Gais

For other uses, see Gais (disambiguation).

Gais
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Coat of arms of Gais Coat of arms
Gais
Location of Gais Sorry no file found, please edit the map section of the infobox with the correct map image file name.
Coordinates:
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Appenzell Ausserrhoden
District	n.a.
Government
• Mayor	Ernst Koller
Area
• Total	21.23 km2 (8.20 sq mi)
Elevation	919 m (3,015 ft)
Population (Dec 2014)
• Total	3,081
• Density	150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Postal code	9056
SFOS number	3022
Surrounded by	Altstätten (SG), Appenzell (AI), Bühler, Eichberg (SG), Rüte (AI), Schlatt-Haslen (AI), Trogen
Website	www.gais.ch SFSO statistics

Gais is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. The area of Gais is 21.2 km² (8.2 sq mi).

In 1977 Gais received the Wakker Prize for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage. The village square, the Protestant church of 1782, the former spa hotel Neuer Ochsen of 1796 and the Krone inn of 1781 are listed as heritage sites of national significance.

History

The village of de Geis is first mentioned in a list of offerings given to the Abbey of St Gall in 1272. While under the Abbey, Gais was a semi-independent village with its own amtmann (bailiff) and judge. By the 14th century Gais was already acting as an independent community. Under the amtmann, Konrad Geppensteiner, Gais joined the Swabian Cities Alliance (German: Schwäbian Städtebund) in 1377. In 1401 the town allied with the League of God's House. One of the most important battles of the Appenzell Wars (1401–29), the battle of Stoss Pass, took place in the territory of Gais.

Geography

File:Gais - DSC00001 (10).jpg

Scattered farm houses near Gais

Gais has an area, as of 2006, of 21.2 km² (8.2 sq mi). Of this area, 49.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 44.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.4%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).

The municipality is located in the former District of Mittelland. It consists of the village of Gais and several hamlets and individual farm houses.

Demographics

Gais has a population of 2,987 (as of December 2008). Of that population 373 are foreigners (in 2007 it was 351), which represents 12.49% of the total population. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at an annual rate of 1.5%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (93.7%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common (1.6%) and Italian being third (0.9%).

As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 50.3% male and 49.7% female. The age distribution, as of 2000, in Gais is: 217 people or 7.8% of the population are between 0–6 years old; 410 people or 14.8% are 6–15; and 152 people or 5.5% are 16–19. Of the adult population, 112 people or 4.0% of the population are between 20–24 years old. 758 people or 27.4% are 25–44, and 663 people or 23.9% are 45–64. The senior population distribution is 323 people or 11.7% of the population are between 65–79 years old, and 135 people or 4.9% are over 80.

In the 2007 federal election the FDP received 73.5% of the vote.

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gais about 73.7% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Gais has an unemployment rate of 1.01%. As of 2005, there were 130 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 57 businesses involved in this sector. 240 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 39 businesses in this sector. 600 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 119 businesses in this sector.

The historic population was;

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1667	1,870	—
1850	2,470	+32.1%
1900	2,854	+15.5%
1950	2,422	−15.1%
2000	2,770	+14.4%
2005	2,846	+2.7%
2007	2,885	+1.4%

Notable residents

• Albert Keller, painter born in Gais 27 April 1844.

Sights

File:Dorfplatz Gais AR 1.JPG

Wooden houses along the town square (Dorfplatz), showing the curved gables

The village is home to several Swiss heritage sites of national significance including the village square, the Protestant church of 1782, the former spa hotel Neuer Ochsen of 1796 and the Krone inn of 1781.

The old village, lined with traditional wooden houses with curved gables, was rebuilt following a fire in 1780 and has remained mostly unchanged since then. The houses along the town square (German: Dorfplatz) and on Webergasse are the center of the old village.

The Protestant Church was built in 1781–82 by Hans Ulrich Haltiner. The interior is decorated in a Rococo style. The interior work was done in 1782, from the shop of Andreas and Peter Anton Mosbrugger.

File:Evangelisch reformierte Kirche Gais AR 1.JPG

Interior of the Reformed Church in Gais

External links

• Gais in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons