Thurgau

Kanton Thurgau
—  Canton of Switzerland  —
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 47°35′N 9°4′E
Capital	Frauenfeld
Subdivisions	80 municipalities, 5 districts
Government
• Executive	Regierungsrat (5)
• Legislative	Grosser Rat (130)
Area
• Total	991.02 km2 (382.6 sq mi)
Population (12/2009)
• Total	244,330
• Density	246.5/km2 (638.5/sq mi)
Highest point	991 m (3,251 ft) - Hohgrat
Lowest point	370 m (1,214 ft) - Thur River at the cantonal border in Neunforn
Joined	1803
Abbreviation	TG
Languages	German
Website	TG.ch
Map of Thurgau

Thurgau (German:  Thurgau , anglicized as Thurgovia) is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, as of December 2009, is 244,330. In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 (or 19.9% of the population) who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.

History

In prehistoric times the lands of the canton were inhabited by people of the Pfyn culture along the lake. During Roman times the canton was part of the province Raetia until in 450 the lands were settled by the Alamanni. It was only in the 8th century that the canton became a political unit similar to what it is known today, as a Gau of the Frankish Empire. At the time, however, the area was not so clearly defined and changed frequently. Overall, the size of the Thurgau was larger, but during the Middle Ages the canton became smaller in size. The dukes of Zähringen and the counts of Kyburg took over much of the land. The town of Zürich was part of the Thurgau until it became reichsunmittelbar in 1218. When the Kyburg dynasty became extinct in 1264 the Habsburgs took over that land. The Swiss confederation allied with ten freed bailiwicks of the former Toggenburg seized the lands of the Thurgau from the Habsburgs in 1460, and it became a subject territory of seven Swiss cantons (Zurich, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug and Glarus).

During the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland, both the Catholic and emerging Reformed parties sought to swing the subject territories, such as the Thurgau, to their side. In 1524, in an incident that resonated across Switzerland, local peasants occupied the cloister of Ittingen in the Thurgau, driving out the monks, destroying documents, and devastating the wine-cellar. Between 1526 and 1531, most of the Thurgau's population adopted the new Reformed faith spreading from Zurich; Zurich's defeat in the War of Kappel (1531) ended Reformed predominance. Instead, the First Peace of Kappel protected both Catholic and Reformed worship, though the provisions of the treaty generally favored the Catholics, who also made up a majority among the seven ruling cantons. Religious tensions over the Thurgau were an important background to the First War of Villmergen (1656), during which Zurich briefly occupied the Thurgau.

In 1798 the land became a canton for the first time as part of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803, as part of the Act of Mediation, the canton of Thurgau became a member of the Swiss confederation. The current cantonal constitution dates from 1987.

Geography

St Margaret's Chapel in Thurgau

To the north the canton is bound by the Lake Constance across which lies Germany and Austria. The river Rhine creates the border in the northwest. To the south lies the canton of St. Gallen; to the west lie the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen.

The area of the canton is 991 km² (383 sq mi) and commonly divided into three hill masses. One of these stretches along Lake Constance in the north. Another is further inland between the river Thur and the river Murg. The third one forms the southern border of the canton and merges with the Hörnli mountain in the pre-Alps.

Demographics

The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2009) is 244,330. The canton is mostly German speaking. The population (as of 2000) is split between Protestants (45%) and Roman Catholics (36%).

Political subdivisions

Districts

Districts of Canton Thurgau

Since January 2011, Thurgau is divided into five disctricts which are named after their capitals. Before this date, there were eight districts (Steckborn, Bischofszell and Diessenhofen formed own districts with their surrounding municipalities).

• Frauenfeld with capital Frauenfeld
• Kreuzlingen with capital Kreuzlingen
• Weinfelden with capital Weinfelden
• Münchwilen with capital Münchwilen
• Arbon with capital Arbon

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of the canton of Thurgau

As of 2009, there are 80 municipalities in the canton.

Economy

The canton of Thurgau is known for its fine agricultural produce. Particularly, apples, pears, fruits and vegetables are well-known. The many orchards in the canton are mainly used for the production of cider. Wine is produced in the Thur valley.

There is also industry in the canton of Thurgau. The main industries are printing, textiles and handicrafts. Small and middle-sized businesses are important for the cantonal economy. Many of these are concentrated around the capital.

External links

• Official website (German)
• Official statistics