In 1930 the aggregate population was 22,968 (only 55 to I sq.m. —the Grisons, the least densely populated had 46), of whom 22,249 were German-speaking, 594 Italian-speaking and 62 French-speaking, while 21,674 were Catholics, 1,251 Protestants and two were Jews. Since 1814 Uri has been administered by the bishop of Coire; previous to this date all the canton except Andermatt (Urseren) was in the diocese of Constance. The capital and largest town is Altdorf (pop. 4,261), indissolubly connected with the legend of William Tell (q.v.).
Uri forms an administrative district and contains 20 communes. The legislature of the canton is a primitive democratic assembly (Landsgemeinde) composed of all male citizens of 20 years of age. This assembly has met, uninterruptedly, since 1309, usually once annually, near Altdorf, on the first Sunday in May, but (1928) it has been abandoned. The procedure was controlled by many antique ceremonies. Uri is entitled to but one member in the Federal Nationalrat; he is elected by a popular vote. (See SWITZERLAND: Administration.) History.—Uri is first mentioned in 732 as the place of ban ishment of Eto, the abbot of Reichenau, by the duke of Alamannia. In 853 it was given by Louis the German to the nunnery (Frauenmiinster) at Zurich which he had just founded, and of which his daughter, Hildegard, was the first abbess.
As early as 1243 Uri had a common seal, and in the confirma tion of its privileges (1274) granted by Rudolf of Habsburg mention is made of its "head-man" (Amman) and of the "com mune" (universitas). It took part, with Schwyz and Unterwalden, in founding the "Everlasting League" (q.v.) on Aug. 1, 1291, defending its liberty in the fight of Morgarten (1315) and renew ing the League of the Three at Brunnen (1315). It took part in the victory of Sempach (1386), and (1512) the conquest of Lugano. At the Reformation Uri clung to the old faith. In 1798, on the formation of the Helvetic republic Uri became part of the huge canton of the Waldstatten and lost all its Italian possessions. In 1803 Uri became an independent canton again, with Ursern, but without the Val Leventina. It tried hard to bring back the old state of things in 1814-15, and opposed all attempts at reform, joining the League of Sarnen in 1832 to maintain the pact of 1815, opposing the proposed revision of the pact, and being one of the members of the Sonderbund in 1845. (See SWITZERLAND: History.)