Maschwanden

Maschwanden

Coat of arms
Maschwanden
Coordinates: 47°14′N 8°26′E / 47.233°N 8.433°ECoordinates: 47°14′N 8°26′E / 47.233°N 8.433°E
Country Switzerland
Canton Zurich
District Affoltern
Area[1]
  Total 4.69 km2 (1.81 sq mi)
Elevation 398 m (1,306 ft)
Population (Dec 2013[2])
  Total 664
  Density 140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Postal code 8933
SFOS number 0008
Surrounded by Cham (ZG), Hünenberg (ZG), Knonau, Mettmenstetten, Obfelden
Website www.maschwanden.ch
SFSO statistics

Maschwanden is a village in the district of Affoltern in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.

History

Maschwanden is first mentioned in 1189 as Maswondon.[3] The Baron of Eschenbach owned a castle and the village, near the current municipality, at that time. However, in 1308 Walter von Eschenbach was present at the regicide of King Albert I of Germany near Windisch. In response to the murder, in 1309 the castle and village were both destroyed and never rebuilt. The ruins were located on a hill south-west of the modern village, which mostly consisted of gravel and was carried off during the 19th and 20th century.[4]

Geography

Maschwanden has an area of 4.7 km2 (1.8 sq mi). Of this area, 61.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 24.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 8.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[5]

The municipality is located on the east banks of the Reuss River near the confluence of the Lorze River into the Reuss.

Demographics

Maschwanden has a population (as of 31 December 2013) of 664.[2] As of 2007, 4.5% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 12.8%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (97.8%), with Portuguese being second most common ( 0.7%) and Italian being third ( 0.5%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 45% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (21.4%), the CSP (14.6%) and the Green Party (7.2%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 27.5% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.3% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 13.2%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Maschwanden about 81.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Maschwanden has an unemployment rate of 0.36%. As of 2005, there were 61 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 24 businesses involved in this sector. 12 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 4 businesses in this sector. 49 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 19 businesses in this sector.[5] The historical population is given in the following table:[3]

year population
1470 c. 120
1634 339
1786 507
1850 578
1900 493
1920 424
1950 470
1970 400
2000 553

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maschwanden.