Editing Meilen (section)

== History ==
[[File:ETH-BIB-Meilen aus 200 m-Inlandflüge-LBS MH01-001658.tif|thumb|Aerial view from 200&nbsp;m by [[Walter Mittelholzer]] (1919)]]
Archaeological finds in Meilen date back more than 4,000 years. In January 1854 the level of lake Zürich was particularly low and the locals took the chance to reclaim some land. During this undertaking prehistoric objects from the [[Pfyn culture|Pfyn]], [[Horgen culture|Horgen]] and early [[Bronze Age]] cultures were unearthed providing clear evidence of early settlement.<ref name="BergerSuess1979">{{cite book|author1=Rainer Berger|author2=Hans Eduard Suess|title=Radiocarbon dating: proceedings of the ninth international conference, Los Angeles and La Jolla, 1976|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YupA6DrPQJIC&pg=PA104|access-date=7 July 2010|year=1979|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-03680-2|pages=104–107}}</ref>

The locals also unearthed coins from Roman times (1st to 3rd century AD). One of the Roman roads connected ''Turicum'' (Zürich) with places up to ''Chur'' and passed by Meilen. Many findings were discovered during more recent road construction.

Parts of Meilen were possessions of monasteries, including the monastery of ''St. Gallen'', the ones of ''Einsiedeln'' and ''Säckingen'', or the more local ''Grossmünster'' of Zürich.  Meilen is first mentioned between 820 and 880 as ''Meilana''.<ref name=HDS/>

The town's coat of arms shows two castle towers which represent the castle of ''Friedberg'', the local castle. The castle was built around 1200 but was extended in the 14th century. Some remains are still visible, including the fountain which reaches down 29 metres. Wine making in Meilen dates back for centuries.

In 1384 Meilen became a bailiwick of Zürich. Thanks to the reeve Meilen enjoyed relative autonomy until 1798. Since the Middle Ages local trade and handicraft was established in Meilen. There were at least four mills to support the local agriculture. Towards the end of the 18th century, industrialisation arrived in Meilen in form of textiles, but this form of production disappeared in the 19th century. With the arrival of the railway in 1894 local trade and industry blossomed. The ferry to [[Horgen]] was opened in 1933.