Canton of Lucerne

Luzern
Capital	Lucerne
Population (2007[update])	363,475 (Ranked 7th)
- Density	240 /km²
Area Coordinates: 47°5′N 8°7′E / 47.083°N 8.117°E / 47.083; 8.117	1493 km² (Ranked 9th)
Highest point	2350 m - Brienzer Rothorn
Lowest point	406 m - Reuss plain at Honauer Schachen
Joined	1332
Abbreviation	LU
Languages	German
Executive	Regierungsrat (5)
Legislative	Grosser Rat (120)
Municipalities	107 municipalities
Districts	5 Ämter
Website	www.LU.ch

Lucerne (German: Luzern) is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 363,475 (as of 2007) of which 57,268 (or 15.8%) are foreigners^[1]. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.

Geography

The canton of Lucerne is located in the centre of Switzerland. It is drained by the Reuss river and the river Kleine Emme. The lands of the canton lie on the northern foothills of the Swiss Alps (Urner Alps). The highest elevation of the canton of Lucerne is at the Brienzer Rothorn at 2,350m. The area of the canton is 1,493 km².

History

The canton of Lucerne comprises territories acquired by its capital Lucerne, either by treaty, armed occupation or purchase. The first town acquired was Weggis (in 1380), Rothenburg, Kriens, Horw, Sempach and Hochdorf (all in 1394), Wolhusen and Entlebuch (1405), the so-called "Habsburger region" to the northeast of the town of Lucerne (1406), Willisau (1407), Sursee and Beromünster (1415), Malters (1477) and Littau (1481), while in 1803, in exchange for Hitzkirch, Merenschwand (held since 1397) was given up.^[2]

Lucerne grew up around a Benedictine monastery, founded about 750 on the right bank of the Reuss by Murbach Abbey in Alsace, of which it long remained a "cell". It is first mentioned in a charter of 840 under the name of Luciaria, which is probably derived from the patron saint of the monastery, St Leodegar. The name Lucerrun is first mentioned in 1252. At some point, a small village grew up around the monastery. The first signs of a municipal constitution appear in 1252.

With the growing power of the Habsburgs in the area weakened the ties that bound Lucerne to Murbach. In 1291 the Habsburgs finally purchased Lucerne from Murbach. The purchase of Lucerne by the Habsburgs drove the three forest cantons (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden) to form an Eternal Alliance, an act that is considered to be the foundation of Switzerland. In 1332 Lucerne became the fourth member of the "Eidgenossen" or Swiss Confederation, and the first town to join the rural forest cantons.

The Battle of Sempach solidified Lucerne's place in the Swiss Confederation

The Battle of Sempach (1386) near Sempach (which while allied wouldn't become part of the canton for 8 more years) drove the Habsburgs out of the region and strengthened the Confederation. That victory led also to the gradual acquisition of territory ruled by and from the town.

During the Reformation Lucerne remained Roman Catholic, of which ever since it has been the great stronghold in Switzerland. The papal nuncio resided here from 1601 to 1873. In the 16^th century, during the early modern age, the town government fell into the hands of an aristocratic oligarchy, whose power, though shaken by the Swiss peasant war of 1653 in the Entlebuch, lasted till 1798. Under the French supported, Helvetic republic (1798-1803) Lucerne was the seat of the central government. When the republic collapsed, under the Act of Mediation (1803-1814) it was one of the six "Directorial" cantons and during the Restauration (from 1815 to 1848) it was one of the three ruling cantons.

The patrician government was swept away by the cantonal constitution of 1831. But in 1841 the Conservatives regained power, called in the Jesuits (1844) and so brought about the Sonderbund War (1847) in which they were defeated, the decisive battle taking place at Gisikon, not far from Lucerne.^[3]

Economy

Lucerne area and Lake Lucerne from Mount Pilatus

Much of the land in the canton is used from agriculture. 817.7 km² (315.7 sq mi), about 55% of the total land area, is used for agriculture. An additional 449.0 km² (173.4 sq mi) (about 30%) of the canton is wooded. The remainder of the canton is either developed, 125.3 km² (48.4 sq mi) (8.4%), or unproductive (lakes, rivers or mountains), 101.5 km² (39.2 sq mi) (6.8%).^[4] Agriculture is the most significant source of income, but industry is also developed. The most important agricultural products are crops, fruit and cattle breeding. Industry concentrates on textiles, machinery, paper, wood, tobacco and metallurgical goods.

Tourism is of great importance. The canton of Lucerne is a gateway to holiday resorts in the nearby Alps, and much of the transit traffic between Germany and Italy crosses the region.

Demographics

The population is mainly German (as of 2000^[update], 89%^[5]) speaking and the vast majority is Roman Catholic (71% as of 2000^[update], with a 12% Protestant minority^[6]). The historic demographics of the canton are summarized in the following table.

Source: Historical Dictionary of Switzerland^[7]

Notes

1. ^ Before 1950 includes Christian Catholic, from 1950 onward only Roman Catholic
2. ^ Belonging to no organized religious group

Districts

Districts of Canton Lucerne

The Canton of Lucerne is divided into 5 districts termed Ämter:

• Amt Luzern with capital Luzern
• Amt Hochdorf with capital Hochdorf
• Amt Sursee with capital Sursee
• Amt Willisau with capital Willisau
• Amt Entlebuch with capital Schüpfheim

Municipalities

There are 99 municipalities in the canton (as of January 2006^[update]).

The municipalities are part of districts (Aemter), named after their capital (bolded above), except for Entlebuch, whose capital is Schüpfheim.

See also: Municipalities of Switzerland

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canton of Lucerne

• Official Site (German)
• Public Records Office / State Archive (German)
• Official Statistics
• Geoportal (German) GIS
• Canton of Lucerne in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

References