Appenzell Innerrhoden

Kanton Appenzell Innerrhoden

Map of Switzerland, location of Appenzell Innerrhoden highlighted

Coordinates

Capital

Appenzell

Population

15,681 (12/2009)^[1]

- Density

91 /km² (235 /sq mi)

Area

173 km² (67 sq mi)

Highest point

2,502 m (8,209 ft) - Säntis

Joined

1513

Abbreviation

Languages

German

Executive

Standeskommission (7)

Legislative

Landsgemeinde
Grosser Rat (49)

Districts

6 Bezirk

Website

AI.ch

View map of Appenzell Innerrhoden

Appenzell Innerrhoden (German: Appenzell Innerrhoden; in English sometimes Appenzell Inner Rhodes) is the smallest canton of Switzerland by population and the second smallest by area, Basel-City having less area.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Political subdivisions
4 Government
5 Demographics
6 Economy
7 External links
8 References
- 8.1 Notes

History

The name Appenzell (Latin: abbatis cella) means "cell (i.e. estate) of the abbot". This refers to the Abbey of St. Gall, which exerted a great influence on the area. By the middle of the 11th century the abbots of St Gall had established their power in the land later called Appenzell, which, too, became thoroughly teutonized, its early inhabitants having probably been romanized Raetians. But as early as 1377, this portion of the abbots' domains formed an alliance with the Swabian free imperial cities and adopted a constitution of its own. The repeated attempts of the abbots to put down this independence of their rule were defeated in the battles of Vögelinsegg (1403), north-west of Trogen, and of the Stoss (1405), the pass leading from Gais over to Altstätten in the Rhine valley. In 1411 Appenzell was placed under the "protection" of the Swiss Confederation, of which, in 1452, it became an "allied member," and in 1513 a full member. Religious differences broke up the land after the Reformation into two portions, with Appenzell Ausserrhoden being the other half. Appenzell Innerrhoden was the last canton granting women the right to vote, in 1990.

Geography

Most of the canton is pastoral, this despite being mountainous. The Säntis peak in the Appenzell Alps is one of the main attractions of the canton. There are three small mountain lakes in the canton: Seealpsee, Sämtisersee and Fälensee.

Political subdivisions

In Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division: the canton is not subdivided in municipalities. Because of that, for firefighting, energy and water, the town Appenzell has a special-purpose municipality, the Feuerschaugemeinde.

The Canton is divided into 6 districts:

Appenzell
Gonten
Oberegg
Rüte
Schlatt-Haslen
Schwende

Government

Landsgemeinde in Appenzell Innerrhoden

Appenzell is the capital of this canton. The constitution was established in 1872. Citizens from the canton assemble every last Sunday of April for the Landsgemeinde (general assembly) in a square in Appenzell, vote on laws and elect the Governing Council.

In 1991, following a decision by the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, Appenzell Innerrhoden became the last Swiss canton to grant women the vote on local issues.^[2]

Demographics

The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2009) is 15,681.^[1] As of 2007^[update], the population included 1,510 foreigners, or about 9.76% of the total population.^[3] Due to the split of Appenzell along religious lines, the population (as of 2000^[update]) is nearly all Roman Catholic (81%), with a small Protestant minority (10%).^[4]

Economy

Cattle breeding and dairy farming are the main agricultural activities: Appenzeller cheese is widely available throughout Switzerland. By the early 2000s, the idyllic countryside of Appenzell Innerrhoden apparently became popular with nudists, but at the 2009 Landsgemeinde the canton's residents voted to prohibit naked hiking. Violators will be fined.^[5] It is common for cars rented in Switzerland to be registered in Appenzell Innerrhoden, and thus having license plates starting with "AI", because of the reduced tax on automobiles in this canton.