the Toggenburg district has consisted of ten municipalities: |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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! <small>Coat <br/>of arms</small> |
! <small>Coat <br/>of arms</small> |
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! Municipality || Population <br/><small> ({{Swiss populations date|CH-SG}}){{Swiss populations ref|CH-SG}}</small> |
! Municipality || Population <br/><small> ({{Swiss populations date|CH-SG}}){{Swiss populations ref|CH-SG}}</small> |
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! Area<br/>in km |
! Area<br/>in km<sup>2</sup> |
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! Elevation <br/>in m |
! Elevation <br/>in m |
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! [[Community Identification Number#Switzerland|SFOS number]] |
! [[Community Identification Number#Switzerland|SFOS number]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:EbnatKappel-blazon.svg|30px|Ebnat-Kappel]] || [[Ebnat-Kappel]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3352}} || 43.57 || 630 || 3352 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:Kirchberg SG-blazon.svg|30px|Kirchberg]] || [[Kirchberg SG|Kirchberg]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3392}} || 42.59 || 735 || 3392 |
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|- |
|- |
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| |
| [[File:Wappen Lichtensteig.svg|30px|Lichtensteig]] || [[Lichtensteig]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3374}} || 2.82|| 625 || 3374 |
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|- |
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| [[File:Wappen Lichtensteig.jpg|30px|Lichtensteig]] || [[Lichtensteig]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3374}} || 2.82|| 625 || 3374 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File:Wappen Lütisburg.jpg|30px|Lütisburg]] || [[Lütisburg]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3393}} || 14.09 || 580 || 3393 |
| [[File:Wappen Lütisburg.jpg|30px|Lütisburg]] || [[Lütisburg]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3393}} || 14.09 || 580 || 3393 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:Mosnang-blazon.svg|30px|Mosnang]] || [[Mosnang]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3394}} || 50.46 || 735 || 3394 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:CHE Neckertal COA.svg|30px|Neckertal]] || [[Neckertal]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3378}} || 49.03 || 660 || 3378 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:Nesslau-blazon.svg|30px|Nesslau]] || [[Nesslau]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3360}} || {{Swiss area|3360|km=on}} || 759 || 3360 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File: |
| [[File:Wattwil-coat of arms.png|30px|Wattwil]] || [[Wattwil]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3379}} || {{Swiss area|3379|km=on}} || 610 || 3379 |
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|- |
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| [[File:Wattwil-coat of arms.png|30px|Wattwil]] || [[Wattwil]]<ref>On 1 January 2013 the former municipality of [[Krinau]] merged into the municipality of [[Wattwil]] ([http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office {{de icon}})</ref> || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3377}} || {{Swiss area|3377|km=on}} || 610 || 3377 |
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|- |
|- |
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| [[File:GW-SG-Wildhaus-Alt Sankt Johann.png|30px|Wildhaus-Alt St.Johann]] || [[Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3359}} || 87.53 || 895 || 3357 |
| [[File:GW-SG-Wildhaus-Alt Sankt Johann.png|30px|Wildhaus-Alt St.Johann]] || [[Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann]] || {{Swiss populations|CH-SG|3359}} || 87.53 || 895 || 3357 |
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| Line 102: | Line 99: | ||
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|} |
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== |
==Mergers and name changes== |
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| ⚫ | * On 1 January 2013 the former municipalities of [[Bütschwil]] and [[Ganterschwil]] merged to form [[Bütschwil-Ganterschwil]], the former municipality of [[Krinau]] merged into the municipality of [[Wattwil]] and the former municipalities of [[Nesslau-Krummenau]] and [[Stein, St. Gallen|Stein]] merged into the new municipality of [[Nesslau]].<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office {{in lang|de}}</ref> |
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* On 1 January 2023 the former municipalities of [[Hemberg, St. Gallen|Hemberg]] and [[Oberhelfenschwil]] merged to form the new municipality of [[Neckertal]]. |
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== Transportation == |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[File:SOB-Flirt Neckertal.jpg|thumb|right|S4 service between Mogelsberg and {{rws|Brunnadern-Neckertal}}]] |
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The Toggenburg is traversed by the southern section of the [[Bodensee–Toggenburg railway]] line between {{rws|Mogelsberg}} and {{rws|Nesslau-Neu St. Johann}}, while the [[Wil–Ebnat-Kappel railway]] line runs through the lower part of the valley between {{rws|Lütisburg}} and {{rws|Ebnat-Kappel}}. In addition, the [[Uznach–Wattwil railway]] line links {{rws|Wattwil}} with the [[Linth]] Plain via the [[Ricken Tunnel]]. Wattwil station is the major hub for train and bus services in the Toggenburg. |
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The lines are operated by regional trains of [[St. Gallen S-Bahn]]. The {{rcb|St. Gallen S-Bahn|2|inline=croute}} and {{rcb|St. Gallen S-Bahn|4|inline=croute}} operate on the Bodensee–Toggenburg railway, with the latter diverting from it at Wattwil and continuing to {{rws|Uznach}}/{{rws|Rapperswil}}. The {{rcb|St. Gallen S-Bahn|9|inline=croute}} links Wattwil with the lower part of the valley. |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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*{{iw-ref|de}} |
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Additionally, the [[InterRegio]] ''[[Voralpen-Express]]'' provides long-distance services, from Wattwil to {{rws|St. Gallen}} and to {{rws|Arth-Goldau}} and {{rws|Luzern}}, bypassing Zürich. |
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| ⚫ | |||
The BLWE provides bus services between Lichtensteig, Wattwil and Ebnat-Kappel. [[PostBus Switzerland]] provides bus services to the upper part of the valley (e.g. to Unterwasser or Wildhaus). From Unterwasser, the ''[[Iltiosbahn]]'', a funicular railway, takes passengers to Iltios, from where an [[aerial tram]] continues to [[Chäserrugg]] ([[Churfirsten]]). |
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[[Category:Constituencies of the canton of St. Gallen]] |
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== See also == |
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| ⚫ | |||
* [[Swiss Prealps]] |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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| ⚫ | |||
*http://www.toggenburg.org/en/welcome.cfm? tourist information in English |
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*http://www.toggenburg.org |
*[http://www.toggenburg.org Tourist information] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
{{Authority control}} |
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{{coord missing|Switzerland}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Toggenburg| ]] |
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[[Category:High Rhine basin]] |
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[[Category:Geography of the canton of St. Gallen]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:38, 26 July 2024
Toggenburg
Wahlkreis Toggenburg | |
|---|---|
constituency, geographical region | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 47°17′58″N 9°5′13″E / 47.29944°N 9.08694°E | |
| Country |  Switzerland |
| Canton |  St. Gallen |
| Area | |
• Total | 488.75 km2 (188.71 sq mi) |
| Population (December 2020) | |
• Total | 46,954 |
| • Density | 96/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Municipalities | 10 |
Toggenburg is a region of Switzerland. It corresponds to the upper valley of the River Thur[1] and that of the Necker, one of its afluents. Since 1 January 2003, Toggenburg has been a constituency (Wahlkreis) of the canton of St. Gallen (SFOS number 1727).
Geography
[edit]The valley descends in a northwestern direction from the watershed between the Rhine and the Thur, and is enclosed on the northeast by the chain of the Säntis (8,216 ft [2,504 m]) and on the southwest by that of the Churfirsten (7,566 ft [2,306 m]) and of the Speer (6,411 ft [1,954 m]). It is a fertile valley of about 45 kilometres (28 mi) in length from the source of the river to Wil.[1]
At Wildhaus, the highest village (3,632 ft [1,107 m]), the house wherein Huldrych Zwingli, the Swiss Reformer, was born in 1484, is still shown.[1] Other villages are Lichtensteig, Kirchberg and Wattwil.
History
[edit]There are traces of the paleolithic Mousterian Industry throughout the Appenzell Alps, in the Toggenburg notably in Wildenmannlisloch cave.
The upper Thur valley was part of the province of Raetia in the Roman era, and was reached by Alemannic-speaking settlers only in the early medieval period. This is evidenced by a substantial substrate of Romance toponyms in the upper Toggenburg (upstream of Stein).[2]
The name of the region is derived from that of the House of Toggenburg (named for their castle near Kirchberg) who ruled over parts of the Toggenburg region since the 12th century, in the 13th century taking the title of counts (comes) and extending their domain to include all of the upper Thur valley. The extinction of the main line of the counts of Toggenburg (1436)[1] led to the Old Zürich War (1440–46) ultimately resulting in the temporary expulsion of Zürich from the Swiss confederacy. Eventually, the Toggenburg passed to the lord of Raron (in Valais), who sold it to the abbot of St. Gall in 1468.[1]
Part of the Toggenburg followed the Swiss Reformation led by Zwingli, and the valley declared itself independent in 1530, but was forced to re-submit to the Abbot of St. Gall in 1538. The Abbot was, however, pressured into toleration of either confession, so that the Toggenburg became one of the few regions of Switzerland, where Catholicism and Protestantism have a tradition of co-existence.
In 1707, the Toggenburg again declared its independence of St. Gall, in reaction to the Abbey's plans to build a road across the Ricken Pass, which was seen as a strategic arrangement towards a Catholic military alliance. The ensuing Toggenburg war of 1712 resulted in a balance of power between Catholic and Protestant cantons, ultimately leading to the formation of Switzerland as a federal state.
In the Helvetic Republic, the Toggenburg was divided between the cantons of Säntis and Linth. The parts were re-united as part of the canton of St. Gallen in 1803.
Schüblig, a type of sausage is a tradition in the area.
Demographics
[edit]The Toggenburg Wahlkreis has a population of 46,954 (as of 31 December 2020).[3] Of the foreign population, (as of 2000[update]), 584 are from Germany, 952 are from Italy, 3,124 are from ex-Yugoslavia, 167 are from Austria, 1,137 are from Turkey, and 1,123 are from another country.[4] Of the Swiss national languages (as of 2000[update]), 41,718 speak German, 107 people speak French, 673 people speak Italian, and 47 people speak Romansh.[5]
The age distribution, as of 2000[update], is; 6,296 children or 13.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 7,444 teenagers or 16.2% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 5,046 people or 11.0% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 6,784 people or 14.8% are between 30 and 39, 6,390 people or 13.9% are between 40 and 49, and 4,926 people or 10.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 3,773 people or 8.2% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 3,269 people or 7.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 1,652 people or 3.6% who are between 80 and 89, and there are 326 people or 0.7% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.[5]
In 2000[update] there were 4,967 persons (or 10.8% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 8,910 (or 19.4%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 27,097 (or 59.0%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 2,202 (or 4.8%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 318 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 165 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 198 people who lived in a household made up of unrelated persons, and 2,050 who are either institutionalized or lived in another type of collective housing.[5]
Out of the total population in the region, as of 2000[update], the highest education level completed by 11,393 people (24.8% of the population) was Primary, while 15,123 (32.9%) have completed Secondary, 3,627 (7.9%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 2,291 (5.0%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.[5]
As of October 2009[update] the average unemployment rate was 2.9%.[6]
From the 2000 census[update], 21,238 or 46.3% are Roman Catholic, while 15,930 or 34.7% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there are 29 individuals (or about 0.06% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic denomination, there are 939 individuals (or about 2.05% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 1,033 individuals (or about 2.25% of the population) who belong to another denomination. There are 11 individuals (or about 0.02% of the population) who are Jewish, and 2,889 (or about 6.29% of the population) who are Islamic. There are 245 individuals (or about 0.53% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 2,183 (or about 4.76% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 1,410 individuals (or about 3.07% of the population) did not answer the question.[5]
Municipalities
[edit]Since 1 January 2013, the Toggenburg district has consisted of ten municipalities:
| Coat of arms |
Municipality | Population (31 December 2020)[3] |
Area in km2 |
Elevation in m |
SFOS number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bütschwil-Ganterschwil | 5,041 | 21.83 | 610 | 3395 |
 |
Ebnat-Kappel | 5,007 | 43.57 | 630 | 3352 |
 |
Kirchberg | 9,241 | 42.59 | 735 | 3392 |
 |
Lichtensteig | 1,879 | 2.82 | 625 | 3374 |
 |
Lütisburg | 1,614 | 14.09 | 580 | 3393 |
 |
Mosnang | 2,889 | 50.46 | 735 | 3394 |
 |
Neckertal | 4,064 | 49.03 | 660 | 3378 |
 |
Nesslau | 3,608 | 92.7 | 759 | 3360 |
 |
Wattwil | 8,837 | 51.18 | 610 | 3379 |
 |
Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann | 2,624 | 87.53 | 895 | 3357 |
| Toggenburg | 46,954 | 488.75 | 1727 |
Mergers and name changes
[edit]- On 1 January 2013 the former municipalities of Bütschwil and Ganterschwil merged to form Bütschwil-Ganterschwil, the former municipality of Krinau merged into the municipality of Wattwil and the former municipalities of Nesslau-Krummenau and Stein merged into the new municipality of Nesslau.[7]
- On 1 January 2023 the former municipalities of Hemberg and Oberhelfenschwil merged to form the new municipality of Neckertal.
Transportation
[edit]
The Toggenburg is traversed by the southern section of the Bodensee–Toggenburg railway line between Mogelsberg and Nesslau-Neu St. Johann, while the Wil–Ebnat-Kappel railway line runs through the lower part of the valley between Lütisburg and Ebnat-Kappel. In addition, the Uznach–Wattwil railway line links Wattwil with the Linth Plain via the Ricken Tunnel. Wattwil station is the major hub for train and bus services in the Toggenburg.
The lines are operated by regional trains of St. Gallen S-Bahn. The S2 and S4 operate on the Bodensee–Toggenburg railway, with the latter diverting from it at Wattwil and continuing to Uznach/Rapperswil. The S9 links Wattwil with the lower part of the valley.
Additionally, the InterRegio Voralpen-Express provides long-distance services, from Wattwil to St. Gallen and to Arth-Goldau and Luzern, bypassing Zürich.
The BLWE provides bus services between Lichtensteig, Wattwil and Ebnat-Kappel. PostBus Switzerland provides bus services to the upper part of the valley (e.g. to Unterwasser or Wildhaus). From Unterwasser, the Iltiosbahn, a funicular railway, takes passengers to Iltios, from where an aerial tram continues to Chäserrugg (Churfirsten).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Coolidge, William Augustus Brevoort (1911). "Toggenburg, The". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 1045–1046.
- ^ Wilhelm Götzinger, Die romanischen Ortsnamen des Kantons St. Gallen (1891).
- ^ a b "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ Der Kanton St. Gallen und seine Menschen in Zahlen - Ausgabe 2009 (in German) accessed 30 December 2009
- ^ a b c d e Canton St. Gallen Statistics-Hauptergebnisse der Volkszählung 2000: Regionen- und Gemeindevergleich-Personen Archived 2010-09-09 at the Wayback Machine (in German) accessed 30 December 2009
- ^ St Gallen Canton statistics-Unemployment (in German) accessed 30 December 2009
- ^ Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (in German)
External links
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| Authority control databases: National |
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