Näfels

Näfels
Country Switzerland Canton Glarus District n.a. 47°06′N 9°04′E / 47.1°N 9.067°E / 47.1; 9.067Coordinates: 47°06′N 9°04′E / 47.1°N 9.067°E / 47.1; 9.067
Population	3,941 (December 2009)
- Density	107 /km2 (276 /sq mi)
Area	36.93 km2 (14.26 sq mi)
Elevation	437 m (1,434 ft)
- Highest	2283 m - Rautispitz
Postal code	8752
SFOS number	1619
Surrounded by	Glarus, Innerthal (SZ), Mollis, Netstal, Oberurnen
Twin towns	Bad Säckingen (Germany)
Website	www.naefels.ch SFSO statistics
Näfels
Map of Näfels

Näfels is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Näfels is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord.

History

Näfels is first mentioned in 1240 as Nevels.^[1]

In 1388, the Swiss Confederates beat the Habsburgs at the Battle of Näfels.

Geography

Näfels

Näfels has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 36.9 km² (14.2 sq mi). Of this area, 35.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (22.1%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[2]

Näfels is located in the Glarner Unterland on the left side of the valley, across from Mollis. It consists of the village of Näfels and the scattered settlemenst that that make up the Näfelser Berg and the Oberseetal.

Demographics

Näfels has a population (as of 31 December 2009) of 3,941.^[3] As of 2007^[update], 19.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.^[4] Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -0.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (86.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 5.2%) and Albanian being third ( 2.9%).^[2]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SPS which received 48.6% of the vote. Most of the rest of the votes went to the SVP with 40.2% of the vote.^[2]

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Näfels about 64% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).^[2]

Näfels has an unemployment rate of 1.59%. As of 2005^[update], there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 39 businesses involved in this sector. 1,399 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 62 businesses in this sector. 918 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 140 businesses in this sector.^[2]

The historical population is given in the following table:^[1]

year	population
1777	533
1850	1,869
1870	2,513
1900	2,557
1950	3,327
2000	3,947

Notable residents

• Niklaus Franz von Bachmann 1740-1831, Swiss general in the Napoleonic Wars
• Karl Josef von Bachmann 1734–1792, Commander Swiss Guard for King Louis XVI of France, executed during the French Revolution
• Friedrich Schröder 1910—1972, German composer, born in Näfels

Gallery

• Näfels
• 

  Church

• 

  Battle memorial

• 

  Church

• 

  Franciscan abbey

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Näfels in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 14-Sep-2009
3. ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office (German) accessed 4 April 2011. Numbers are from December 2009 but cover the new municipal borders from 2011.
4. ^ Canton Glarus population growth (German) accessed 9 September 2009

External links

• Gemeinde Näfels (German)
• Näfels in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.