Wil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wil
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View of old town with the Hof in the centre
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 Wil
Location in Switzerland
Wil
Location in Canton of St. Gallen
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | St. Gallen | |
| District | Wahlkreis Wil | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.82 km2 (8.04 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 571 m (1,873 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 24,132 | |
| • Density | 1,159.08/km2 (3,002.0/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
9500
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| Surrounded by | Bronschhofen, Jonschwil, Münchwilen (TG), Rickenbach (TG), Sirnach (TG), Uzwil (SG), Wilen (TG), Zuzwil | |
| Twin towns | Dobrzen Wielki (Poland) | |
Wil is a city in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It is the main city of the Wil area.
Wil is the third largest city in the Canton of St. Gallen. Only St. Gallen and Rapperswil-Jona are bigger. In 2013, the nearby town of Bronschhofen became part of Wil.
In 1984, Wil won the Wakker Prize. This award is given for protecting and developing old buildings.
Contents
Exploring Wil's Geography
Wil covers an area of about 7.62 square miles (19.7 square kilometers). A large part of the land, about 50%, is used for farming. Forests cover almost 19% of the area.
About 30% of Wil's land has buildings or roads on it. This means it is a developed area. Over the last 20 years, the amount of developed land has grown. At the same time, the amount of farmland has become a little smaller.
Before 2013, Wil was smaller. Bronschhofen, which joined Wil, also had a lot of farmland and forests. Bronschhofen included small villages like Rossrüti and hamlets such as Maugwil.
Wil's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Wil is quite special. It shows a black bear standing up on a silver background. Next to the bear, on a black background, there is a golden snail shell. Below the snail shell, there is a silver letter "W".
People and Languages in Wil
Wil has a population of about 25,000 people. Many people from other countries live here too. About 27% of the people living in Wil are foreign nationals.
Most people in Wil speak German. This is the main language. Other languages spoken include Albanian and Italian. A small number of people also speak French or Romansh.
Wil has a good mix of age groups. About 20% of the population are children and teenagers (under 19). Adults (20-64 years old) make up about 63% of the population. Seniors (over 64 years old) are about 18%.
Many people in Wil have completed higher education. This means they have gone to university or a similar school. About 69% of adults between 25 and 64 have finished this kind of education.
Important Buildings in Wil
Wil has several important historical buildings. These are protected as national heritage sites.
One of these is the Baronenhaus at Marktgasse 73. Another is the Dominican Abbey of St. Katharina. The Hof is also very important. It used to be the home of the Prince-abbot. The pilgrimage church Maria-Hilf at Dreibrunnen is also a special site.
The old part of Wil is also recognized as an important Swiss heritage site.
Getting Around Wil
Wil is an important place for trains. It is on the main train line that connects Zürich and Winterthur to St. Gallen. There are also train lines that go to other towns like Frauenfeld and Wattwil.
The city is also very close to the border of the Canton of Thurgau.
Sports in Wil
Wil has its own soccer team called FC Wil. They play in the Swiss Challenge League, which is a professional football league in Switzerland.
Wil's Economy and Jobs
Wil has many jobs in different areas. In 2012, over 14,000 people worked in the city.
A small number of people work in farming. Many more people work in factories and manufacturing. The largest number of jobs are in the service sector. This includes jobs in shops, offices, and other services.
Many people who live in Wil also work in other towns. And many people from other towns come to Wil for work.
Religion in Wil
Many people in Wil are Roman Catholic. About 54% of the population belongs to this faith. About 22% of people belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.
There are also people who follow other Christian churches. Some people are Islamic. A small number of people are Jewish. About 7% of the population does not belong to any church.
Wil's Mayor
On January 1, 2013, Susanne Hartmann became the mayor of Wil. She was the first woman to be mayor not just in Wil, but in the entire canton of St. Gallen. She won the election by a large number of votes.
Famous People from Wil
Many interesting people have come from Wil:
- Anna Sutter (1871–1910) was a famous opera singer.
- Kurt Widmer (born 1940) is a baritone singer and voice teacher.
- Yvonne Gilli (born 1957) is a doctor and politician who lives in Wil.
- Karin Keller-Sutter (born 1963) is a politician who grew up in Wil. She was elected to the Swiss Federal Council in 2018.
- Renato Tosio (born 1964) is a retired professional ice hockey goalie.
- Alex Zülle (born 1968) is a former professional road bicycle racer.
- Daniel Imhof (born 1977) is a retired Canadian soccer player.
- Daniel Sereinig (born 1982) is a footballer who played in many club games.
- Nicole Graf (born 1985) is a figure skater.
- Fabian Schär (born 1991) is a footballer who plays for Newcastle United F.C. and the Swiss national team.
- Stefan Küng (born 1993) is a world champion in cycling.
See also
In Spanish: Wil (San Galo) para niños
