{{Short description|Canton of Switzerland}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Canton of Glarus | native_name = {{native name|de|Kanton Glarus}} | settlement_type = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]] | image_flag = CHE Kanton Glarus Flag.svg | image_shield = CHE Kanton Glarus COA.svg | shield_size = 80x80px | shield_link = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | mapframe-point = none | map_alt = Map of Switzerland, location of Glarus highlighted | map_caption = Location in Switzerland {{hidden |ta1 = left| border = 1px solid grey | header = Map of Glarus | content =
[[File:Karte Kanton Glarus 2010.png|250px]] }} | coordinates = {{coord|46|59|N|9|4|E|region:CH-GL|display=inline,title}} | seat_type = Capital | seat = [[Glarus]] | seat1_type = Largest municipality | seat1 = [[Glarus Nord]] | parts_type = Subdivisions | parts_style = para | p1 = [[Municipalities of the canton of Glarus|3 municipalities]] | p2 = | leader_title = [[President (government title)|President]] | leader_name = Kaspar Becker | leader_title2 = [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|Executive]] | leader_name2 = Regierungsrat (5) | leader_title3 = [[List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland|Legislative]] | leader_name3 = [[Landsgemeinde]]
[[Landrat]] (60) | area_footnotes = {{Swiss area data||QUELLE-KT}} | area_total_km2 = {{Swiss area|GL|km=yes }} | population_footnotes = {{Swiss populations ref|CH-GL }} | population_total = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-GL|CH-GL}} | population_as_of = {{Swiss populations data CH-GL|YM}} | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = GDP | demographics1_footnotes = {{Cite web |last=Statistik |first=Bundesamt für |date=2021-01-21 |title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) nach Grossregion und Kanton – 2008-2018 {{!}} Tabelle |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/asset/de/15304856 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Bundesamt für Statistik |language=de}} | demographics1_title1 = Total | demographics1_info1 = [[Swiss franc|CHF]] 2.763 billion (2020) | demographics1_title2 = Per capita | demographics1_info2 = CHF 67,849 (2020) | iso_code = CH-GL | blank_name_sec1 = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Highest point]] | blank_info_sec1 = {{convert|3613|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Tödi]] | blank1_name_sec1 = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Lowest point]] | blank1_info_sec1 = {{convert|412|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Linth]] channel at border to St.Gallen | blank_name_sec2 = [[History of Switzerland#Order of accession of the cantons|Joined]] | blank_info_sec2 = 1352 | blank1_name_sec2 = Languages | blank1_info_sec2 = [[German language|German]] | website = {{URL|http://www.GL.ch}} | image_blank_emblem = Logo of the canton of Glarus.svg | blank_emblem_type = [[Brandmark]] | blank_emblem_size = 120px }} The '''canton of Glarus''' ({{langx|de|Kanton Glarus}} {{IPA|de-CH|ˈɡlaːrʊs||De-Glarus.ogg}}; {{langx|rm|Chantun Glaruna}}; {{langx|fr|Canton de Glaris}}; {{langx|it|Canton Glarona}}) is a [[cantons of Switzerland|canton]] in east-central [[Switzerland]]. The capital is [[Glarus]]. The population speaks a variety of [[Alemannic German]]. The majority of the population (81%) identifies as [[Christianity in Switzerland|Christian]], about evenly split between [[Swiss Reformed Church|Protestants]] and [[Roman Catholicism in Switzerland|Catholics]]. == History == [[Image:Naefels Freulerpalast.jpg|thumb|left|Cantonal museum in the Freulerpalast ([[Näfels]])]] According to legend, the inhabitants of the [[Linth]] Valley were converted to [[Christianity]] in the 6th century by the [[Hiberno-Scottish mission|Irish]] monk [[Fridolin of Säckingen|Saint Fridolin]], the founder of [[Säckingen Abbey]] in what is now the [[Germany|German]] state of [[Baden-Württemberg]]. From the 9th century, the area around [[Glarus]] was owned by Säckingen Abbey, the town of Glarus being recorded as ''Clarona''. The [[Alemanni]] began to settle in the valley in the early 8th century. The Alemannic German language took hold only gradually and was dominant by the 11th century. By 1288, the [[Habsburg]]s had claimed all the abbey's rights. Glarus joined the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]] in 1352 as one of the foundational eight cantons (''Acht Orte'') of the period of 1353–1481. The first recorded [[Landsgemeinde]] of Glarus took place in 1387. Habsburg's attempts to reconquer the valley were repelled in the [[Battle of Näfels]] of 1388. A banner depicting Saint Fridolin was used to rally the people of Glarus at that battle, and from that time, Glarus has used the image of Saint Fridolin on [[flag of Glarus|its flags and in its coat of arms]]. The [[County of Werdenberg]] was annexed to Glarus in 1517. Between 1506 and 1516, the later reformer [[Huldrych Zwingli]] was a priest in Glarus, but Glarus remained Catholic, and by 1564, all of Zwingli's followers were eliminated. This, however, did not end the struggles between the Protestants and the Catholics in the area. To secure peace it was decided that each party should have its own assembly (''[[Landsgemeinde]]'') in 1623, and at a later stage in 1683, each side was granted the right to have its own tribunals. Between 1798 and 1803, Glarus was part of the [[canton of Linth]] as established by [[Napoleon]]. In 1836 the constitution was adapted to unite the assemblies and establish a single ''Landsgemeinde''. In the early 1840s, after several years of failed crops and as food became scarce, much of the canton found itself deep in poverty. With more workers than available jobs, [[emigration]] to the [[United States|United States of America]] was seen as a solution. The Glarus Emigration Society was established in 1844, which offered loans to help residents purchase land in the New World. Many of the resulting emigrants went to the state of [[Wisconsin]], where they founded the town of [[New Glarus, Wisconsin|New Glarus]].J. Jacob Tschudy. "Additional Notes on New Glarus," ''Wisconsin Historical Collections, Vol. VIII'' (1879). On 6 May 2007, Glarus became the first Swiss canton to lower the voting age to 16.{{Deprecated archive|url=https://archive.today/20120721102424/http://swissinfo.org/eng/top_news/detail/Glarus_decides_to_grant_vote_from_16.html?siteSect=106&sid=7788979&cKey=1178539892000|title=SwissInfo}}, retrieved on 7 May 2007 == Geography == {{Further|Glarus Alps|List of mountains of the canton of Glarus}} [[File:Linthal.jpg|thumb|[[Linthal, Glarus|Linthal]] and [[Glarus Alps]]]] The canton of Glarus is dominated by the deep valley of the [[Linth]] River and the smaller [[Sernftal]] on the east. Most of the area is [[Swiss Alps|mountainous]]. The highest peak in the [[Glarus Alps]] is the [[Tödi]] at {{convert|3614|m|ft|sp=us}}. Other mountains include the [[Hausstock]] ({{convert|3158|m|ft|sp=us}}) and the [[Glärnisch]] ({{convert|2910|m|ft|sp=us}}). The canton contains part of a thrust fault that was declared a geologic [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], under the name [[Glarus thrust|Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona]], in 2008. Famous outcrops in the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona include those at [[Lochsite]] near [[Glarus]] and in a mountain cliff called ''[[Tschingelhörner]]'' between [[Elm, Switzerland|Elm]] and [[Flims]] (in the same cliff is a natural hole called the [[Martinsloch]]). There is also a large lake called Walensee ([[Lake Walen]]) on the north. The total area of the canton of Glarus is {{convert|685|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}, of which about half is considered productive. Forestry is an important branch of industry in the canton. == Municipalities == [[Image:Landsgemeinde Glarus 2006.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|[[Landsgemeinde]] of 7 May 2006.]] [[File:Karte Gemeinden des Kantons Glarus 2007.png|thumb|Municipalities before the reform (2007)]] [[File:Karte Gemeinden des Kantons Glarus 2011.png|thumb|Municipalities after the reform (2011)]] The ''[[Landsgemeinde]]'' (cantonal assembly) of 2006 decided that the 25 municipalities of Glarus be consolidated to three, effective 1 January 2011. * The new municipality of [[Glarus]] subsumed the former municipalities of Glarus, [[Ennenda]], [[Netstal]] and [[Riedern]]. * [[Glarus Nord]] subsumed [[Bilten]], [[Filzbach]], [[Mollis]], [[Mühlehorn]], [[Näfels]], [[Niederurnen]], [[Oberurnen]] and [[Obstalden]]. * [[Glarus Süd]] subsumed [[Betschwanden]], [[Braunwald, Glarus|Braunwald]], [[Elm, Switzerland|Elm]], [[Engi, Switzerland|Engi]], [[Haslen, Glarus|Haslen]] (including [[Leuggelbach]] and [[Nidfurn]]), [[Linthal, Glarus|Linthal]], [[Luchsingen]] (including [[Diesbach, Glarus|Diesbach]] and [[Hätzingen]]), [[Matt, Switzerland|Matt]], [[Mitlödi]], [[Rüti, Glarus|Rüti]], [[Schwanden, Glarus|Schwanden]], [[Schwändi, near Schwanden, Glarus|Schwändi]] and [[Sool, Switzerland|Sool]]. == Demographics == The population of the canton (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-GL}}) is {{Swiss populations|CH-GL|CH-GL}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-GL}} {{as of|2007}}, the population included 7,314 foreigners (or 19.13% of the total population).{{cite web | last = Federal Department of Statistics | title = Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit, Geschlecht und Kantonen | year = 2008 | url = http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/02/blank/key/raeumliche_verteilung/kantone__gemeinden.html | format = Microsoft Excel | access-date = 5 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081215033605/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/02/blank/key/raeumliche_verteilung/kantone__gemeinden.html | archive-date = 15 December 2008 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }} The population ({{As of|2000|lc=on}}) is nearly evenly split between [[Protestantism|Protestants]] (44%) and [[Roman Catholic]]s (37%).{{cite web | last = Federal Department of Statistics | title = Wohnbevölkerung nach Religion | year = 2004 | url = http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html | format = Interactive Map | access-date = 2009-01-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160924182116/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html | archive-date = 2016-09-24 | url-status = dead }} 83.6% is [[Swiss German|German]]-speaking and 6.8% is [[Italian language|Italian]]-speaking. === Historical population === The historical population is given in the following table: {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! colspan="5" | Historic Population Data{{Cite web|title=Glarus (Kanton)|url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007374/2017-05-30/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz|language=de}} |- ! Year ! Total Population ! Swiss ! Non-Swiss !Population share
of total country |- ! scope="row" | 1850 | rowspan="1" align="center" |30,213 | rowspan="1" align="center" |29 965 | rowspan="1" align="center" |248 | align="center" |1.3% |- !1880 | rowspan="1" align="center"|34,242 | rowspan="1" align="center" |33 175 | rowspan="1" align="center"|1 038 | align="center"align="center"|1.2% |- ! scope="row" | 1900 | rowspan="1" align="center" |32,349 | rowspan="1" align="center" |30 801 | rowspan="1" align="center" |1 548 | align="center" |1.0% |- ! scope="row" | 1950 | rowspan="1" align="center" |37,663 | rowspan="1" align="center" |34 726 | rowspan="1" align="center" |2 937 | align="center" |0.8% |- ! scope="row" | 1970 | rowspan="1" align="center" |38,155 | rowspan="1" align="center" |31 321 | rowspan="1" align="center" |6 834 | align="center" |0.6% |- !2000 | align="center"|38,183 | align="center"|30 251 | rowspan="1" align="center" |7 932 | align="center"|0.5% |- ! scope="row" | 2020 | align="center" | 40,851 || align="center" | || align="center" | | align="center" |0.5% |- |} == Economy == [[Image:Glarus Kloentalersee.jpg|thumb|Electrical power from [[Klöntalersee]] is one of the canton's main export services.]] The canton's geography helped establish slate works in the 17th century. The mountainous surroundings of Glarus also served as an advantage in industrialisation. Cotton spinning was important in the 18th century, complementing traditional woollen spinning. Industrialisation also brought cotton printing, hydroelectric plants, metal and machinery factories, and paper mills. In 2014, about 5% of the workers in Glarus worked in the primary sector (the total for all of Switzerland is 3.3%). Of these 5%, in 2008, nearly three-quarters were involved in [[dairy farming]] and [[Animal husbandry|cattle breeding]]. In 2014 the secondary sector employed 8,322 or about 38.2% of the total, which is much higher than 21.8% for the entire country. Over one-quarter of those in the secondary sector worked in the construction industry. The tertiary sector employed 12,366, or about 56.8% of the total, almost 18% lower than 74.9% nationwide. Of those in the tertiary sector, 11.72% work in retail shops and 10.37% are in health care.{{cite web |url=https://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Selection.aspx?px_language=de&px_db=px-x-0602010000_101&px_tableid=px-x-0602010000_101\px-x-0602010000_101.px&px_type=PX |title=Arbeitsstätten und Beschäftigte nach Kanton, Wirtschaftsabteilung und Grössenklasse |year=2014 |work=Stat-Tab |publisher=Federal Statistical Office |language=de |access-date=18 April 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ==Transport== The main railway lines are the [[Ziegelbrücke–Linthal railway|Ziegelbrücke–Linthal]], [[Ziegelbrücke–Sargans railway|Ziegelbrücke–Sargans]] ([[Kerenzerberg Rail Tunnel]]), and [[Lake Zurich left-bank railway line|Zurich–Ziegelbrücke/Näfels]] railway lines. Between 1905 and 1969, the [[Sernftal tramway]] operated between Schwanden and Elm. Regional rail within the canton of Glarus and neighbouring areas is provided by [[St. Gallen S-Bahn]] and [[Zurich S-Bahn]] (the [[S27 (Südostbahn)|S27]] rush-hour service is part of neither network). {{rws|Ziegelbrücke}}, located just outside the cantonal border, is an important nodal station in the region, served also by long distance [[InterRegio]] trains. [[PostBus Switzerland|PostAuto]], [[Sernftalbus]] and other bus operators serve towns and villages within the canton. Rail and bus services operate within the {{ill|Ostwind tariff network|de|Tarifverbund Ostwind}}.{{cite web |title=Ostwind zone maps |url=https://www.ostwind.ch/en/about/services/zone-maps/ |publisher=Tarifverbund Ostwind |access-date=23 November 2025 |lang=en}} Several [[List of aerial tramways in Switzerland|cable cars]] and a [[Braunwaldbahn|funicular]] provide access to mountains. The [[Schiffsbetrieb Walensee]] operates boat cruises on [[Walensee]], serving all lakeside settlements. The only [[landing stage]] in the canton of Glarus is in [[Mühlehorn]]. The nearest airport is [[Zurich Airport]]. The northern part of the canton is traversed by the [[A3 motorway (Switzerland)|A3 motorway]] ([[Kerenzerberg Road Tunnel]]). Mountain passes are the [[Foo Pass]], [[Kerenzerberg Pass]], [[Kisten Pass]], [[Klausen Pass]], [[Panix Pass]], [[Pragel Pass]], [[Richetli Pass]], and [[Riseten Pass]]. == Politics == === Federal election results === {| class="wikitable sortable" style ="text-align: center" |- ! colspan="16"| Percentage of the total vote per party in the canton in the Federal Elections 1971-2019{{cite report |title=Nationalratswahlen: Stärke der Parteien nach Kantonen (Schweiz = 100%) |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |date=2015 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/kataloge-datenbanken/tabellen.assetdetail.331753.html |access-date=2016-08-05 }}{{cite web |url= https://www.wahlen.admin.ch/de/gl/ |title= Federal Election Year - Canton of Glarus |date= 2019 |website= wahlen.admin.ch |publisher= Swiss Federal Statistical Office |access-date= 14 November 2019}} |- ! colspan="2" | Party !! class="unsortable" | Ideology !! 1971 !! 1975 !! 1979 !! 1983 !! 1987 !! 1991 !! 1995 !! 1999 !! 2003 !! 2007 !! 2011 !! 2015 !! 2019 |- ! [[FDP.The Liberals]]{{ref|a|a}} | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}"| || [[Classical liberalism]] || 42.4 || * {{ref|b|b}} || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * |- ! [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP/PS]] | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Social democracy]] || 57.2 || 64.7 || * || * || * || 53.7 || 83.9 || 85.7 || 67.1 || 55.5 || 24.6 || 45.0 ||28.2 |- ! [[Swiss People's Party|SVP/UDC]] | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss People's Party}}"| || [[Swiss nationalism]] || * || * || 81.8 || 92.3 || 85.6 || 42.8 || * || * || * || 35.1 || * || * || * |- ! [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|BDP/PBD]] | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Fiscal conservatism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 61.7 || 51.5 || 63.0 |- ! [[Green Party of Switzerland|GPS/PES]] | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Green politics]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 2.7 |- ! Other | || || 0.4 || 35.3 || 18.2 || 7.7 || 14.4 || 3.5 || 16.1 || 14.3 || 32.9 || 9.4 || 13.7 || 3.5 || 6.0 |- ! Voter participation % || || || 61.7 || 33.4 || 35.4 || 26.3 || 22.7 || 41.8 || 24.5 || 28.2 || 25.3 || 32.6 || 34.2 || 41.5 || 39.9 |- |} : {{note|a|a}} FDP before 2009, FDP.The Liberals after 2009 : {{note|b|b}} "*" indicates that the party was not on the ballot in this canton. == See also == * [[Landsgemeinde]] == Notes and references == {{Reflist|2}} == External links == {{Commons}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20030928151014/http://www.gl.ch/ Official site] {{in lang|de}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131115013236/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/kantone/gl/key.html Official statistics] * {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Glarus (canton) | volume= 12 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge| page = 78 |short= 1}} {{Cantons of Switzerland}} {{Switzerland topics}} {{Portal bar|Switzerland}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Glarus, Canton}} [[Category:Canton of Glarus| ]] [[Category:Cantons of Switzerland]] [[Category:Cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy]] [[Category:14th-century establishments in the Old Swiss Confederacy]] [[Category:1350s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]] [[Category:1352 establishments in Europe]]