The canton if Appenzell is part of Switzerland since 1513 and it is completely surrounded by St. Gallen. It peacefully split in 1597 into the catholic Appenzell Innerrhoden and the protestant Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Despite of being united for a long time, both cantons are two separated and fully independent cantons.

Ausserrhoden has a small population, but compared to the other cantons above-average densely populated. In contrast to its brother Innerrhoden, the country community was abolished in 1997. 

A culturally important and still current tradition is that groups dress up as New Year's Santas each year in the morning of New Year's Eve and tramp from town to town in order to celebrate the beginning of the new year and to expel evil spirits with their yodel song, named Zäuerli.