Schönholzerswilen

Schönholzerswilen
Coat of arms
Schönholzerswilen
Location of Schönholzerswilen
Coordinates: 47°31′N 9°8′E / 47.517°N 9.133°E / 47.517; 9.133Coordinates: 47°31′N 9°8′E / 47.517°N 9.133°E / 47.517; 9.133
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Thurgau
District	Münchwilen
Area
• Total	10.94 km2 (4.22 sq mi)
Elevation	555 m (1,821 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	814
• Density	74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Postal code	8577
SFOS number	4756
Surrounded by	Braunau, Bürglen, Bussnang, Kradolf-Schönenberg, Wuppenau
Website	www.schoenholzerswilen.ch SFSO statistics

Schönholzerswilen is a municipality in the district of Münchwilen in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.

Schönholzerswilen is probably first mentioned in 857 as Wichrammeswilare. In 1216 it was mentioned as Wilær and in 1693 it was mentioned as Schönholtzerß Wÿlen. Between 1803 and 1964, the Ortsgemeinden of Schönholzerswilen and Toos formed the Munizipalgemeinde of Schönholzerswilen. In 1964 both communities merged to form the political municipality of Schönholzerswilen.

Numerous neolithic objects, including stone axes and neolithic grave mounds, indicate that the area was inhabited anciently. Additionally, Roman era coins have been discovered in the municipality. Very little is known about the village in the Middle Ages, except for several brief entries in historic records. In 1439 the Abbey of St. Gallen bought the low court rights in the village from Ulrich von St. Johann. The Abbey combined the village of Schönholzerswilen along with Heiligkreuz, Wuppenau and half of Toos to form a single court. Many of the surrounding farm houses remained part of the Freigericht Thurlinden (Free Court of Thurlinden) instead of being incorporated into the Abbey's court. The Freigericht Thurlinden remained independent of Schönholzerswilen until the creation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798.

Schönholzerswilen was probably a full parish by 1275. However, over the following years it decreased in importance and by 1508 the village church was just a filial church under the parish of Bussnang. When the parish of Bussnang converted during the Protestant Reformation, the abbot of St. Gallen forced Schönholzerswilen to remain Catholic. Schönholzerswilen remained Catholic until 1677. In 1718 they received a priest from Zurich. Zurich continued to appoint the village priest until 1843. Starting in 1820, the Catholics in the village were part of the parish of Wuppenau. This lasted for over thirty years, until in 1854 a Catholic parish was established in the municipality.