Boswil

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Boswil

Canton	Aargau
District	Muri
Coordinates	47°18′N 8°19′E
Population	2,289 (2003)
Area	11.78 km²
Elevation	456 m
Postal code	5623
Mayor	Alois Huber
Website	www.boswil.ch
Boswil

Boswil is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.

The village lies in the Bünztal valley at the foot of the Lindenberg mountain. The hamlet Wissenbach and Sentenhof (a former estate of the Benedictine Muri Abbey) belong to the municipality.

1 History
2 Population growth
3 Administration
4 Economy
5 Transportation
6 Schools
7 Culture
8 References

[edit] History

During Neolithic times, between 10000 and 8000 BCE, settlements were first established near the fish-rich Bünzersee (a small lake). In 1930, a cemetery, dated to have been from between 350-325 BCE, was discovered north of Boswil, and is seen as evidence that the area was occupied by Celtic peoples during the same time period. Various wall remains of farm estates and mansions from Roman times lie nearby.

Boswil was first mentioned as Bozuuila in a document found in a Zürich cathedral. Although this document is not dated, recent research places the document's origin between 874 and 887 CE.

Boswil and the surrounding regions were ruled by successions of counts and dukes of the Habsburgs up until 1379, when they began losing territories to the expanding Swiss Confederates. Herren von Hallwil, and his knights, maintained control over Boswil from 1380, until it was handed over to the ministrations of Muri Abbey in 1483. Meanwhile, the eight Old Cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy had unified and taken control in 1415, and jointly exercised power in all external affairs.

In 1649, a third of the village was destroyed in a fire.

After the Second War of Villmerger of 1712, the lands consisting of Zürich, Berne, Glarus, and the Freie Ämter were divided into two parts. One section of the new boundary line, extending west from the church in Oberlunkhofen to the Hochgericht in Fahrwangen, passed directly through Boswil, with the northern section under French control, and the southern portion by the Swiss Confederacy. Because of its unique position under the domain of two separate jurisdictions, Boswil's development was constrained. Even with the formation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798, Boswil remained divided between the canton of Baden and the newly formed canton of Aargau, until the two cantons were merged in 1803 as the canton of Aargau. Since then, Boswil has been a part of the Muri district.

Industrialization began in 1874, when Boswil became a stop on the Aargauische Südbahn line from Aarau to Muri. From 1870, peat was dug from the Bünnzmoos swampland which had resulted from the silting-up of the Bünzersees. In the 1930s and the 1940s, several peat mining companies came into prominence, and an area comprising over 2 square kilometers was cleared, to a depth of 6 meters. As more factories were built, Boswil developed to an industrial site.

[edit] Population growth

1765: 709
1850: 1,249
1900: 1,246
1950: 1,463
2000: 2,308

[edit] Administration

Legislation is exercised by municipality meetings. Implementing this authority is the local council. Its term of office lasts four years, and then the majority choice candidate is selected by the people. The council leads and represents the town. In addition, it carries out the resolutions and tasks of the municipality meetings.

The 5 local councillors are:

Alois Huber
Ruedi Return
Othmar Stoeckli
Roger Wiesli
Elmar Mueller

Four levels of law exist, with the district court of Muri being locally responsible. A justice of the peace is shared between the municipalities of Besenbueren, Bettwil, Bünzen, Kallern, Rottenschwil and Waltenschwil.

[edit] Economy

In Boswil there are approximately 950 jobs, of which 16% are in agriculture, 39% in industry and 45% in the public service sector. This is beside several trade and service enterprises.

The municipality possesses a considerable number of industrial companies, which are particularly active in the construction and transportation industries.

[edit] Transportation

The main road of Lenzburg-Luzern passes through the middle of the village, and serves as a public traffic route. The SBB has a station, Boswil-Bünzen, on the railway line connecting Aarau and Arth-Goldau.

[edit] Schools

Bosvil has a primary and secondary school. The district school is in Muri and the Cantonal school is in Wohlen.

[edit] Culture

At the end of the 1880s a new church was established, inaugurated on August 24, 1890. The old church, which had become too small, was later sold including the parsonage building. Since that time the old church has, at regular intervals, held cultural high level meetings, some of which received world-wide attention.

The old parsonage building served first as a home for elderly artists, then later as an area for creative art class participants.