Wädenswil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wädenswil
Coat of arms
Wädenswil Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Wädenswil Location in Canton of Zürich Show map of Canton of Zürich
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Zürich
District	Horgen
Area
• Total	35.64 km2 (13.76 sq mi)
Elevation	407 m (1,335 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	24,832
• Density	696.75/km2 (1,804.56/sq mi)
Postal code	8820
Surrounded by	Au, Zürich, Hirzel, Horgen, Männedorf, Meilen, Richterswil, Schönenberg, Stäfa, Uetikon am See

Wädenswil (sometimes called Wädi by locals) is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Horgen district, within the canton of Zürich. In 2013, about 21,000 people lived there. On January 1, 2019, the nearby towns of Hütten and Schönenberg joined Wädenswil.

Exploring Wädenswil's Geography

Aerial view of Wädenswil from 200 meters (1919)

Wädenswil seen from Lake Zürich (June 2009)

Wädenswil and Lake Zürich (1794)

Before 2019, Wädenswil covered an area of about 17.4 square kilometers. A large part of this land, almost 60%, is used for farming. About 10% is covered by forests. Nearly 30% of the area has buildings or roads. A small part, about 1%, includes rivers or other natural features.

People and Life in Wädenswil

Wädenswil is home to many people. As of 2007, about 20.5% of the people living here were from other countries. The population has grown by about 2.1% over the last ten years. Most people in Wädenswil speak German, which is the main language. Italian is the second most common language, followed by Serbo-Croatian.

Age Groups in Wädenswil

In 2000, about 22% of the people were children and teenagers (under 20 years old). Adults (aged 20 to 64) made up about 64% of the population. Seniors (over 64 years old) were about 14%.

Education and Jobs

Many adults in Wädenswil have finished high school or gone on to higher education like university. The town has a low unemployment rate, meaning most people who want to work can find jobs. Many people work in the service industry, which includes jobs like retail, healthcare, and tourism. Others work in manufacturing or farming.

Religious Beliefs

In 2008, there were many Catholics and Protestants in Wädenswil. In 2000, about 43.5% of the people were Protestant, and 32.2% were Catholic. Some people belonged to other religions, while others did not state a religion or were atheist.

Wädenswil's Cultural Heritage

Schloss Au on the Au peninsula

Wädenswil has a rich history. One important site is Wädenswil–Vorder Au, located on the shore of Lake Zürich. This site is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps. These are ancient settlements built on stilts over water.

The Schloss Au (Au Castle) is another important historical place. It is located on the Au Peninsula and is recognized for its regional importance.

Wädenswil was also home to a brewery from 1833 until 1990. Even though the original building was partly taken down, the tradition of brewing beer continues with "Wadi-Brau-Huus AG" since 1992.

Since the early 1500s, Wädenswil and nearby Richterswil have been home to groups of Anabaptists. Many of them later moved to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. You can still find many of the same family names in that part of the United States today.

Getting Around Wädenswil

Motor ship Glärnisch serving as a restaurant at Wädenswil harbor

Lake of Zürich seen from the pier at Wädenswil

Wädenswil is easy to reach. It is located on the A3 motorway.

Train Services

Wädenswil railway station is a busy train station. You can catch trains like the S2, S25, and S8 to Zürich. The S13 train also starts here and goes to Einsiedeln. There are also long-distance trains that connect Wädenswil to cities like Basel and Chur. A train ride to Zürich Hauptbahnhof takes about 29 minutes.

Bus and Boat Travel

The Zimmerberg bus line connects Wädenswil to the Zimmerberg region and parts of the Sihl valley.

In the summer, you can take a boat from Wädenswil across Lake Zürich. These boats travel between Zürich and Rapperswil, stopping at different towns along the lake. There is also a ferry that runs all year, connecting Wädenswil to Männedorf and Stäfa on the other side of the lake. One of the motor ships is even named Wädenswil after the town!

Learning in Wädenswil

Wädenswil has many schools for different ages.

Public Schools

The public primary schools are managed by the town's school board.

• Kindergarten Schools:
  • Kindergarten Seeguet
  • Kindergarten Toblerweg 1 and 2
  • Kindergarten Zopf 1 and 2

• Primary Schools:
  • Au
  • Eidmatt
  • Gerberacher-Berg
  • Glärnisch
  • KLEINgruppenschule
  • Untermosen

• Secondary Schools (Oberstufenschule Wädenswil - OSW):
  • Rotweg
  • Fuhrstrasse
  • Untermosen
  • Steinacher

There is also a music school called Musikschule Wädenswil-Richterswil.

Vocational and Higher Education

Wädenswil also has schools for older students who want to learn specific job skills or go to university.

• Hotel & Gastro formation Zürich - Ausbildungszentrum WäBi
• Strickhof/Berufsbildungszentrum (BZW)
• Regionales Ausbildungszentrum (RAU)
• Stiftung Bühl - a center for special education and job training

• ZHAW Wädenswil - a university focusing on Life Sciences and Facility Management.

Private Schools

The Zürich International School has its Lower School and Early ZIS campus in Wädenswil. This school uses an American curriculum for younger students.

Wädenswil's Weather

Between 1991 and 2020, Wädenswil had about 136 rainy days each year. On average, it received about 1362 millimeters (53.6 inches) of rain per year. August was usually the wettest month, with about 163 millimeters (6.4 inches) of rain. June had the most rainy days, with an average of 13.3 days of rain.

Famous People from Wädenswil

Hans Auer, 1885

Paul Wild, 2006

Many notable people have connections to Wädenswil:

• Johann Gottfried Steffan (1815–1905) – A famous Swiss landscape artist.
• Walter Hauser (1837–1902) – A politician who was a member of the Swiss Federal Council.
• Hans Auer (1847–1906) – A Swiss-Austrian architect who designed the Federal Palace of Switzerland.
• Robert Haab (1865–1939) – Another politician who served on the Swiss Federal Council.
• Otto Hauser (1874–1932) – A prehistorian, someone who studies very old human history.
• Hermann Müller (Thurgau) (1850-1927) – A Swiss expert in winemaking.
• Paul Wild (1925–2014) – An astronomer who discovered many comets, asteroids, and supernovae.
• Ernst Hürlimann (born 1934) – An Olympic rower who won a bronze medal.
• Karin Ott (born 1945) – An opera singer known for her high-pitched voice.
• Daniel Wyder (born 1962) – A former professional racing cyclist.
• Alain Nef (born 1982) – A football defender who played in over 460 club games.
• José Manuel Rodríguez Morgade (born 1984) – Known as Manu, a Spanish professional footballer.

See also

In Spanish: Wädenswil para niños