Municipalities of Switzerland

Municipalities (sometimes called communities or communes, after the French/Italian names) are the smallest government division in Switzerland, and are called "Gemeinden" in German, "communes" in French, "comuni" in Italian and "vischnancas" in Romansh. As of January 2006, Switzerland has 2740 municipalities. [Official list of Swiss municipalities, p. 17] While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities. The area of the municipalities varies between 0.28 km² (Ponte Tresa, Ticino) and 282 km² (Bagnes, Valais).

Each canton defines their responsibilities. These may include providing local government services such as education, medical and social services, public transportation, and tax collection. The degree of centralization varies from one canton to another.

Municipalities are generally governed by a council headed by a mayor as executive and the town meeting as legislature. Most cantons leave the option to larger municipalities to opt for a city parliament. In some cantons, foreign persons that have dwelled for a certain time in Switzerland are also allowed to participate in the municipal politics.

Swiss citizenship is based on the citizenship of a municipality. Every Swiss is citizen of one or several municipalities (i.e. the place of origin, "lieu d'origine", "Heimatort").

Municipalities are financed through direct taxes (e.g. income tax), with rates varying more or less within a framework set by the canton.

Many municipalities are having difficulties maintaining the civil services they need to perform the duties they are required to do. In an effort to reduce expenses, many municipalities are combining together (through mergers or the creation of special-purpose districts). This restructuring is generally encouraged by the cantonal governments and the rate of these unions is increasing .

"Cities" ("villes" or "Städte") are the municipalities with more than 10'000 inhabitants or smaller places which had medieval town rights. There is no specific designation for smaller municipalities ("villages", "towns").

Municipalities are numbered by the Swiss Federal Office for Statistics (see "Community Identification Number#Switzerland"). One or more postal codes (PLZ/NPA) can by assigned to a municipality or shared with other municipalities.

"See also:" List of cities in Switzerland

Lists of municipalities by canton

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See cantons of Switzerland for the number of municipalities per canton.

List of municipalities by population

Largest municipalities City C. Pop. Zürich ZH 365,000 Geneva GE 171,000 Basel BS 166,300 Berne BE 136,300 Lausanne VD 128,100 Winterthur ZH 87,000 St. Gallen SG 75,200 Lucerne LU 61,000 Lugano TI 52,000 Biel/Bienne BE 51,900 Thun BE 38,200 Köniz BE 36,993 La Chaux-de-Fonds NE 36,966 Schaffhausen SH 33,764 Fribourg FR 32,549 Chur GR 31,911 Neuchâtel NE 31,630 Vernier GE 29,459 Uster ZH 28,770 Sion VS 27,697 Emmen LU 26,973

Smallest municipalities (2002) Rank Municipality C. Pop. 1. Portein GR 22 2. Corippo TI 23 3. Mulegns GR 25 4. Bister VS 26 5. Martisberg VS 28 6. Goumoens-le-Jux VD 30 6. Largario TI 30 8. Clugin GR 35 9. Cauco GR 36 9. Monible BE 36 11. St. Martin GR 37 12. Gresso TI 38 12. Montfavergier JU 38 14. Vaugondry VD 39 15. Arrissoules VD 40 15. Romairon VD 40 15. Selma GR 40 18. Ausserbinn VS 41 18. Linescio TI 41 18. Mauraz VD 41 18. Steinhaus VS 41

nb. Corippo has now taken place as smallest city/municipality in Switzerland with only 17 inhabitants. (2004 Census)

ee also

*List of municipalities of Switzerland
*List of twin towns and sister cities in Switzerland
*Former municipalities of Switzerland

Notes

References

* [http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/publikationen.html?publicationID=2321 Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz/Liste officielle des communes de la Suisse/Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, 2006] . Neuchâtel, 2006. ISBN 3-303-00334-3.