View source for Zug

{{Short description|City in Switzerland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox Switzerland municipality
 | subject_name                 = Zug
 | image_photo                  = Zug Zytturm 1.jpg
 | image_caption                = View over Lake Zug with the old town of Zug and the [[Zytturm, Zug|Zytturm]]
 | municipality_type            = municipality, town
 | imagepath_flag               = CHE Zug ZG Flag.svg
 | imagepath_coa                = CHE Zug ZG COA.svg
 | pixel_coa                    =
 | canton                       = Zug
 | district                     = n.a.
 | iso-code-region              = CH-ZG
 | coordinates                  = {{Coord|47|10|05|N|08|31|01|E|type:city(31,000)_region:CH-ZG|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code                  = 6300
 | municipality_code            = 1711
 | area                         = 33.8
 | elevation                    = 425
 | elevation_description        = Landsgemeindeplatz
 | highest                      = Zugerberg
 | highest_m                    = 1039
 | lowest                       = Sumpf (Dorfbach)
 | lowest_m                     = 415
 | population                   = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-ZG|1711}}
 | populationof                 = {{Swiss populations YM|CH-ZG}}
 | popofyear                    = {{Swiss populations Y|CH-ZG}}
 | website                      = stadtzug.ch
 | mayor                        = Karl Kobelt
 | mayor_asof                   = 2018
 | mayor_party                  = FDP
 | mayor_title                  = Stadtpräsident
 | list_of_mayors               = List of mayors of Zug
 | executive_name               = Stadtrat
 | executive_number_of_members  = 5
 | parliament_name              = Grosser Gemeinderat
 | parliament_number_of_members = 40
 | parliament_since             = 1963
 | demonym                      = {{langx|de|Zuger/Zugerin}}
 | neighboring_municipalities   = [[Cham, Switzerland|Cham]], [[Baar, Switzerland|Baar]], [[Walchwil]], [[Steinhausen, Switzerland|Steinhausen]], [[Unterägeri, Switzerland|Unterägeri]]
 | twintowns                    = [[Fürstenfeld]] (Austria), [[Kalesija]] (Bosnia-Herzegowina), [[Vișeu de Sus]] (Romania)
}}

'''Zug''' (<small>[[Standard German]]:</small> {{IPA|de|tsuːk||De-Zug.ogg}}, <small>[[Alemannic German]]:</small> {{IPA|gsw|tsuːɡ̊|}}; {{langx|fr|Zoug}}; {{langx|it|Zugo}}; {{langx|rm|Zug}}; {{langx|la|label=[[Neo-Latin]]|Tugium}})<ref group="Note">Named in the 16th century.</ref> is the largest [[List of cities in Switzerland|town]] and capital of the Swiss [[canton of Zug]]. Zug is renowned as a hub for some of the wealthiest individuals in the world and is known for its high concentration of wealth.

The municipality had a total population of {{Swiss populations|CH-ZG|1711}} on {{Swiss populations date|CH-ZG}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-ZG}} The official language of Zug is the [[Swiss Standard German|Swiss variety of Standard German]], but the main spoken language is the local variant of the [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] [[Swiss German (linguistics)|Swiss German]] dialect.

==Etymology==
Its name, translating from German as "pull" or "tug", originates from the fishing vocabulary; in the [[Middle Ages]] it referred to the right to ''pull up'' fishing nets and hence to the right to fish. 

==History==
[[File:Stumpf-Chronik-Zug.png|thumb|View of Zug before 1547]]
[[File:Zug - Unterstadt - Zugersee IMG 2606.JPG|thumb|''Unterstadt'' (lower town) as seen from [[Lake Zug]] harbour]]
[[File:Zug - Oberstadt IMG 2611.jpg|thumb|''Oberstadt'' (upper town) in the [[Altstadt]]]]

===Prehistory===
The oldest evidence of humans in the area trace back to 14,000&nbsp;BC. There have been Paleolithic finds on the north bank of [[Lake Zug]], which come from nomadic hunters and gatherers. Archaeologists have also found over forty lake-shore settlements, known as [[pile dwellings]], on the shores of Lake Zug from the epoch of the first settled farmers in the [[Neolithic]] period (5,500–2,200&nbsp;BC). The peak in these lake-shore village settlements was between 3800 and 2450&nbsp;BC. For the same epoch, the first pre-alpine land use has been found in Menzingen and in the Ägeri valley. The well-known, historically researched lake-shore village ''{{'}}Sumpf{{'}}'' (the swamp), dated from the late Bronze Age (up until 850&nbsp;BC). Evidence from these finds resulted in a quite different picture of life in former times, which is on display at the Zug Museum for Prehistory. In addition, finds from the Iron Age (850–50 BC) and the Roman and Celtic-Roman time (from 50&nbsp;BC) have been unearthed.

===Kyburg foundation===
In around AD 600, Alemannic families and tribes migrated to the area of present-day canton Zug. The name Blickensdorf, and place names with '-ikon' endings, prove this as the first Alemannic living space.{{why|date=March 2018}} The churches of Baar and Risch also date back to the early Middle Ages. The first written document on the area originates from the year 858, and refers to King [[Ludwig the German]] giving the farm ''Chama'' (Cham) to the Zürich Fraumünster convent. At this time, the area of present-day Zug belonged to completely different monastic and secular landlords, the most important of whom were the Habsburgs, and who, in 1264, inherited the Kyburg rights and remained a central political power until about 1400.

In the course of the high medieval town construction, the settlement of Zug also received a town wall at some point after 1200. The town founders were probably the counts of [[County of Kyburg|Kyburg]]. The town, first mentioned in AD 1240, was called an "[[oppidum]]" in 1242 and a "[[castrum]]" in 1255. In 1273, it was bought by [[Rudolph I of Germany|Rudolph of Habsburg]] from Anna, the heiress of [[House of Kyburg|Kyburg]] and wife of Eberhard, head of the [[cadet branch|cadet line]] of [[Habsburg]].{{sfn|Coolidge|1911|p=1048}} Through this purchase it passed into the control of the Habsburgs and was placed under a Habsburg [[bailiff]]. The ''Aeusser Amt'' or Outer District consisted of the villages and towns surrounding Zug, which each had their own ''[[Landsgemeinde]]n'' but were ruled by a single Habsburg bailiff. Zug was important as an administrative center of the Kyburg and the Habsburg district, then as a local market place, and, thereafter, as a stage town for the transport of goods (particularly salt and iron) over the Hirzel hill towards Lucerne.

===Joining the Swiss Confederation===
On 27 June 1352, both the town of Zug and the ''Aeusser Amt'' entered the [[Swiss Confederation]], the latter being received on exactly the same terms as the town, and not, as was usual in the case of outer districts, as a subject land. However, in September 1352, Zug had to acknowledge its own lords again, and in 1355 was obliged to break off its connection with the league. About 1364, the town and the Aeusser Amt were recovered for the league by the men of [[Schwyz]], and from this time Zug took part as a full member in all the acts of the league. In 1379, the [[Holy Roman Empire|Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Wenceslaus, Holy Roman Emperor|Wenceslaus]] exempted Zug from all external jurisdictions, and in 1389 the Habsburgs renounced their claims, reserving only an annual payment of 20 silver marks, which came to an end in 1415. In 1400 Wenceslaus gave all criminal jurisdiction to the town only. The Aeusser Amt, in 1404, then claimed that the banner and seal of Zug should be kept in one of the country districts and were supported in this claim by Schwyz. The matter was finally settled in 1412 by arbitration, and the banner was to be kept in the town. Finally in 1415, the right of electing their ''[[landammann]]'' was given to Zug by the Confederation, and a share in the criminal jurisdiction was granted to the Aeusser Amt by German king [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]].{{sfn|Coolidge|1911|p=1048}}

The alliance of the four forest cantons of [[Uri (canton)|Uri]], [[Schwyz (canton)|Schwyz]], [[Unterwalden]] and [[Lucerne]] with the city of Zürich in 1351 set much in motion. The town of Zug was seen as having Habsburg ties with the cities of Zürich and Lucerne, and therefore had to be conquered. It is likely that this was more for political than economic reasons: the Lucerne market was very important for central Switzerland, but also strongly dependent on the city of [[Zürich]]. Zürich initiated a siege on Zug with the federal army in June 1352. Zug surrendered. On 27 June 1352 Zürich, Luzern, Zug, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden formed an alliance. Zürich's saw this 'Zugerbund' (Zug alliance) as an alliance of convenience. For the town of Zug, little changed, and Zug remained Habsburg. That same year, the Zug alliance was declared invalid by all parties. A period of Schwyz domination then followed. Only gradually did Zug become sovereign and federal.

Simultaneously, Zug expanded its territory, acquiring a number of rural areas in the form of bailiwicks ([[Walchwil]], [[Cham (Switzerland)|Cham]], Gangolfswil [Risch] [[Hünenberg]] and [[Steinhausen, Switzerland|Steinhausen]], and Oberrüti, now part of the canton of Aargau). Zug became a confederation in itself – with the town and its subject territories, and the three outer ('free') municipalities, [[Ägeri]], [[Menzingen]] (with [[Neuheim]]) and [[Baar, Switzerland|Baar]]. This problematic dualism dominated until 1798, i.e. until the end of the old confederation, the political structure of the Canton Zug. The unifying element of this miniature confederation was, among others, the rural municipalities and the forty-member city council.

===Growth of the town===
In 1385, Zug joined the league of the Swabian cities against [[Leopold III of Austria (Habsburg)|Leopold III of Austria]] and shared in the victory of [[Battle of Sempach|Sempach]], as well as in the various [[Aargau|Argovian]] (1415) and [[Thurgau|Thurgovian]] (1460) conquests of the Confederates, and later in those of Italy (1512), having already taken part in the occupation of the Val d'Ossola. Between 1379 ([[Walchwil]]) and 1477 ([[Cham, Switzerland|Cham]]), Zug had acquired various districts in its own neighborhood, principally to the north and the west, which were ruled till 1798 by the town alone as subject lands.{{sfn|Coolidge|1911|p=1048}}

In 1478, the building of a larger town wall began, which increased the town area six-fold – the same year as the building of the late gothic St. Oswald Church began. The building master of the new town wall was Hans Felder from Bavarian Swabia. The ground plan of the town wall is indicative of an ideal symmetric plan of the Renaissance period – something very rare at that time. The overall urban planning implemented in the small town of Zug was modern for its time.

===The Reformation and early modern era===
During the turmoil of the Reformation, Zug remained on the Catholic side of central Switzerland and retained the old faith. Warring religious confederates fought at Kappel am Albis (1531) and at Gubel in Menzingen. Its location on the edge of central Switzerland made Zug a confessional border town. During the Reformation, Zug clung to the old faith and was a member of the ''Christliche Vereinigung'' of 1529. In 1586, it became a member of the Golden League.{{sfn|Coolidge|1911|p=1048}}

The period up until 1798 was marked by internal political rivalries and turbulence. The invasion of the French troops marked the end of the old order, and with the Helvetic order came a radical political change. Zug became part of the canton Waldstätten, and the cantonal capital for a short time. After a 50-year struggle between federalism and centralism, between confederation and central state, between conservative and liberal-radical vision, in 1848, today's federal government of Switzerland emerged. Zug was given its current cantonal structure, consisting of eleven local municipalities.

===Industrialisation and internationalisation===
[[File:ETH-BIB-Zug, Übersicht v. S. O.-Inlandflüge-LBS MH01-001739.tif|thumb|Aerial view by [[Walter Mittelholzer]] (1919)]]

Until well into the 19th century, Zug consisted of agricultural land. Actual industrialization began with the entrepreneur Wolfgang Henggeler, who in 1834 built a cotton mill in Unterägeri. This was followed by the two companies in Neuägeri and Baar. In 1866, the American George Ham Page founded the first European condensed milk factory in Cham, which later merged with [[Nestlé]]. Industry in Zug was dominated by the company [[Landis+Gyr]], founded in 1896, and now owned by [[Toshiba]]. The connection to the Swiss railway network in 1864 was important, as was the connection of mountain and valley with an electric tram at the beginning of the 20th century.

In the second half of the century, dynamic expansion took place and Zug became a national and international financial and trading centre, aided by its proximity to Zürich, and by an attractive tax policy. In parallel, large industrial and commercial zones evolved; employment increased rapidly; the population rose sharply, and the building boom skyrocketed. Canton Zug catapulted itself into being at the top of the financially strong cantons. And the town today has become, as the British Guardian once wrote, 'a compass of the global economy'.

===Today===
Zug is a [[tax haven|low tax region]] and is headquarters for a number of multinational enterprises. The Expat City Ranking in 2019, based on a study of more than 20,000 respondents, rated the quality of life in Zug highest among all cities in the survey.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sibold |first=Laura |title=Die Stadt Zug ist bei Expats besonders beliebt |language=de |url=https://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/die-stadt-zug-ist-bei-expats-besonders-beliebt-ld.1174555 |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> The town's best-known agricultural product is [[Kirsch]]. 

On 27 September 2001, a [[Mental disorder|mentally-ill]] 57-year-old resident [[Zug massacre|shot 32 people, killing 14]] before killing himself in the cantonal parliament building (Parlamentsgebäude Zug).<ref name="bericht">[http://serien-killer.com/downloads/schlussberichtattentat.pdf Untersuchungsrichterlicher Schlußbericht] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006042522/http://serien-killer.com/downloads/schlussberichtattentat.pdf |date=6 October 2011}} (German)</ref>

[[File:Sunset over Zug.jpg|thumb|center|750px|Night view of Zug and its [[Lake Zug|lake]]]]

==Geography==
===Topography===
[[File:City of zug oldtown aerial view 老镇.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Zug]]
[[File:Aerial imagery of Zug Switzerland.webm|thumb|Aerial imagery of Zug.]]

Zug has an area (as of the 2004 survey) of {{Swiss area|1711|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|1711|QUELLE}}  Of this area, about 33.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.9% is forested.  Of the rest of the land, 26.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and 2.5% is unproductive land. In the 2004 survey a total of {{convert|353|ha|acre|abbr=on}} or about 16.3% of the total area was covered with buildings, an increase of {{convert|60|ha|acre|abbr=on}} over the 1982 amount. Over the same time period, the amount of recreational space in the municipality increased by {{convert|8|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and is now about 2.53% of the total area.  Of the agricultural land, {{convert|54|ha|acre|abbr=on}} is used for orchards and vineyards, {{convert|651|ha|acre|abbr=on}} is fields and grasslands and {{convert|39|ha|acre|abbr=on}} consists of alpine grazing areas.  Since 1982 the amount of agricultural land has decreased by {{convert|74|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.  Over the same time period the amount of forested land has increased by {{convert|2|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.  Rivers and lakes cover {{convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=on}} in the municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arealstatistik Land Use - Gemeinden nach 10 Klassen |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/raum-umwelt/bodennutzung-bedeckung.gnpdetail.2016-0436.html |date=24 November 2016 |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="SFOS2017">[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/regionalstatistik/regionale-portraets-kennzahlen/gemeinden/daten-erlaeuterungen.assetdetail.2422865.html Regionalporträts 2017: Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{in lang|de}} accessed 18 May 2017</ref>

===Climate===
{{weather box
 | location = Zug
 | metric first = Y
 | single line = Y
 | Jan high C = 5
 | Feb high C = 5
 | Mar high C = 10
 | Apr high C = 14
 | May high C = 17
 | Jun high C = 20
 | Jul high C = 23
 | Aug high C = 23
 | Sep high C = 19
 | Oct high C = 16
 | Nov high C = 10
 | Dec high C = 5
 | year high C =
 | Jan low C = -2
 | Feb low C = -2
 | Mar low C = 0
 | Apr low C = 3
 | May low C = 6
 | Jun low C = 9
 | Jul low C = 12
 | Aug low C = 12
 | Sep low C = 9
 | Oct low C = 6
 | Nov low C = 2
 | Dec low C = -1
 | year low C =
 | precipitation colour = green
 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
 | Jan precipitation days = 12.3
 | Feb precipitation days = 11.5
 | Mar precipitation days = 13
 | Apr precipitation days = 11.3
 | May precipitation days = 11.3
 | Jun precipitation days = 11.3
 | Jul precipitation days = 11.5
 | Aug precipitation days = 10.1
 | Sep precipitation days = 9.4
 | Oct precipitation days = 9.6
 | Nov precipitation days = 11.5
 | Dec precipitation days = 13.1
 | year precipitation days =
 | unit snow days = 1.0 cm
 | Jan snow days = 4.1
 | Feb snow days = 4.2
 | Mar snow days = 1
 | Apr snow days = 0.7
 | May snow days = 0.1
 | Jun snow days = 0
 | Jul snow days = 0
 | Aug snow days = 0
 | Sep snow days = 0
 | Oct snow days = 0.1
 | Nov snow days = 1.7
 | Dec snow days = 3.9
 | year snow days =
 | source 1 = Meteoblue<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klima Zug |publisher=Meteoblue |location=Basel (Oder), Switzerland |url=https://www.meteoblue.com/de/wetter/vorhersage/modelclimate/zug_schweiz_2657908 |access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>
 | date=
}}

See also climate of [[Lucerne#Climate|Lucerne]] and [[Zürich#Climate|Zürich]].

===Weather===
Zug has an average of 136.1 days of rain per year and on average receives {{convert|1224|mm|in|abbr=on}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. It has an average of 5.5 days per year with visibility reduced to less than 1&nbsp;km, the international definition of fog. The wettest month is August during which time Zug receives an average of {{convert|158|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 12.7 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is June, with an average of 13.7, but with only {{convert|156|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation. The driest month of the year is January with an average of {{convert|67|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation over 12.7 days.<ref name="MeteoSchweiz">{{Cite web |title=Temperature and Precipitation Average Values-Table, 1961-1990 |language=de, fr, it |publisher=Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology – MeteoSwiss |url=http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627163841/http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |access-date=8 May 2009 |archive-date=27 June 2009}}, the weather station elevation is 435 meters [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].</ref>

==Politics==
===Government===
The City Council ('''[[Stadtrat]]''') constitutes the [[executive (government)|executive]] government of the Town of Zug and operates as a [[collegiate authority]]. It is composed of five councillors ({{langx|de|Stadtrat/-rätin}}), each presiding over a department (''Departement'') comprising several bureaus. The president of the executive department acts as [[mayor]] (''Stadtpräsident''). In the mandate period 2015–2018 (''Legislatur'') the City Council is presided by ''Stadtpräsident'' [[Karl Kobelt]]. Departmental tasks, coordination measures and implementation of laws decreed by the Grand Municipal Council are carried by the City Council. The regular election of the City Council by any inhabitant valid to vote is held every four years. The current mandate period (''Legislatur'') is from 2019 to 2022. Any resident of Zug allowed to vote can be elected as a member of the City Council. The delegates are selected by means of a system of [[Majorz]] (since 2014). The mayor is elected as such as well by public election while the heads of the other departments are assigned by the collegiate. The executive body holds its meetings in the ''Stadthaus'' (Town Hall) on Kolinplatz.<ref name="SR">{{Cite web |title=Stadtrat |language=de |publisher=Town Zug |location=Zug, Switzerland |type=official site |url=http://www.stadtzug.ch/de/verwaltungpolitik/politik/stadtratred/?action=showthema&themenbereich_id=675&thema_id=1823 |date=2018 |access-date=28 June 2019 |archive-date=1 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601132545/http://www.stadtzug.ch/de/verwaltungpolitik/politik/stadtratred/?action=showthema&themenbereich_id=675&thema_id=1823 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of|October 2018}}, Zug's City Council is made up of two of FDP ([[FDP.The Liberals]], of whom one is also the mayor), and one each of CVP ([[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Christian Democratic Party]]), CSP ([[Christian Social Party (Switzerland)|Christian Social Party]]), and SVP ([[Swiss People's Party]]). The last regular election was held on 7 October 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadt Zug |language=de |publisher=Kanzlei, Kanton Zug |url=https://www.zg.ch/behoerden/staatskanzlei/kanzlei/abstimmungen-und-wahlen/zuger-gemeinden-wahlergebnisse/stadt-zug |date=7 October 2018 |access-date=28 June 2019 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402082841/https://www.zg.ch/behoerden/staatskanzlei/kanzlei/abstimmungen-und-wahlen/zuger-gemeinden-wahlergebnisse/stadt-zug |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ The City Council (''Stadtrat'') of Zug<ref name=SR />
! City Councilor<br />(''Stadtrat/-rätin'') !! Party !! Head of Department (''Vorsteher'', since) of !! elected since
|-
| [[Karl Kobelt (politician, Zug)|Karl Kobelt]]<ref group="SR">Mayor (''Stadtpräsident'')</ref> || {{Color box|{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}|border=darkgray}} FDP || Mayor's Office (''Präsidialdepartement'', 2019) || 2013
|-
| [[André Wicky (politician, Zug)|André Wicky]] || {{Color box|{{party color|Swiss People's Party}}|border=darkgray}} SVP || Finance (''Finanzdepartement'', 2019) || 2013
|-
| [[Vroni Straub-Müller]]<ref group="SR">Vice-Mayor (''Vizepräsidentin'')</ref> || {{Color box|{{party color|Christian Social Party (Switzerland)}}|border=darkgray}} CSP || Education (''Bildungsdepartement'', 2011) || 2010
|-
| [[Eliane Birchmeier]] || {{Color box|{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}|border=darkgray}} FDP || Engineering (''Baudepertement'', 2019) || 2018
|-
| [[Urs Raschle]] || {{Color box|{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}|border=darkgray}} CVP || Social Welfare, Environment, and Security (''Departement Soziales, Umwelt und Sicherheit (SUS)'', 2015) || 2014
|}
{{Reflist|group=SR}}

Martin Würmli is Town Chronicler (''Stadtschreiber'') since 2014 and presides the Town Office (''Stadtkanzlei''). He has been elected by the collegiate.

===Parliament===
===Federal elections===
====National Council====
In the [[2015 Swiss federal election|2015 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] with 25.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP]] (22.5%), the [[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]] (19.5%) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]] (17.2%). In the federal election, a total of 9,438 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 55.4%. The 2015 election saw a large change in the voting when compared to 2011. The percentage of the vote received by the SP increased sharply from 6.4% in 2011 to 17.2% in 2015, while the percentage that the [[Green Party of Switzerland|GPS]] received dropped from 21.3% to 9.5%.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/07/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Nationalratswahlen 2015: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung nach Gemeinden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802003536/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/07/03.html |date=2 August 2016}} {{in lang|de}} accessed 18 July 2016</ref>

===International relations===
====Twin towns – Sister cities====
After [[World War II]], Zug helped the town of [[Fürstenfeld]], [[Styria]] in [[Austria]]. In 1986 they decided to become sister cities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fürstenfeld - die Schwesterstadt von Zug |language=de |publisher=Town Zug |location=Zug, Switzerland |url=http://www.stadtzug.ch/de/ueberzug/ueberzugrubrik/partnerstadt/fuerstenfeld/ |access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Fürstenfeld]], [[Styria]] in [[Austria]], 1986
* {{flagicon|BIH}} [[Kalesija]], [[Bosnia-Herzegowina]], 2008

==Demographics==
[[File:Landsgemeindeplatz Zug.jpg|thumb|Landsgemeindeplatz]]

Zug has a population (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-ZG}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-ZG|1711}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-ZG}} {{as of|2014}}, 31.7% of which are foreign nationals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ständige Wohnbevölkerung in den Zuger Gemeinden, 2010-2014, nach Staatsangehörigkeit |language=de |publisher=Fachstelle für Statistik, Amt für Raumplanung, Kanton Zug |type=statistics |url=https://www.zg.ch/behoerden/baudirektion/statistikfachstelle/themen/01bevoelkerungszahlen/bevoelkerungszahlen |format=XLS |date=2015 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> Over the last 10 years [when?] the population has grown at a rate of 11.4%. Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks German (81.8%), with Italian being second most common (3.8%) and Serbo-Croatian being third (3.2%).<ref name="SFSO">[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] accessed 22-Sep-2009</ref>

In Zug about 76% of the population (between the ages 25 and 64) have completed either non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]] or additional higher education (either university or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO />

Zug has an unemployment rate of 2.28%. {{as of|2005}}, there were 172 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 51 businesses involved in this sector. 5,821 people are employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there are 269 businesses in this sector. 21,445 people are employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 3,205 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO />

== Sport ==
Zug is known as a hockey town in Switzerland. The town's main team is [[EV Zug]], which plays in the [[National League (ice hockey)|National League]] (NL). They play their home games in the 7,800-seat [[Bossard Arena|OYM Hall]]. The team has recently won two NL titles in [[2020–21 National League (ice hockey) season|2021]] and [[2021–22 National League (ice hockey) season|2022]]. EV Zug II plays in the Second Regio League, the fifth highest league in Switzerland. HC Zugerland plays in the Third Regio League, the sixth highest league in Switzerland. Zug also has numerous junior teams that compete in the different junior leagues of Switzerland.

There are also an amateur [[association football]] team, [[Zug 94]], which was formed in 1994 and one amateur Rugby Team, Zug Rugby Club,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zug Rugby Club |url=https://www.zugrugbyclub.com/}}</ref> in the national 3rd Division. They also have the largest junior (minis) club in Switzerland. They have had many junior players representing Switzerland at U18 & U19 Internationally. Additionally, there is an amateur [[floorball]] team, [[Zug United]]. Zug has a rowing club [[See-Club Zug]], which is repeatedly the highest ranked rowing club in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=See-Club Zug |url=https://www.scz.ch/}}</ref>

The Motorsports team and Global Championship League team and Global Champions Tour team [[Iron Dames]] is based out of Zug.

==Economy==
{{as of|2012|In 2012}}, there were a total of 40,166 people employed in the municipality. Of these, a total of 142 people worked in 42 businesses in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]]. The [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] employed 5,939 workers in 351 separate businesses. Finally, the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]] provided 34,085 jobs in 6,592 businesses. In 2013 a total of 15.3% of the population received social assistance.<ref name="SFSO2016">[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Regional portraits] accessed 2 May 2016</ref>

Since 2016, Zug has accepted [[digital currency]], first for small payments of municipal fees up to CH200. To reduce risk, Zug immediately converts any cryptocurrency received into Swiss francs. This is part of a strategy to associate Zug with new technologies.<ref name="dwf20160701">{{Cite news |last=Uhlig/jse |first=Christian |title=Alpine 'Crypto Valley' pays with Bitcoins |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |work=DW Finance |url=http://www.dw.com/en/alpine-crypto-valley-pays-with-bitcoins/a-19371082? |date=1 July 2016 |access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ritter |first=Johannes |title=Schweizer kömmen im Kanton Zug jetzt Steurn in Bitcoin zahlen |trans-title=The Swiss can now pay taxes in Bitcoin in the canton of Zug |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/digitec/kryptowaehrung-steuerzahlung-in-der-schweiz-mit-bitcoin-und-ether-17206042.html |url-access=subscription |date=19 February 2021}}</ref> Zug is a popular location for incorporation of companies, such as [[Siemens Building Technologies]], and [[Nord Stream AG]]. Zug has also been referred to as Crypto Valley because of the large number of companies engaged in [[cryptocurrency]] in the city. These include [[Ethereum]], [[Cardano (blockchain platform)|Cardano]], [[Polkadot (cryptocurrency)|Polkadot]] and Bitcoin Suisse.<ref name="dwf20160701" /> By 2018, a Crypto Valley Association had been formed, with Oliver Bussmann as its president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arnold |first1=Martin |last2=Atkins |first2=Ralph |title=European banks break ranks over cryptocurrencies |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2225e392-0f08-11e8-8cb6-b9ccc4c4dbbb |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2225e392-0f08-11e8-8cb6-b9ccc4c4dbbb |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |date=12 February 2018 |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref>

==Culture==
===Situation===
The lake shore has been embanked and forms a promenade, from which views of the [[Rigi]] and [[Mount Pilatus|Pilatus]], as well as of the snowy peaks of the [[Bernese Oberland]], are gained. Towards its northerly end, a monument marks the spot where a part of the shore slipped into the lake in 1887.

The older part of the town is rather crowded together, though only four of the wall towers and a small part of the town walls still survive.

The most striking old building in the town is the parish church of St Oswald (late 15th century), dedicated to [[Oswald of Bernicia|St Oswald]], king of [[Kingdom of Northumbria|Northumbria]] (d. 642), one of whose arms was brought to Zug in 1485. The town hall, also a 15th-century building, now houses the Historical and Antiquarian Museum. There are some quaint old painted houses close by. A little way higher up the hillside is a [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] convent in a striking position, close to the town wall and leaning against it. Still higher, and outside the old town, is the fine new parish church of St Michael, consecrated in 1902.

The business quarter is on the rising ground north of the old town, near the railway station. Several fine modern buildings rise on or close to the shore in the town and to its south, whilst to the southwest is a convent of Capuchin nuns, who manage a large girls' school and several other educational establishments.

The ''Museum of Prehistory Zug'' houses an important collection of archaeological remains, especially from the late [[Bronze Age]] ([[urnfield culture]]) settlement of [[Zug-Sumpf]]. Many of [[Catharine II of Russia]]'s relatives descended from Zug and became known as the [[Volga German]]s.

===Museums===
There are three museums in the town: the Museum of Prehistory, which displays archaeological finds from Canton Zug; the castle houses the Museum of Cultural History of the town and Canton Zug, and the Zug Art Gallery attracts visitors with its exhibitions. Several municipalities also have their own local museum. The Casino Theatre in Zug and the Zug ''Burgbachkeller'', along with the ''Chollerhalle'' cultural center, are the most famous establishments. The event centers in Baar, Cham and Rotkreuz and the Zug youth scene (Galvanik, Podium Industrie 45) enrich the range of cultural events.

Zug is surrounded with mountains, rivers and lakes including the mountains Zugerberg and the Walchwilerberg Oberallmig, the Höhronen and the river Sihl. The Choller nature reserve is also near Lake Zug.

Sights within the town include the late Gothic church of St. Wolfgang, near Hünenberg, or St. Oswald in Zug, the old town of Zug with the Town Hall and the [[Zytturm, Zug|Zytturm]] (clock tower), the [[Huwiler Tower]], the Zurlaubenhof, feudal estate of the family Zurlauben, on the outskirts of the town.

Zug's culture also includes the famous Zuger cherry liqueur cake. Local specialties, in addition to the cherry and the cherry liqueur cake, include the Zug 'Rötel', a fine lake charfish, found on many menus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zug Tourism |url=http://www.zug-tourismus.ch/en/welcome.cfm |access-date=20 March 2013 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101150946/http://www.zug-tourismus.ch/en/welcome.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[IG Culture Zug society]], an [[umbrella organization]] of museums, theaters, orchestras and other cultural organizations, was founded in Zug in 1995. The society publishes calendars and a magazine of cultural events in the canton. In 2019 it had 167 members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verein – Zug Kultur |url=https://www.zugkultur.ch/igkulturzug/verein/ |access-date=19 October 2020}}</ref>

===Heritage sites===
There are a number of Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage sites of national significance]] in Zug. These include two libraries, the Library of the former Capuchin monastery and the library of the [[parish church]] of St. Michael. One archeological site, the ''Sumpf'' a late Bronze Age lake shore settlement, is included, as are three museums; the ''Burg'' (Castle museum), ''Kunsthaus'' (Art museum) and ''Museum für Urgeschichte'' (Museum for ancient history). There are three archives that are included in the list; ''Bürgerarchiv Zug'' (Citizen's archive of Zug), ''Staatsarchiv Zug'' (State/Canton of Zug archive) and the ''Unternehmensarchiv der Landis & Gyr AG'' (Landis & Gyr AG company archives). The rest of the sites are the Catholic Church of St. Oswald with [[Charnel house]], the [[Seminary]] of St. Michael, the town walls and several buildings in the old town of Zug.<ref>[http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501142322/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html |date=1 May 2009}} 21.11.2008 version, {{in lang|de}} accessed 22-Sep-2009</ref>

The prehistoric settlements at Oterswil/Insel Eielen, Riedmatt and Sumpf are part of the [[Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps]] a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref name="UNESCO">{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1363/}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Zug Pfarrbibliothek St. Michael Pfrundhaus St. Konrad 6.jpg|Library of the Zug Parish Church
File:Kunsthaus Zug.jpg|''Kunsthaus'' or Art Museum
File:Picswiss ZG-04-20.jpg|[[Zug Castle]], now a museum
File:Kapuziner Kloster - Kirche St. Anna, Zug.jpg|Capuchin Cloister, Church of St. Anne, Zug (2023) by Elena Ternovaja
File:Kapuziner Kloster, Kirche St Anna, Decke, Zug.jpg|Ceiling of the Capuchin cloister, Church of St Anne, Zug (2023) by Elena Ternovaja
</gallery>

==Education==
The Zug education system is based on equal abilities and includes compulsory primary and secondary school, with optional secondary education and vocational training. Two thirds of young people go into vocational education, connected to an apprenticeship, joining the professional world after the 9th grade of secondary school. The international business community of Zug offers many and varied apprenticeships along with the Zug technical and industrial college, GIBZ, and the business college, KBZ, provide the academic knowledge and skills.

Zug has a long tradition of education. Private schools, like the Montana Institute Zug, on Zugerberg, International School of Zug or Lucerne (ISZL), or the Dr. Pfister Institute AG, Oberägeri supplement the range available. In addition, there are the three former non-state teacher training colleges in Menzingen, Holy Cross in Cham and St. Michael in Zug.

===Tertiary education===
Canton Zug has two high schools: the Canton High School in the town of Zug, and the Cantonal School in Menzingen. Also at higher secondary level, is the Vocational School Zug and the Business Studies School, incorporated within the Canton School. Zug is one of the university cantons, with, on the one hand, the University of Teacher Training, PHZ Zug, on the other, a polytechnic for financial services.

There are also six technical colleges (for business, computer science, engineering design, naturopathy and homeopathy, child education, and rescue services).

In 2022 the European Institute of Management and Technology (EIMT) has been duly established in the Canton of Zug, Switzerland as a Business, Management and Technology Tertiary education school offering bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees, through online, onsite or hybrid mediums and through other schools worldwide under the aegis of the laws, regulations and authorities of Switzerland. The European Institute of Management and Technology has been granted Accreditation for two years by the Diplomatic Research and Policy Foundation (DRPF). Diplomatic Research and Policy Foundation is a prestigious Intergovernmental Organization a Government recognized Accreditation Agency founded by Ministry of Education and Science, Republic of Macedonia and Ministry of Diaspora, Republic of Albania. The same is now graced by the presence of Ministry of Labour and Social Service, Government of Kosovo.

===International Schools===
The range of educational institutions is a key factor for location in the globalized world of competition, especially for foreign employees, the so-called 'Expats'. The four international schools have been developed accordingly, and report a high student intake.

==Transportation==
[[File:Bahnhof Zug.jpg|thumb|The railway station]]
[[File:MS Zug Schiffsstation Bahnhof Einsteigen.jpg|thumb|''MS Zug'']]
Zug acts as an important transportation node.

An extensive bus network within the town and canton is provided by [[Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe|ZVB Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe]].<ref name="ZVB">{{Cite web |title=Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe |publisher=Zug Town |url=http://www.zvb.ch |access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>

The [[Swiss Federal Railways]] link at [[Zug railway station]] for Cham – [[Horgen]] – [[Zürich]], [[Steinhausen, Switzerland|Steinhausen]] – [[Affoltern am Albis]], [[Arth-Goldau]] – [[Gotthard Rail Tunnel|St. Gotthard]] – [[Ticino]] and Italy, and [[Risch-Rotkreuz|Rotkreuz]] – [[Luzern]]. Zug is the hub of the [[Zug Stadtbahn]] (an [[S-Bahn]]-style [[commuter rail]] network). The network consisted of the following lines:
* {{rcb|Zug Stadtbahn|1|inline=croute}}: [[Baar ZG|Baar]]–[[Zug railway station|Zug]]–[[Cham, Switzerland|Cham]]–[[Rotkreuz railway station|Rotkreuz]]–([[Luzern]]) (also {{rcb|Lucerne S-Bahn|1|inline=croute}} of the [[Lucerne S-Bahn]])
* {{rcb|Zug Stadtbahn|2|inline=croute}}: [[Baar Lindenpark railway station|Baar Lindenpark]]–[[Zug railway station|Zug]]–[[Walchwil]]–[[Arth-Goldau railway station|Arth-Goldau]]–([[Erstfeld railway station|Erstfeld]])

Zug is also at the end of [[Zürich S-Bahn]] suburban railway network, on lines [[S5 (ZVV)|S5]] and [[S24 (ZVV)|S24]].

The [[Zugerbergbahn]] is a funicular linking the Zug suburb of [[Schönegg, Zug|Schönegg]] (558&nbsp;m) with the [[Vordergeissboden]] (literally: anterior goat terrain, 925&nbsp;m), the plateau of the [[Zugerberg]] overlooking the town and Lake Zug.

The [[A4 (Switzerland)|A4]] motorway and other main roads connect Zug with the rest of the nation.

Water transportation on [[Lake Zug]] is centred on the town, with public transport on the lake provided by (Motor Ship) ''MS Zug'', ''MS Schwyz'', ''MS Rigi'' and ''MS Schwan''. These vessels belong to the Zugersee Schifffahrt, a partner of the local public transport executive, ZVB Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe.

The nearest airport is [[Zurich Airport]], located {{convert|49|km|0|abbr=on}} north east of Zug.

== Notable people ==
[[File:Simonetta Sommaruga 2011.jpg|140px|thumb|Simonetta Sommaruga, 2011]]
[[File:Georges Stuber (1954).png|140px|thumb|Georges Stuber, 1954]]
* [[Johannes Brandenberg]] (1660–1729), a painter of pastoral subjects, historical pictures and battle-pieces
* [[Béat Fidèle Antoine Jean Dominique de La Tour-Châtillon de Zurlauben]] (1720–1799), soldier in the French army and Swiss historian
* [[Henric Trenk]] (1818–1892), a Romanian painter and graphic artist of Romantic landscapes
* [[Helen Keiser]] (1926-2013), a writer, painter and photographer
* [[Walo Lüönd]] (1927–2012), a movie actor<ref>{{Cite news |title=Schauspieler Walo Lüönd gestorben |newspaper=[[Luzerner Zeitung]] |url=https://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/zentralschweiz/zug/schauspieler-walo-lueoend-gestorben-ld.37543}}</ref>
* [[Marc Rich]] (1934–2013), controversial businessman, founded [[Glencore]] (the largest company in Switzerland) and funded the early-growth of Kanton Zug.
* [[Carl Rütti]] (born 1949), a notable composer who writes choral music
* [[Simonetta Sommaruga]] (born 1960), a politician, current member of the [[Swiss Federal Council]], became President of the Swiss Confederation in 2015
* [[Roland Dahinden]] (born 1962), a trombonist and composer
* [[Severin Hacker]] (born 1984), a computer scientist, co-founded [[Duolingo]]
* [[Max Husmann]], (1888–1965), Swiss peacemaker ([[Operation Sunrise (World War II)|Operation Sunrise]]), educator and founder of [[Institut Montana Zugerberg]]
* [[Mirjam Indermaur]] (born 1967), Swiss businesswoman and writer
* [[Andreas Blum]] (1938–2024), actor and radio journalist

; Sport
* [[Georges Stuber]] (1925–2006), a football goalkeeper who played 14 times for Switzerland
* [[Karl Fridlin]] (born 1935), a former swimmer, competed at the [[1960 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Fritz Schmid (football manager)|Fritz Schmid]] (born 1959), a football coach, currently the manager of the [[New Zealand men's national football team]]
* [[Lionel Donato]] (born 1964), Swiss former professional footballer
* [[Patrick Fischer]] (born 1975), head coach of the [[Swiss national ice hockey team]]
* [[Nadia Styger]] (born 1978), a former World Cup alpine ski racer.
* [[Christoph Schmid]] (born 1982), a sport shooter, competed in the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Sibylle Scherer]] (born 1992), a handballer who plays for [[LK Zug]] and the Switzerland national team
* [[Jad Smaira]] (born 2003), Lebanese footballer

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===References===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite encyclopedia| title = Zug
 | edition = 11th
 | last = Coolidge | first = William Augustus Brevoort
 | author-link = W. A. B. Coolidge
 | encyclopedia = [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition|Encyclopædia Britannica]]
 | editor-last = Chisholm | editor-first = Hugh | editor-link = Hugh Chisholm
 | publisher = Cambridge University Press | via = [[Internet Archive]]
 | url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediabri28chisrich/page/1048/mode/1up
 | date = 1911
}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Zug}}
* {{official website|http://www.stadtzug.ch}} {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.zvb.ch ZVB Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe]

{{Municipalities of the canton of Zug}}
{{Cantons of Switzerland}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Zug| ]]
[[Category:1350s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1352 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:14th-century establishments in the Old Swiss Confederacy]]
[[Category:13th-century establishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Canton of Zug]]
[[Category:Cantonal capitals of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Free imperial cities]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the canton of Zug]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 7th century]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Zug]]