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Thurgau
Capital	Frauenfeld
Population (2003)	228,200 (Ranked 13th)
- Density	230 /km²
Area Coordinates: 47°35′N, 9°4′E	991 km² (Ranked 12th)
Highest point	Hohgrat 991 m
Joined	1803
Abbreviation	TG
Languages	German
Executive	Regierungsrat (5)
Legislative	Grosser Rat (130)
Municipalities	80 municipalities
Districts	8 Bezirke
Website	www.TG.ch

Thurgau (German: Thurgau (help·info), anglicized as Thurgovia) is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population is 228,200 (2003). The capital is Frauenfeld.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Economy 4 Demographics 5 Districts 6 Municipalities 7 External links

To the north the canton is bound by the Lake Constance across which lies Germany and Austria. The river Rhine creates the border in the northwest. To the south lies the canton of St. Gallen; to the west lie the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen.

The area of the canton is 991 km² and commonly divided into three hill masses. One of these stretches along Lake Constance in the north. Another is further inland between the river Thur and the river Murg. The third one forms the southern border of the canton and merges with the Hörnli mountain in the pre-Alps.

In prehistoric times the lands of the canton were inhabited by people of the Pfyn culture along the lake. During Roman times the canton was part of the province Raetia until in 450 the lands were settled by the Alamanni. It was only in the 8th century that the canton became a political unit similar to what it is known today, as a Gau of the Frankish Empire. At the time, however, the area was not so clearly defined and changed frequently. Overall, the size of the Thurgau was larger, but during the Middle Ages the canton became smaller in size. The dukes of Zähringen and the counts of Kyburg took over much of the land. The town of Zürich was part of the Thurgau until it became reichsunmittelbar in 1218. When the Kyburg dynasty became extinct in 1264 the Habsburgs took over that land. The Swiss confederation allied with ten freed bailiwicks of the former Toggenburg seized the lands of the Thurgau from the Habsburgs in 1460, and it became subject territory of Zürich.

In 1798 the land became a canton for the first time as part of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803 the canton of Thurgau became a member of the Swiss confederation. The current cantonal constitution dates from 1987.

The canton of Thurgau is known for its fine agricultural produce. Particularly, apples, pears, fruits and vegetables are well-known. The many orchards in the canton are mainly used for the production of cider. Wine is produced in the Thur valley.

There is also industry in the canton of Thurgau. The main industries are printing, textiles and handicrafts. Small and middle-sized businesses are important for the cantonal economy. Many of these are concentrated around the capital.

The population is mostly German speaking. About two thirds of the population are Protestants with most of the remainder being Roman Catholics.

The Canton of Thurgau is divided into eight districts, and each is named after its capital:

• Steckborn with capital Steckborn
• Frauenfeld with capital Frauenfeld
• Kreuzlingen with capital Kreuzlingen
• Weinfelden with capital Weinfelden
• Bischofszell with capital Bischofszell
• Diessenhofen with capital Diessenhofen
• Münchwilen with capital Münchwilen
• Arbon with capital Arbon

There are 80 municipalities in the canton (as of April 2004):

Aadorf Affeltrangen Altnau Amlikon-Bissegg Amriswil Arbon Basadingen-Schlattingen Berg Berlingen Bettwiesen Bichelsee-Balterswil Birwinken Bischofszell Bottighofen Braunau Bürglen Bussnang Diessenhofen Dozwil Egnach Erlen Ermatingen Eschenz Eschlikon Felben-Wellhausen Fischingen Frauenfeld Gachnang Gottlieben Güttingen

Hauptwil-Gottshaus Hefenhofen Herdern Hohentannen Homburg Horn Hüttlingen Hüttwilen Kemmental Kesswil Kradolf-Schönenberg Kreuzlingen Langrickenbach Lengwil Lommis Mammern Märstetten Matzingen Müllheim Münchwilen Münsterlingen Neunforn Pfyn Raperswilen Rickenbach Roggwil Romanshorn Salenstein Salmsach Schlatt

Schönholzerswilen Sirnach Sommeri Steckborn Stettfurt Sulgen Tägerwilen Thundorf Tobel-Tägerschen Uesslingen-Buch Uttwil Wagenhausen Wäldi Wängi Warth-Weiningen Weinfelden Wigoltingen Wilen Wuppenau Zihlschlacht-Sitterdorf

See also: municipalities of Switzerland

• Official Site (German)
• Official Statistics

Cantons of Switzerland
Aargau · Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Appenzell Innerrhoden · Basel-City · Basel-Country · Berne · Fribourg · Geneva · Glarus · Graubünden · Jura · Lucerne · Neuchâtel · Nidwalden · Obwalden · Schaffhausen · Schwyz · Solothurn · St. Gallen · Thurgau · Ticino · Uri · Valais · Vaud · Zug · Zürich