Canton of Zug

The canton of Zug or canton of Zoug is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. It is in central Switzerland and its capital is Zug. With an area of 239 km² (92 sq mi), Zug is one of the smallest cantons in Switzerland. Unlike some other cantons, Zug is not split into smaller areas but has eleven municipalities. This makes it a special and compact place in the heart of Switzerland.

History

The history of the canton of Zug goes back a very long time. The first signs of people living there are from about 14,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic times. Later, during the Neolithic and Bronze Age, many stilt house villages were built around Lake Zug. Some of these old houses are part of a special UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After the Romans came, they built homes and left behind coins and statues. When the Roman Empire ended, the area became part of the Frankish Empire. Churches were built, and the city of Zug was founded in the 1200s. One famous battle happened nearby at the Battle of Morgarten in 1315.

Later, during a big change in government called the French Invasion, the people of Zug resisted. In 1803, Zug became its own canton again. Over time, the way people made decisions changed, and new rules were made.

Geography

The canton of Zug is in the middle of Switzerland. It covers an area of 239 square kilometres (92 square miles). It borders Lucerne, Aargau, Zürich, and Schwyz.

The land in Zug is mostly used for farming. Two large lakes, the Lake of Zug and Lake Ägeri, take up much of the space. Lake Ägeri is wholly in Zug, while Lake Zug is shared with Lucerne and Schwyz. The highest point is the Höhronen at 1,229 metres. The river Lorze flows from Lake Ägeri through Zug into Lake Zug, and then joins the Reuss.

Zug has a varied landscape. It has flat areas around Lake Zug and hilly, mountainous regions to the east. Glaciers shaped the land long ago.

Political subdivisions

The canton of Zug is one area and has eleven towns. The local parliament, called the Kantonsrat, has 80 members. The government, called the Regierungsrat, has seven members. People vote to choose these leaders, and they serve for four years. The two members who represent Zug in the Federal Ständerat and the three members in the Federal Nationalrat are also chosen by voting.

Municipalities

The eleven towns in the canton of Zug are: Zug, Oberägeri, Unterägeri, Menzingen, Baar, Cham, Hünenberg, Steinhausen, Risch, Walchwil, and Neuheim.

Demographics

The canton of Zug had 128,794 people as of December 31, 2020. About 26% of these people were from other countries. This is a big increase from 1990. Some places in Zug, like Walchwil, have even more people from other countries.

Most people in Zug follow the Roman Catholic faith, with a smaller group following the Protestant faith. People in Zug mainly speak a special kind of German called Swiss German.

Economy

The economy of Zug has changed a lot since 1910. Long ago, people in the higher areas mostly took care of cows and had many high pastures. There were factories making condensed milk in Cham and fruit trees around Zug, where they also made Kirsch and cider.

Today, Zug has many businesses and jobs. Most workers are in the service sector, like selling things or working in schools. Some work making computer and electronic products, while others are in construction or special trades. Zug is known for having low taxes and is friendly to businesses, so many companies have set up there.

The town of Zug started accepting digital money for small payments in 2016 and later allowed people to pay taxes with certain digital currencies. Because of this, Zug is called the "Crypto Valley," with many companies focused on digital money. Some of the biggest digital money companies are based there.

Transport

Zug is located on the north side of a major railway line that runs from north to south through the Alps. This line connects the Gotthard line to the city of Zürich. Zug is also a place where several railways meet, including the line between Zug and Lucerne.

The motorway A4 also passes through the canton, running west of Lake Zugersee.

Politics

Federal election results

^a FDP was called FDP before 2009 and FDP.The Liberals after 2009.

^b "*" means the party was not on the ballot in this canton.

^c Part of a group with the SP.

^d Part of a group with the Green Party.