Gland | ||
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Gland municipal administration building
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Coordinates: 46°25.2′N 6°16.2′E / 46.4200°N 6.2700°ECoordinates: 46°25.2′N 6°16.2′E / 46.4200°N 6.2700°E | ||
Country | Switzerland | |
Canton | Vaud | |
District | Nyon | |
Government | ||
• Mayor |
Syndic Gérald Cretegny |
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Area | ||
• Total | 8.32 km2 (3.21 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 432 m (1,417 ft) | |
Population (Dec 2016) | ||
• Total | 12,997 | |
• Density | 1,600/km2 (4,000/sq mi) | |
Postal code | 1196 | |
SFOS number | 5721 | |
Surrounded by | Begnins, Dully, Luins, Nernier (FR-74), Prangins, Vich, Yvoire (FR-74) | |
Website |
www Profile (in French), SFSO statistics |
Gland is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The city also is home to the IUCN headquarters
Gland is known to have been a prehistoric settlement. During the Roman period a farm called Villa Glanis was there. Until the 1960s, Gland was merely a small farming village (essentially vineyards and cattle).
Gland is first mentioned around 994 -1049 as de Glans.
In 1923 Gland provided the venue for the European Division meeting of the Seventh-day Adventists, where the German Adventist leaders said they regarded whether to serve as combatant in times of war was a matter which should be left to the conscience of individual members of their church.
In the 1930s, the Toblerone line, a defensive line, was built along the western edge of Gland, stretching from Lac Léman towards the Jura mountains. Its purpose was to stop a tank invasion from the west.
The opening of the highway linking Geneva with Lausanne brought many commuters to this once-quiet place. It is only since the mid-1980s that Gland has started to grow into a town with its own businesses and shopping centers.
Gland has an area, as of 2009[update], of 8.3 square kilometers (3.2 sq mi). Of this area, 3.81 km2 (1.47 sq mi) or 45.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 1.22 km2 (0.47 sq mi) or 14.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 3.33 km2 (1.29 sq mi) or 40.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.01 km2 (2.5 acres) or 0.1% is either rivers or lakes.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 3.1% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 18.4% and transportation infrastructure made up 8.9%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 3.5% of the area while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 6.1%. Out of the forested land, all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 29.0% is used for growing crops and 5.0% is pastures, while 11.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.