Districts of Switzerland


In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each Canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between Canton and Municipality, loosely termed districts (i.e. Urban Administration Districts).

Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne), Amtsbezirke (Bern), district (in French) or distretto (Tessin and part of Graubünden). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.

Eight of the 26 Cantons – Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-City and Geneva – have historically done without the district level of government; each with its own reason, be it historical or practical or because the area is small enough already.

A number of further cantons have dispensed with the district level recently, Appenzell Ausserrhoden in 1995, Schaffhausen in 1999, St Gallen in 2003 and Lucerne in 2007.

A number of further cantons are considering (or have already decided) an abolition of the district level in the future: Schwyz in 2006 voted on its abolition, but voted in favour of keeping the division. Berne in 2006 divided a reduction of its 26 districts to five administrative regions. Vaud decided a reduction from 19 to 10 districts. Valais is planning a similar reduction and in Thurgau, a reduction of eight to four districts is under discussion.

Contents

Zurich

Districts in the Canton of Zürich

The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke):

Bern

Districts of the canton of Bern

The Canton of Bern is divided in five regions: Berner Jura, Seeland (with two subregions, Biel/Bienne and Seeland), Bern-Mittelland, Oberland (with subregions Thun, Obersimmental-Saanen, Frutigen-Niedersimmental, Interlaken-Oberhasli) and Emmental-Oberaargau (with two subregions, Emmental and Oberaargau) The current division has taken effect on 1 January 2010, based on a 2006 decision to abolish the former system of districts.

Until 2009, the canton of Bern was divided into 26 districts (German: Amtsbezirke; French: districts):

Lucerne

Districts of Canton Lucerne

The Canton of Lucerne used to be divided into 5 Ämter:

These were abolished with the new cantonal constitution of 2007, although they will continue to be used as electoral districts.

Schwyz

Districts of the Cantons of Schwyz

The Canton of Schwyz is divided into 6 districts:

Fribourg

Districts of canton Fribourg

The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts:

Solothurn

Districts of Canton Solothurn

From 2005, Solothurn's ten districts are merged pairwise into five electoral districts, termed Amtei. From 2005, districts only have a statistical meaning.

  • Bucheggberg, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg
  • Dorneck, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein (unofficially Schwarzbubenland)
  • Gäu, Amtei Thal-Gäu
  • Gösgen, Amtei Olten-Gösgen (unofficially Niederamt)
  • Lebern, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
  • Olten, Amtei Olten-Gösgen
  • Solothurn, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
  • Thal, Amtei Thal-Gäu
  • Thierstein, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein
  • Wasseramt, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg

Basel-Country

districts of Canton Basel-Landschaft

Basel-Country is divided into 5 districts:

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Districts of Appenzell Innerrhoden

In Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division: the canton is not subdivided in municipalities. Because of that, for firefighting, energy and water, the town Appenzell has a special-purpose municipality, the Feuerschaugemeinde.

The Canton is divided into 6 districts:

St. Gallen

Constituencies of St. Gallen

The canton abolished the district level in 2003, but it remains divided into eight constituencies (Wahlkreise) without administrative significance:

Graubünden

Districts of Canton Graubünden

Graubünden is divided into 11 districts:

Aargau

Districts in Aargau

Aargau is divided into 11 districts:

Thurgau

Districts of Canton Thurgau

Thurgau is divided into eight districts, and each is named after its capital:

Ticino

Districts of Canton Ticino

Ticino is divided into 8 districts:

Vaud

Districts of Canton Vaud

Vaud is divided into 10 districts:

Valais

Districts in Valais

Valais is divided into 13 districts, representing the 13 stars on the flag of Valais:


District Raron is divided into:

Neuchâtel

Districts of Canton Neuchâtel

The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts:

Jura

Districts in Canton of Jura

The Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts:

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