Greppen
Encyclopedia
Greppen is a municipality
in the district of Lucerne
in the canton
of Lucerne in Switzerland
.
It lies at the base of huge Mount Rigi
. The exclave is separated by Lake Lucerne
from the rest of the district.
. Mentioned for the first time, albeit indirectly, in 1259 as Crepon, in a document of Heinrich von Heidegg, it belonged to the Habsburgs, and was sold to Lucerne in 1406 as part of the Vogti Neuhabsburg. In 1803 it was assigned to the District of Lucerne.
arm of Lake Lucerne, at the base of Mount Rigi. Greppen stretches from Lake Lucerne up the west slope of Mount Rigi to just below Rigi-Staffel (elev. 1400 m (4,593.2 ft)). The Breitenacherreid is a nature preserve.
Greppen has an area of 3.3 km² (1.3 sq mi). Of this area, 50.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 39.7% is forested. The rest of the land, (9.4%) is settled. , 39.7% of the total land area was forested. Of the agricultural land, 43.94% is used for farming or pastures, while 6.97% is used for orchards or vine crops. Of the settled areas, 7.88% is covered with buildings, 0.3% is industrial, and 1.21% is transportation infrastructure.
. It also shares a water border with Meggen
.
and Küssnacht. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 28.2%.
The historical population is given in the following table:
, 1.3% speak English
, and 0.91% speak French
.
. , 65.97% were Roman Catholic, 19.87% were Protestant, 1.04% were Orthodox Christians, and 0.52% were Old Catholic. Nonchristian minorities included Atheists (8.44%), Muslims (1.3%) and (2.47%) who did not answer the question.
buildings. There were 97 single family homes, 27 double family homes, and 20 multi-family homes in the municipality. Most homes were either two (70) or three (52) story structures. There were only 5 single story buildings and 17 four or more story buildings.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 29.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(26.5%), the FDP
(23%) and the SPS
(10.1%).
. The widely used silk and linen weaving factories of the 19th century have disappeared. Major employers include culinary operations, (moderate) tourism, pharmaceuticals, and construction. The commuter balance paints a clear picture. 40 people commute to Greppen, whereas 280 (among a total of 421 employed) commute from Greppen (26.8% to Canton Schwyz, 20.7% to Canton Zug
, 12.9% to Lucerne, and 11.4% to the neighboring municipality of Weggis).
Greppen has an unemployment rate of 1.36%. , there were 47 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 35 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 13 businesses in this sector. 69 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 31 businesses in this sector. 54.7% of the population of the municipality were employed in some capacity. At the same time, females made up 41.3% of the workforce.
via Weggis in 1932, which is important to local public transportation. The nearest train station is in Küssnacht, on the track from Lucerne to Goldau
. There is also a train station in Brunnen
, which is on the Gotthard line.
The nearest autobahn exchange, 5 km (3.1 mi) away in Küssnacht, has improved traffic and lead to a great increase in population.
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Greppen about 81.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the district of Lucerne
Lucerne (district)
Lucerne District is an Amt of the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. It has a population of and consists of 18 municipalities, of which the city of Lucerne is the largest and the district capital:-Mergers:...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Lucerne in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
It lies at the base of huge Mount Rigi
Rigi
- Mt. Rigi in Art:Mt. Rigi has been featured in many works of art, including both paintings and literary publications. Perhaps the most famous paintings of the Rigi were by JMW Turner, including "The Blue Rigi, Lake of Lucerne, Sunrise"...
. The exclave is separated by Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.The lake has a complicated shape, with bends and arms reaching from the city of Lucerne into the mountains. It has a total area of 114 km² , an elevation of 434 m , and a maximum depth of 214 m . Its volume is 11.8...
from the rest of the district.
History
Greppen shares the history of its neighboring community of WeggisWeggis
Weggis is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.It forms part of the northern shore of Lake Lucerne. The official language is German.-History:In about 800 the monastery of Pfäfers acquired the court of Wattawis...
. Mentioned for the first time, albeit indirectly, in 1259 as Crepon, in a document of Heinrich von Heidegg, it belonged to the Habsburgs, and was sold to Lucerne in 1406 as part of the Vogti Neuhabsburg. In 1803 it was assigned to the District of Lucerne.
Geography
Greppen lies on the eastern shore of the KüssnachtKüssnacht
Küssnacht am Rigi is a district and municipality in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland, consisting of three villages: Küssnacht, Immensee and Merlischachen...
arm of Lake Lucerne, at the base of Mount Rigi. Greppen stretches from Lake Lucerne up the west slope of Mount Rigi to just below Rigi-Staffel (elev. 1400 m (4,593.2 ft)). The Breitenacherreid is a nature preserve.
Greppen has an area of 3.3 km² (1.3 sq mi). Of this area, 50.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 39.7% is forested. The rest of the land, (9.4%) is settled. , 39.7% of the total land area was forested. Of the agricultural land, 43.94% is used for farming or pastures, while 6.97% is used for orchards or vine crops. Of the settled areas, 7.88% is covered with buildings, 0.3% is industrial, and 1.21% is transportation infrastructure.
Neighboring Municipalities
Greppen borders on Weggis and Küssnacht in Canton SchwyzSchwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
. It also shares a water border with Meggen
Meggen
Meggen is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Meggen is first mentioned in 1226 as Meken, though a 14th Century copy of an older document mentions in Acta Murensia around 1160.-Geography:...
.
Population Growth
In 1798 there were only 240 inhabitants. The population grew until 1860 (1798-1860: +23.8%) and then fell to only by 244 by 1900. In the next twenty years, tourism brought with it rapid population growth (1900-1920: +51.8%). The number of inhabitants then remained about the same until 1980. Since then, the population has grown (1980-2004: +143.8%) because of improved transportation, the municipality's mild climate, and its proximity to LucerneLucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
and Küssnacht. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 28.2%.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| Population Growth | |
|---|---|
| Year | Population |
| 1456 | c. 70 |
| 1695 | c. 200 |
| 1798 | 240 |
| 1850 | 287 |
| 1860 | 297 |
| 1880 | 244 |
| 1900 | 228 |
| 1910 | 281 |
| 1920 | 346 |
| 1950 | 349 |
| 1980 | 349 |
| 1990 | 567 |
| 2000 | 770 |
| 2004 | 879 |
Languages
As of 2000, 94.03% of the population speaks GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, 1.3% speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and 0.91% speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Religions-Denominations
The population is traditionally CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
. , 65.97% were Roman Catholic, 19.87% were Protestant, 1.04% were Orthodox Christians, and 0.52% were Old Catholic. Nonchristian minorities included Atheists (8.44%), Muslims (1.3%) and (2.47%) who did not answer the question.
Origin and Nationality
In 2000, 90.39% of the population were Swiss citizens, of whom only 85.84% had passports. Immigrant groups included Germans (4.03%, or 4.68%, including those with dual citizenship), and Italians (0.65%, or 1.95%). Smaller immigrant groups were from France, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia. Greppen has a population (as of ) of . , 10.9% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.Age profile
The age distribution in Greppen is; 246 people or 26.1% of the population is 0–19 years old. 237 people or 25.2% are 20–39 years old, and 367 people or 39% are 40–64 years old. The senior population distribution is 74 people or 7.9% are 65–79 years old, 14 or 1.5% are 80–89 years old and 3 people or 0.3% of the population are 90+ years old.Households
there are 293 households, of which 82 households (or about 28.0%) contain only a single individual. 30 or about 10.2% are large households, with at least five members. there were 184 inhabited buildings in the municipality, of which 144 were built only as housing, and 40 were mixed useMixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
buildings. There were 97 single family homes, 27 double family homes, and 20 multi-family homes in the municipality. Most homes were either two (70) or three (52) story structures. There were only 5 single story buildings and 17 four or more story buildings.
Municipal Council
The non-professional Municipal Council is formed of the following:- Marc Schnyder (Municipal President; Culture, Leisure, Economy)
- Kurt Greter (Mayor; Real estate, Safety, Education, Traffic and Finance)
- Roswitha Jenni (Social welfare)
Elections
In the canton-level elections of 2003, the civil parties won the following portions of the votes: CVP 33.16%, FDP 27.59%, SVP 19.07%. The leftist and progressive parties (SP and Green Alliance) won large portions of the votes, 9.48% and 8.25%, respectively, considering that Greppen is a rural municipality in the Lucerne District. Among the smallest parties, the Aktiven Senioren (Active Seniors) did the best, with 1.27%.In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 29.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(26.5%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(23%) and the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(10.1%).
"Fusion" Project
The three municipalities near Mount Rigi in the District of Lucerne are planning a gradual union, because they already work together on many issues.Economy
The population of Greppen find their livelihood in many diverse fields. Although traditionally dominated by cattle and alpine dairy farming, and fishing, people also raised Chestnuts (in the mild climate) and mined TuffTuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
. The widely used silk and linen weaving factories of the 19th century have disappeared. Major employers include culinary operations, (moderate) tourism, pharmaceuticals, and construction. The commuter balance paints a clear picture. 40 people commute to Greppen, whereas 280 (among a total of 421 employed) commute from Greppen (26.8% to Canton Schwyz, 20.7% to Canton Zug
Canton of Zug
The Canton of Zug is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. It is located in central Switzerland and its capital is Zug. With 239 km² the canton is one of the smallest of the cantons in terms of area. It is not subdivided into districts.- History :The earlier history of the canton is...
, 12.9% to Lucerne, and 11.4% to the neighboring municipality of Weggis).
Greppen has an unemployment rate of 1.36%. , there were 47 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 35 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 13 businesses in this sector. 69 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 31 businesses in this sector. 54.7% of the population of the municipality were employed in some capacity. At the same time, females made up 41.3% of the workforce.
Tourism
Because of such diverse projects as the alignment of the Zürichsee-Gotthard railroad track along Mount Rigi, and the failure to construct a railroad up Mount Rigi departing from Greppen, tourism is not as important in Greppen as it is in nearby municipalities. Two restaurants of renown in Greppen are the Eidgenossen and St. Wendelin/Fische.Transportation
Greppen has possessed a ship dock of the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (SGV or Ship company of Lake Lucerne) since 1869. This company also set up a bus line from Küssnacht to BrunnenBrunnen
Brunnen is a resort on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, part of the municipality Ingenbohl , at .Brunnen has a cablecar that goes to the Urmiberg, a part of the Rigi offering wonderful views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps....
via Weggis in 1932, which is important to local public transportation. The nearest train station is in Küssnacht, on the track from Lucerne to Goldau
Goldau
Goldau is a city in the community of Arth, canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. It lies between two mountains, the Rigi and the Rossberg...
. There is also a train station in Brunnen
Brunnen
Brunnen is a resort on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, part of the municipality Ingenbohl , at .Brunnen has a cablecar that goes to the Urmiberg, a part of the Rigi offering wonderful views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps....
, which is on the Gotthard line.
The nearest autobahn exchange, 5 km (3.1 mi) away in Küssnacht, has improved traffic and lead to a great increase in population.
Schools
There has been a village primary school in Greppen since 1809, which is attended by students in Kindergarten through grade 6. There are 8 students in Kindergarten and 84 students in the elementary grades. Students in grades 7 and above attend school in neighboring Weggis. The principal is Ruth Steiert-Hurschler.The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Greppen about 81.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).