Official Swiss Directory & Digital Agency for PME - ZIP.ch

Official Swiss Directory

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Schwyz in a few words

Schwytz kleine Mythen

Schwyz is another founding member of the Swiss Confederation, whose name derives from the old-German word "swedan"(to burn). It was mentioned in 972 and its name reminds of the times, when the region's residents burnt the woods in order to use the land for agriculture. 

For the Habsburger from Austria Schwyz was the nearest founding canton, giving the confederation of the thre cantons its name, which led to the name Switzerland in the end.

Geography and history

Schwytz guerre Kappel

The canton of Schwyz borders partly to the Lake Lucerne and has a population of about 155 800 residents, which are mainly German-speaking and catholic. This was the only allowed religion of the canton Schwyz after the battle of Kappel, where protestant reformed and roman-catholic regions fought against each other in 1531. 

The Swiss army knife

Swiss army knife

The Swiss brand Victorinox is known worldwide for its Swiss Army knives and is the biggest employer in the canton. 

The region in numbers

Area in km²
908
Volume, persons per km²
172
Population
155800
Percentage of foreigners
20.7%
GDP in millions
8940
Admission to confederation
1291
Number of municipalities
30
Unemployment rate in %
1.8%
Active population
86500
Percentage of agricultural area
50.5%