| Näfels | ||||||||||
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| Population | 3,948 (December 2008[update]) | |||||||||
| - Density | 107 /km2 (277 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 36.93 km2 (14.26 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 437 m (1,434 ft) | |||||||||
| - Highest | 2283 m - Rautispitz | |||||||||
| Postal code | 8752 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 1619 | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Glarus, Innerthal (SZ), Mollis, Netstal, Oberurnen | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Bad Säckingen (Germany) | |||||||||
| Website | www.naefels.ch SFSO statistics |
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  Näfels
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Näfels is a municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland.
Contents |
History
Näfels is first mentioned in 1240 as Nevels.[1]
In 1388, the Swiss Confederates beat the Habsburgs at the Battle of Näfels.
Geography
Näfels has an area, as of 2006[update], of 36.9 square kilometers (14.2 sq mi). Of this area, 35.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (22.1%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[2]
The municipality is located in the Glarner Unterland on the left side of the valley, across from Mollis. It consists of the village of Näfels and the scattered settlemenst that that make up the Näfelser Berg and the Oberseetal.
Demographics
Näfels has a population (as of 2008[update]) of 3,948, of which 19.3% are foreign nationals.[3] Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -0.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (86.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 5.2%) and Albanian being third ( 2.9%).[2]
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SPS which received 48.6% of the vote. Most of the rest of the votes went to the SVP with 40.2% of the vote.[2]
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Näfels about 64% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).[2]
Näfels has an unemployment rate of 1.59%. As of 2005[update], there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 39 businesses involved in this sector. 1,399 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 62 businesses in this sector. 918 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 140 businesses in this sector.[2]
The historical population is given in the following table:[1]
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1777 | 533 |
| 1850 | 1,869 |
| 1870 | 2,513 |
| 1900 | 2,557 |
| 1950 | 3,327 |
| 2000 | 3,947 |
Notable residents
- Niklaus Franz von Bachmann 1740-1831, Swiss general in the Napoleonic Wars
- Karl Josef von Bachmann 1734–1792, Commander Swiss Guard for King Louis XVI of France, executed during the French Revolution
- Friedrich Schröder 1910—1972, German composer, born in Näfels
Gallery
 Church |
 Battle memorial |
 Church |
 Franciscan abbey |
References
- ^ a b Näfels in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- ^ a b c d e Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 14-Sep-2009
- ^ Canton Glarus population growth (German) accessed 9 September 2009
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Näfels |
External links
- Gemeinde Näfels (German)
- Näfels in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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