Geneva (canton) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids République et canton de Genève
Canton
Coat of arms
Capital	Geneva
Subdivisions	45 municipalities
Area
• Total	282.49 km2 (109.07 sq mi)
Population  (12/2020)
• Total	506,343
• Density	1,792.43/km2 (4,642.37/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	CH-GE
Highest point	516 m (1,693 ft): Les Arales
Lowest point	332 m (1,089 ft): Rhône at Chancy
Joined	1815
Languages	French
Website	GE.ch

Geneva is a canton, which is like a state, in Switzerland. Its capital city is also called Geneva City.

People in Geneva mostly speak French. The name Genève is French. In German, it's called Genf, and in Italian, it's Ginevra.

Geneva is a very important place for the United Nations. Many of their offices are located here. About 186,000 people live in the canton. The larger urban area has about 960,000 people. Part of this urban area even stretches into France. Only the Canton of Zürich has more people in Switzerland.

Logo of the Canton of Geneva

History of Geneva

In 1815, the city-state of Geneva officially became part of Switzerland. Before that, it was once the capital of the Kingdom of Burgundy.

Scientists have found signs of human life in Geneva from around 3000 BC. These were found near the shores of Lake Geneva. However, the main hill where the Old City is now was not settled until about 1000 BC.

Later, when the Roman Empire took over, a small Celtic tribe defended Geneva. In 58 BC, the famous Roman leader Julius Caesar stopped an attack by a group called the Helvetii. Around 400 AD, during the Roman Empire, Geneva was given its own bishop.

Municipalities of Geneva

The Canton of Geneva does not have districts. Instead, it is divided into 45 smaller areas called municipalities. Each municipality has its own local government.

Images for kids

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  The County of Geneva and surrounding territories around 1200.

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  The cantons and allies of the Old Swiss Confederacy in the 18th century. Geneva is a group of small territories in the southwest.

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  Territories acquired by Berne from Geneva, 1339-1798.

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  L'Escalade, the last attempt by Savoy to take Geneva by force, 1602.

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  Map of the French département of Léman established in 1798.

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  Charles Pictet de Rochemont, the Geneva envoy who helped set the canton’s borders.

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  Map of the canton of Geneva after the first peace of Paris, May 1814.

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  Map of the canton of Geneva after the treaty of Paris, 1815.

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  Map of the canton of Geneva after the treaty of Turin, 1816.

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  Borders after the Congress of Vienna: in yellow, the previous lands of Geneva; in blue, towns given by France; in pink, towns given by Savoy.

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  View from Reculet mountain towards Geneva. The canton covers most of the Geneva basin.

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  Village square in Meyrin.

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  The headquarters of the local cantonal bank, the BCGE.

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  Geneva has many vineyards. This is Satigny, the largest wine-making municipality in Switzerland.

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  A tram in Carouge.

See also

In Spanish: Cantón de Ginebra para niños