GENEVA, Switzerland, the capital of the canton of the same name; at the western ex tremity of the Lake Geneva, where the Rhone issues, here crossed by several bridges and dividing the town into two portions. The old city is irregularly built and has narrow, crooked streets, except along the river front, where there are several broad highways and well planned wharves; it is the financial and business section of the city. The Quartier Saint-Gervais, as the section on the opposite bank is called, is the residential section, with several large hotels for tourists, of whom there is always a great number in Geneva. The city contains many fine gardens, promenades, squares and parks, the most noteworthy being the Place des Alpes, the Place Neuve, the Promenade des Bastions, the Promenade du Lac and the Jardin Anglais. Boulevards occupy the site of the ancient walls of the city. The more important public build ings are the Cathedral or Church of Saint Pierre, a Gothic structure of the 10th, llth and 12th centuries; the town-house in the Florentine style; the Musee Rath, containing a collection of pictures, etc.; the university building, nearly opposite the botanic garden, rebuilt in 1867-71, and containing the public library, founded by Bonivard in 1551, and now numbering over 200,000 volumes; and the Museum of Natural History. There are several commercial and technical schools and academies of art and music. Geneva is an important manufacturing centre and particularly as a clock, watch and jewelry centre. There are also iron and chem ical works, and enameling, diamond-cutting and music box establishments. Scientific and surg ical appliances are manufactured on a large scale. It is favorably situated for commerce and exports its own manufactures chiefly, to France and Italy. Since 1847 many municipal improvements have been inaugurated, break waters protecting the lake harbor, and hydraulic plants supplying water to the city and power to the industrial establishments. The city owns and operates the gas and electric-lighting plants.
Geneva was a part of the territory of the Allobroges in Caesar's time, and afterwards part of the Roman Provincia Maxima Sequanorum.
The Franks took possession of it in 534 and about three centuries later it was incorporated wjth the kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy. In 1531 it became a member of the Swiss Con federation. The doctrines of the Reformation were preached here by Farel and were promptly accepted. In 1535 the Reformed religion be came the established religion and soon after Calvin was called to Geneva to become public teacher of theology. Through his teaching the town acquired an important influence over the spiritual life of Europe. In the 18th century the city was troubled by continued feuds be tween the aristocratic and popular parties, until 1782 when France and Sardinia intervened taking the part of the aristocrats. The French Revolution precipitated other troubles; the aris tocratic party was overthrown in 1794, equality of all citizens proclaimed, and a reign of terror set in. In 1798 the city and canton became part of France, as Department of Liman. At the Congress of Vienna Geneva again became inde pendent and gained additional territory. Dur ing the first three quarters of the 19th century it was the scene of perpetual strife betwen the clericals, conservatives and radicals. The refer endum was adopted in 1879 and 12 years later Initiative and Recall were introduced. The final battle between the political factions centred on the separation of Church and state, and resulted in the separation being carried by a referendum in 1907, and the triumph of the progressive par ties. In 1912 the canton purchased the central railroad station from the Paris-Lyon-Mediter ranee Company of France.
Bibliography.— Blavignac, sur Geneve' (Geneva 1872-74) ; Boissonas (Geneve I travers les siecles) (ib., 1900) ; Chapuisat, (La municipalite de Geneve pendant la domina tion frangaise 1798-1814> (2 vols., ib., 1910); Cherbuliez, (Geneve, ses institutions, etc.> (ib., 1868) ; Galiffe, (Geneve historique et archeo logique> (lb., 1869) ; Pictet de Sergy, (Geneve, ori?ine, etc.' (ib., 1843-47) ; id., ressus citee' (ib., 1869).