Maschwanden

Maschwanden
Country Switzerland Canton Zurich District Affoltern 47°14′N 8°26′E / 47.233°N 8.433°E / 47.233; 8.433Coordinates: 47°14′N 8°26′E / 47.233°N 8.433°E / 47.233; 8.433
Population	612 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	131 /km2 (339 /sq mi)
Area	4.67 km2 (1.80 sq mi)
Elevation	398 m (1,306 ft)
Postal code	8933
SFOS number	0008
Surrounded by	Cham (ZG), Hünenberg (ZG), Knonau, Mettmenstetten, Obfelden
Website	www.maschwanden.ch SFSO statistics
Maschwanden
View map of Maschwanden

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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).^[4]

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 2010) of 612.^[1] As of 2007^[update], 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^[update]) 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^[update]) 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^[update], 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.^[4] The historical population is given in the following table:^[2]

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

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Canton of Zurich Statistical Office (German) accessed 29 March 2011
2. ^ ^{a b} Maschwanden in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
3. ^ Maschwanden website-History (German) accessed 26 May 2010
4. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 24-Jul-2009

External links

• Official website (German)
• Maschwanden in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.