Glarus Nord

Näfels village

Coat of arms

Glarus Nord

Location of Glarus Nord

Coordinates: 47°06′N 9°04′E / 47.100°N 9.067°ECoordinates: 47°06′N 9°04′E / 47.100°N 9.067°E

Country

n.a.

Area

• Total

146.88 km² (56.71 sq mi)

Elevation

437 m (1,434 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

17,797

• Density

120/km² (310/sq mi)

Postal code

8752, 8753, 8757, 8758, 8865–8868, 8874

SFOS number

1630

Localities

Bilten, Filzbach, Mollis, Mühlehorn, Näfels, Niederurnen, Oberurnen, Obstalden, Ziegelbrücke.

Surrounded by

Schänis (SG), Weesen (SG), Amden (SG), Quarten (SG), Glarus Süd, Glarus, Innerthal (SZ), Schübelbach (SZ), Reichenburg (SZ), Benken (SG)

Website

www.glarus-nord.ch
SFSO statistics

Glarus Nord is one of three municipalities of the canton of Glarus, Switzerland (the others being Glarus and Glarus Süd).

Effective from 1 January 2011, Glarus Nord incorporates the former municipalities of Bilten, Filzbach, Mollis, Mühlehorn, Näfels, Niederurnen, Oberurnen and Obstalden.

Bilten is first mentioned in 1050 as Billitun.

The area around Bilten was probably inhabited in the Roman era. By the mid-11th century, Schänis Abbey owned a large part of the village, and in 1178 the Pope confirmed Schänis Abbey's ownership of the village. St. Catherine's Chapel in the village was first mentioned in 1345. In either 1405/06 or 1415, the village joined the County of Glarus. The village's residents were no longer required to pay rents to Schänis Abbey after 1412, but remained partly under the Abbey's control until 1612. In 1528, the majority of the residents embraced the Protestant Reformation and converted to the new faith. Subsequently Bilten became part of the Reformed parish of Niederurnen. A village church was consecrated in 1607.

From the 16th until the 18th century, the alpine pastures around the village were used to raise large livestock for sale to other towns. As a sign of the growing wealth in Bilten, in 1608 a local family built the Renaissance style Elsener House. In the 18th century the local farmers gradually shifted from selling cattle to raising dairy cattle and selling dairy products. In the late 18th century, the Linth river began to silt up, and swamps and marshes formed along the river near Bilten. The marshy land caused disease which only ended with the Linth correction project of 1807-23. Between 1887 and 1939 the Biltener creek was gradually brought under control and channeled, ending its frequent flooding.

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Wikipedia