Districts of Switzerland

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Map of Switzerland showing cantonal, districts and municipal boundaries (2012).

In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed districts (i.e. Urban Administration Districts).

Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts, singular Bezirk). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne, singular Amt), Amtsbezirke (Bern, Amtsbezirk), district (in French) or distretto (Ticino and part of Graubünden). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.

Seven of the 26 cantons – Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-City and Geneva – have always existed without the district level of government. An eighth one, Appenzell Innerrhoden, uses no intermediate level either, but calls its lowest-level subdivisions Bezirke, although they are functionally equivalent to municipalities elsewhere.

A number of further cantons have dispensed with the district level recently, Appenzell Ausserrhoden in 1995, Schaffhausen in 1999, St Gallen in 2003 and Lucerne in 2007.

A number of further cantons are considering (or have already decided) an abolition of the district level in the future: Schwyz in 2006 voted on its abolition, but voted in favour of keeping the division. Bern in 2006 decided a reduction of its 26 districts to five administrative regions. Vaud decided a reduction from 19 to 10 districts. Valais is planning a similar reduction and in Thurgau, a reduction of eight to four districts is under discussion.

Zurich

Districts in the Canton of Zürich

The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke)containing an estimated 641650 people:

Bern

Districts of the canton of Bern
Main article: Subdivisions of the canton of Bern

The Canton of Bern is divided in five regions: Berner Jura, Seeland (with two subregions, Biel/Bienne and Seeland), Bern-Mittelland, Oberland (with subregions Thun, Obersimmental-Saanen, Frutigen-Niedersimmental, Interlaken-Oberhasli) and Emmental-Oberaargau (with two subregions, Emmental and Oberaargau) The current division has taken effect on 1 January 2010, based on a 2006 decision to abolish the former system of districts.

On 1 January 2010, the 26 administrative districts (Amtsbezirke) were combined into 10 new administrative districts (Verwaltungskreise):[1]

Lucerne

Districts of Canton Lucerne

The Canton of Lucerne used to be divided into 5 Ämter:

These were abolished with the new cantonal constitution of 2007, although they will continue to be used as electoral districts.

Schwyz

Districts of the Cantons of Schwyz

The Canton of Schwyz is divided into 6 districts:

  • Einsiedeln including only the municipality of the same name
  • Gersau including only the municipality of the same name
  • Höfe with capital alternating between Wollerau and the village of Pfäffikon
  • Küssnacht including only the municipality of the same name
  • March with capital Lachen
  • Schwyz with capital Schwyz

Fribourg

Districts of canton Fribourg

The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts:

Solothurn

Districts of Canton Solothurn

From 2005, Solothurn's ten districts are merged pairwise into five electoral districts, termed Amtei. From 2005, districts only have a statistical meaning.

  • Bucheggberg, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg
  • Dorneck, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein (unofficially Schwarzbubenland)
  • Gäu, Amtei Thal-Gäu
  • Gösgen, Amtei Olten-Gösgen (unofficially Niederamt)
  • Lebern, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
  • Olten, Amtei Olten-Gösgen
  • Solothurn, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
  • Thal, Amtei Thal-Gäu
  • Thierstein, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein
  • Wasseramt, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg

Basel-Landschaft

districts of Canton Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Landschaft is divided into 5 districts:

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Districts of Appenzell Innerrhoden

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:

St. Gallen

Main article: Subdivisions of the canton of St. Gallen
Constituencies of St. Gallen

The canton abolished the district level in 2003, but it remains divided into eight constituencies (Wahlkreise) without administrative significance:

Graubünden

Districts of Canton Graubünden

Graubünden is divided into 11 districts:

Aargau

Districts in Aargau

Aargau is divided into 11 districts:

Thurgau

Districts of Canton Thurgau

Thurgau is divided into five districts, and each is named after its capital:

Ticino

Main article: Subdivisions of the canton of Ticino
Districts of Canton Ticino

Ticino is divided into 8 districts:

Vaud

Districts of Canton Vaud
Main article: Subdivisions of the canton of Vaud

Vaud is divided into 10 districts:

Valais

Districts in Valais

Valais is divided into 13 districts:


District Raron is divided into:

Neuchâtel

Districts of Canton Neuchâtel

The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts:

Jura

Districts in Canton of Jura

The Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts:

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009 (Report). Federal Statistical Office. 2009. nden. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.Document.128095.pdf. Retrieved 6 March 2010.

See also

   

Aargau
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Basel-Stadt

Basel-Landschaft
Bern
Fribourg
Geneva

Glarus
Graubünden
Jura
Lucerne

Neuchâtel
Nidwalden
Obwalden
Schaffhausen

Schwyz
Solothurn
St. Gallen
Thurgau

Zug
Zürich

Regions · Cantons · Districts · Municipalities (List · Former)
Articles on second-level administrative divisions of European countries
1 Has part of its territory outside Europe. 2 Entirely in Western Asia, but considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons. 3 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border. 4 Partially recognised.

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