Editing Nidwalden

{{short description|Canton of Switzerland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Canton of Nidwalden
| native_name        = {{native name|de|Kanton Nidwalden}}
| other_name         = Canton of Nidwald
| settlement_type    = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Canton of Nidwalden.svg
| image_shield       = Wappen Nidwalden matt.svg
| shield_size        = 80x80px
| shield_link        = 
| image_blank_emblem = Nidwalden canton logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=y|plain=yes|frame-align=center|zoom=6|type=shape|stroke-width=2|frame-lat=46.7|frame-long=8.25|frame-width=275|frame-height=175}}
| map_alt            = Map of Switzerland, location of Nidwalden highlighted
| map_caption        = Location in Switzerland
{{hidden |ta1 = left| border = 1px solid grey | header = Map of Nidwalden | content = <br/>[[File:Karte Kanton Nidwalden 2010.png|250px]] }}
| coordinates        = {{coord|46|56|N|8|4|E|region:CH-NW|display=inline,title}}
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Stans]]
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Municipalities of the canton of Nidwalden|11 municipalities]]
| p2                 = 
| leader_title       = [[President (government title)|President]]
| leader_name        = Res Schmid
| leader_title2      = [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|Executive]]
| leader_name2       = Regierungsrat (7)
| leader_title3      = [[List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland|Legislative]]
| leader_name3       = Landrat (60)
| area_footnotes     = {{Swiss area data||QUELLE-KT}}
| area_total_km2     = {{Swiss area|NW|km=yes }}
| population_footnotes = {{Swiss populations ref|CH-NW }}
| population_total   = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-NW|CH-NW}}
| population_as_of   = {{Swiss populations data CH-NW|YM}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{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}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = [[Swiss franc|CHF]] 2.867 billion (2020)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = CHF 66,209 (2020)
| iso_code           = CH-NW
| blank_name_sec1    = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Highest point]]
| blank_info_sec1    = {{convert|2901|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Rotstöckli]]
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Lowest point]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = {{convert|434|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Lake Lucerne]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[History of Switzerland#Order of accession of the cantons|Joined]]
| blank_info_sec2    = 1291
| blank1_name_sec2   = Languages
| blank1_info_sec2   = German
| website            = {{URL|http://www.NW.ch}}
}}
'''Canton of Nidwalden''' or '''Nidwald''' ({{langx|de|Kanton Nidwalden}} {{IPA|de|ˈniːdˌvaldn̩||De-Nidwalden.ogg}}; {{langx|rm|Chantun Sutsilvania}}; {{langx|fr|Canton de Nidwald}} {{IPA|fr|ni.dwal|}}; {{langx|it|Canton Nidvaldo}}) is one of the [[Canton of Switzerland|26 cantons]] forming the [[Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]]. It is composed of eleven municipalities and the seat of the government and parliament is in [[Stans]]. It is traditionally considered a "[[half-canton]]", the other half being [[Obwalden]].

Nidwalden lies in [[Central Switzerland]]. It borders the canton of Obwalden to the west, the cantons of [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]] and [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] to the north, the canton of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] to the east and the canton of [[Canton of Bern|Bern]] to the south. The canton is essentially in the [[Alps]], south of [[Lake Lucerne]].

It is one of the smallest cantons, the population is 40,287 (in 2007).<ref name="BfS 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=XLS |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 }}</ref> The largest town is [[Stans]], followed by [[Hergiswil]] and [[Buochs]].

Together with Obwalden, Nidwalden was part of the forest canton of [[Unterwalden]], one of the three participants in the [[foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy]], named in the [[Pact of Brunnen]] of 1315 with Uri and Schwyz. The division of Unterwalden into two separate territories, Obwalden and Nidwalden, appears to develop over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries.

==History==
The earliest traces of human settlement date to the [[Neolithic]] with sites found near Stansstad that are from 4000 to 3100 BC.<ref name="History">{{Cite book | last = Ackermann | first = Hansjacob | last2 = Schleifer | first2 = Karin | last3 = Weber | first3 = Emil | title = Geschichte Nidwaldens: Ein kurzer Überblick | date = March 2007 | publisher = Staatsarchive Nidwalden | url = http://www.nw.ch/dl.php/de/20070326132244/Publikation+-+Geschichte+NW+%DCberblick_2008_02.pdf | access-date = 1 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100105070449/http://www.nw.ch/dl.php/de/20070326132244/Publikation+-+Geschichte+NW+%DCberblick_2008_02.pdf | archive-date = 5 January 2010 | url-status = dead }} {{in lang|de}}</ref> The same sites, near Stansstad, also contain [[Late Bronze Age]] (1400–1100 BC) artifacts, with additional Bronze Age sites near Hergiswil and Ennetmoos. A [[La Tène Culture|La Tène]] (500–100 BC) grave for a 10-year-old girl has been found in Stans. Based on these finds, it appears that the Nidwalden region has been settled since the 1st millennium BC.<ref name="History"/>

During the [[Roman Empire]] Ob and Nidwalden were inhabited by a [[Gallo-Roman culture|Gallo-Roman]] or [[Celtic Nations|Celtic]] population. While there are few artifacts from the population, many names of the towns, rivers and mountains have either Celtic or Gallo-Roman roots.<ref name="History"/> By the 8th century the [[Alemanni]] entered the valleys of present-day Nidwalden and intermingled. At this time a Roman Catholic church was built in Stans, most likely founded by an Alemanni noble family. The church in Stans would remain until the 10th century when it was replaced by a church in [[Buochs]].<ref name="History"/>

Initially the land was owned by a number of noble families and [[abbey]]s. But by the late 13th century the major powers in Nidwalden had shrunk to three: [[House of Habsburg|the Habsburgs]], [[Murbach Abbey]] and [[Engelberg Abbey]]. In 1291 [[Rudolph I of Germany|Rudolph of Habsburg]] bought [[Obwalden]] from Murbach Abbey. In response the people of Nidwalden ([[Obwalden]] joined shortly before the document was signed, the two-halves forming [[Unterwalden]])<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Switzerland/History/Origins |volume= 26 |short=x}}</ref> joined [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] and [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] to form an [[Eternal Alliance|alliance]] which is considered the foundation of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]].

At the time there was no state, but towards the end of the 14th century early forms of government were established. This included institutionalized assemblies and courts. In the 14th and 15th century the people of Nidwalden joined the people of Obwalden to discuss important matters, but the two cantons were never really one. For example, Obwalden did not participate in the annexation of [[Bellinzona]], [[Riviera, Ticino|Riviera]] and [[Blenio]] areas (today located in the canton of [[Ticino]]).{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Under the [[Helvetic Republic]] imposed in 1798 by [[French Revolution]]ary troops, Switzerland became a united country. The ideas of the French Revolution were not popular in some parts of the Swiss nation including Nidwalden. The cantons were accustomed to self-government and many resented the limits on the freedom of worship in particular. When rebel forces threatened the Republic, Nidwalden was attacked by French troops on 9 September 1798. The canton's infrastructure was badly damaged and at least 400 people were killed.

After the end of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleonic]] rule in 1814, most of the changes were reverted. Only in 1877 did Nidwalden introduce a new constitution. The open assembly (''[[Landsgemeinde]]'') was abolished in 1997.

==Geography==
{{see also|List of mountains of Nidwalden}}
[[File:Bannalpsee.jpg|thumb|[[Bannalpsee]]]]
Nidwalden is located in the centre of Switzerland. To the north it is bounded by the [[Lake Lucerne]] (''Vierwaldstättersee''), to all other directions by mountain chains ([[Urner Alps]]). The area of the canton is {{convert|276.1|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} of which about 40% is inhabited or used for farming.<ref name="BFS Nidwalden">{{cite web | last = Federal Department of Statistics | title = Regional Statistics for Nidwalden | year = 2008 | url = http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/regionen/regionalportraets/nidwalden/blank/kennzahlen.html | access-date =1 December 2008 }}</ref> Forests occupy about one third of the canton with about one quarter being considered unproductive (mountains or glaciers).<ref name="BFS Nidwalden"/>

==Politics==
===Federal election results===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style ="text-align: center"
|-
! colspan="17"| Percentage of the total vote per party in the canton in the Federal Elections 1971–2019<ref>{{cite report |title=Nationalratswahlen: Stärke der Parteien nach Kantonen (Schweiz = 100%) |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |date=2015 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/dos/09.html |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802014002/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/dos/09.html |archive-date=2 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! 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]] || * {{ref|b|b}} || * || 39.0 || * || * || * || 48.1 || 90.4 || 88.5 || {{ref|c|c}} || 35.2 || * || *
|-
! [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP/PDC/PPD/PCD]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Christian democracy]] || 97.2 || 97.6 || 49.5 || 97.2 || 96.9 || 97.7 || 32.1 || * || * || {{ref|c|c}} || * || * || *
|-
! [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP/PS]] 
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Social democracy]] || * || * || 10.6 || * || * || * || * || * || * || {{ref|c|c}} || * || * || *
|-
! [[Swiss People's Party|SVP/UDC]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss People's Party}}"| || [[Swiss nationalism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || {{ref|c|c}} || 45.2 || 82.8 ||  64.2
|-
! [[Green Party of Switzerland|GPS/PES]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Green politics]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || {{ref|c|c}} || 19.6 || * || *
|-
! [[Swiss Democrats|SD/DS]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss Democrats}}"| || [[National conservatism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 8.0 || 10.2 || {{ref|c|c}} || * || * || *
|-
! Other
| || || 2.8 || 2.4 || 0.9 || 2.8 || 3.1 || 2.3 || 19.8 || 1.6 || 1.2 || {{ref|c|c}} || * || 17.2 || 35.8
|-
! Voter participation % ||  || || 51.3 || 38.9 || 59.7 || 29.5 || 23.4 || 23.6 || 58.9 || 46.0 || 39.4 || {{ref|c|c}} || 60.9 || 58.3 || 50.4
|-
|}
:{{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.
:{{note|c|c}} No election held

===Cantonal election===
The cantonal executive (''Regierungsrat'') is composed of seven members. The local parliament has 60 seats. Nidwalden sends only one deputy to the [[Swiss Council of States]].

=== Climate and energy policy ===
WWF rating: 1.9 ("blocked")<ref>{{Cite web|title=Klima- und Energiepolitik im Kanton – WWF Zentralschweiz|url=https://www.wwf-zentral.ch/index.php?id=12017%20(in%20German)|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.wwf-zentral.ch (in German)}}</ref>

The [[World Wide Fund for Nature|World Wildlife Fund]] commissioned a study into the energy policies of all [[Cantons of Switzerland|Swiss cantons]] . No canton was given the highest possible rating of 6, and Nidwalden came out with one of the lowest in the country, above only [[Canton of Zug|Zug]] and [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]]. Six indicators<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWF Nidwalden assessment|url=https://www.wwf-zentral.ch/fileadmin/user_upload_section_zentral/Dokumente/Newsdokumente/Kantonsbewertung_Nidwalden.pdf|access-date=19 September 2020|website=WWF (in German)}}</ref> were used for the assessment, namely cantonal goals, energy efficiency requirements, renewable energy regulations, financial subsidies, energy planning of the individual municipalities, and the ''Gebäudeenergieausweis''. The highest rating can only be given to cantons which are on their way to meeting the requirements of the [[Paris Agreement]] in each area.

==Municipalities==
There are eleven municipalities: [[Beckenried]], [[Buochs]], [[Dallenwil]], [[Emmetten]], [[Ennetbürgen]], [[Ennetmoos]], [[Hergiswil]], [[Oberdorf, Nidwalden|Oberdorf]], [[Stans]], [[Stansstad]] and [[Wolfenschiessen]]. The capital is [[Stans]].

==Demographics==
The population of the canton (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-NW}}) is {{Swiss populations|CH-NW|CH-NW}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-NW}} {{as of|2007}}, the population included 4,046 foreigners, or about 10% of the total population. By gender, the canton is nearly evenly split with 50.9% male and 49.1% female.<ref name="BfS Population"/> In 2000, 75.6% of the population identified as [[Catholic]] while 11.9% belong to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]].<ref name="Federal2008">{{cite web | last = Federal Department of Statistics | title = Wohnbevölkerung nach Religion, nach Kantonen und Städten | year = 2008 | url = http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html | format = Microsoft Excel | access-date = 6 October 2008 | 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 = 24 September 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The population density in December 2005 was 144.3 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="BFS Nidwalden"/> Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks German (92.5%) with a small minority speaking Italian (1.4%) or [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]] (1.2%).<ref name="BFS Nidwalden"/>

=== Historical population ===
The historical population is given in the following table:
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
! colspan="5" | Historic Population Data<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nidwalden|url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007411/2017-05-11/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz|language=de}}</ref>
|-
! Year
! Total Population
! Swiss
! Non-Swiss
!Population share <br />of total country
|-
! scope="row" | 1850
| rowspan="1" align="center" |11 339
| rowspan="1" align="center" |11 307
| rowspan="1" align="center" |32
| align="center" |0.5%
|-
!1880
| rowspan="1" align="center"|11 979
| rowspan="1" align="center" |11 712
| rowspan="1" align="center"|267
| align="center"align="center"|0.4%
|-
! scope="row" | 1900
| rowspan="1" align="center" |13 070
| rowspan="1" align="center" |12 470
| rowspan="1" align="center" |600
| align="center" |0.4%
|-
! scope="row" | 1950
| rowspan="1" align="center" |19 389
| rowspan="1" align="center" |18 832
| rowspan="1" align="center" |557
| align="center" |0.4%
|-
! scope="row" | 1970
| rowspan="1" align="center" |25 634
| align="center" |23 278
| rowspan="1" align="center" |2 356
| align="center" |0.4%
|-
!2000
| align="center"|37 235
| align="center"|33 625
| rowspan="1" align="center" |3 610
| align="center"|0.5%
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| align="center" | 43 520 || align="center" | || align="center" |
| align="center" |0.5%
|-
|}

== Economy ==
Up to the 20th century Nidwalden was dominated by agriculture. Cattle and cheese were exported mainly to northern [[Italy]]. Around 1500, many people in Nidwalden worked as mercenary soldiers.

From the middle of the 19th century onwards, trade, industry and tourism gained momentum. Nevertheless, until the middle of the 20th century, agriculture dominated the canton. Today a great number of small and middle-sized businesses dominate the economy. The largest employer is the airplane constructor [[Pilatus Aircraft|Pilatus]]. The small and middle-sized businesses work in a wide range of areas. Many specialize in machine construction, medical equipment, international trade, optics and electronics.

Traditional areas such as forestry and agriculture are still of importance. Agriculture is specialized in cattle and dairy farming. The farms are still run by individual families.

In recent years,{{when|date=April 2019}} Nidwalden is becoming an increasingly common place to live and work.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} This is caused by its low taxes, its central location between [[Zürich]] and [[Milan]], and its natural environment.{{original research inline|date=April 2019}}

===Tourism===
[[File:Stanserhorn.jpg|thumb|Peak of the Stanserhorn showing the restaurant and cable car]]
Because of its mountainous geography, tourism is important in Nidwalden. The lake and the mountains attract many tourists, both during the winter and the summer. Major resorts include [[Klewenalp]], [[Stanserhorn]] (mountain), the region around [[Bannalp]], and [[Bürgenstock]].

==Culture==
Traditional culture in Nidwalden has been kept alive by many local organisations. There is traditional music, yodeling, dances, theaters and festivals. There are also a number of modern cultural events, such a concerts and galleries.

== Notes and references ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Canton of Nidwalden}}
* [http://www.nw.ch/ Official Site] {{in lang|de}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141114184306/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/kantone/nw/key.html Official statistics]
* [http://www.nidwalden.com/en Nidwalden Tourism]

{{Cantons of Switzerland}}
{{Switzerland topics}}
{{Portal bar|Switzerland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cantons of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Nidwalden| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium BC]]
[[Category:1st-millennium BC establishments]]