kids encyclopedia robot

Schwyz (canton) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Schwyz is one of the first cantons that formed Switzerland. It's often called an Urkanton, which means an "original canton."

The main town, or capital, is also called Schwyz. Most people there speak German (about 91%). The canton covers an area of 908 square kilometers (about 350 square miles) and has around 130,200 people living in it. Schwyz is located close to the city of Lucerne.

Quick facts for kids
Kanton Schwyz
Canton
Coat of arms of Kanton Schwyz
Coat of arms
Capital Schwyz
Largest city Freienbach
Subdivisions 30 municipalities, 6 districts
Area
 • Total 907.89 km2 (350.54 sq mi)
Population
 (December 2020)
 • Total 162,157
 • Density 178.6086/km2 (462.594/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code CH-SZ
Highest point 2,802 m (9,193 ft): Bös Fulen
Lowest point 406 m (1,332 ft): Lake Zürich
Joined 1291
Languages German

How Schwyz is Organized

The Canton of Schwyz is divided into smaller areas called districts. These districts are then made up of even smaller areas called municipalities. There are six districts and 30 municipalities in total.

Some districts are very simple. For example, the districts of Einsiedeln, Küssnacht, and Gersau each contain only one municipality with the same name.

Karte Kanton Schwyz Bezirke
Districts of the Cantons of Schwyz

Districts and Their Municipalities

Images for kids

  • Etzel - Holzbrücke - Obersee - Rapperswil - HSR 2011-02-10 15-10-12

    Modern wooden bridge on Obersee between Rapperswil and Hurden.

  • Kloster Einsiedeln Frontansicht

    The Abbey of Einsiedeln was a major power in Schwyz.

  • Schwyz

    Schwyz valley, with Schwyz town in the center. Mount Rigi is in the background.

  • Schlossanlage Pfäffikon3

    Pfäffikon Castle, built by landlords to control their lands.

  • Bundesbrief

    The Federal Charter of 1291, on display in Schwyz.

  • Battle of Morgarten

    The Battle of Morgarten, an important early battle for Switzerland.

  • Historische Karte CH 1474 detail Schwyz

    How the canton of Schwyz grew over time.

  • First battle villmergen

    The First Battle of Villmergen.

  • Landsgemeinde Glarus 2006

    A Landsgemeinde in Glarus, similar to past assemblies in Schwyz.

  • Alois von Reding

    Alois von Reding led troops against the French.

  • Karte Helvetik 3

    The Helvetic Republic, showing the canton of Waldstätten.

  • Karte Schweiz 1815

    Switzerland after the Congress of Vienna.

  • Sonderbund War Map English

    Map of the Sonderbund War.

  • Charles-Alexandre Steinhäuslin 07 - Combat devant le pont de Gislikon (23.11.1847)

    Federal troops fighting at the bridge of Gislikon.

  • Schwyz Bundesbriefmuseum 1

    The Museum of the Swiss Charters of Confederation in Schwyz.

  • Pfäffikon (SZ) 2010-10-21 14-12-04

    Farm land and industrial buildings in Pfäffikon.

  • Ibergeregg sea of fog

    View from a hiking trail between Ibergeregg and Spirstock.

  • Luftaufnahme Schwyz2

    Schwyz town at the base of the Mythen mountains.

  • Freienbach - Zürichsee - Hombrechtikon - Stäfa - Wetzikon - Pfäffikersee - Etzel Kulm 2010-10-21 16-06-52

    Freienbach in the foreground, by Lake Zürich.

  • Oerlikon und LGT Pfäffikon

    OC Oerlikon and LGT Group in Pfäffikon.

  • Schwyz Kollegium1

    Kantonsschule Kollegium Schwyz, a secondary school.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cantón de Schwyz para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Schwyz (canton) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.