SCHWYZ, a Swiss canton, which has given its name to all Switzer land. It is the wealthiest and most populous of the forest cantons (Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden), which were the first to assert their independence in January 1308, and to form a confederacy, which repulsed the force of the house of Austria at Morgarten; the men of those cantons became known by the name of Schwyzern, or Schweizern, which name continued to be applied to the Confederation in general after it was enlarged by the successive junction of other cantons; and lastly, the whole country formerly known in the Roman times by the name of Helvetia has been called Schweiz, or Schweizerland. [Siert. Selina:SD.] The canton of Schwyz lies on the west side of the high Alps of Glarus, of which the Glarnisch, 9000 feet high, is the loftiest summit. It consists of several long valleys between lower offsets of the Alps, the summits of which are from 4000 to 6000 feet high, and of a plateau or table-land in the centre of the canton. The principal valley, are the Waggi Thal in the north, the Sihl Thal in the middle, and the Muota Thal in the south. The waters of the northern part of the canton of Schwyz run in a north direction into the Lake of Zilrich; those of the central part flow north-west by the river Sihl into the Limmat ; and those of the southern part run southward into the Lake of Luzern. Besides bordering on those two lakes, the canton embraces within its territory the southern part of the Lake of Zug, and it also entirely incloses the small Lake of Lowerz, which is about two miles long and one mile wide, and the waters of which have an outlet southward into the Lake of Luzern. North-west of the Lake of Lowers, and between it and the Lake of Zug, is the valley of Golden, between Mount Rigi and the Rossberg. On the 2nd of September 1806 an enormous fragment of the Rossberg detached itself from the moun tain, and rolled down Into the valley, which still exhibits marks of this catastrophe.
The canton of Schwyz is bounded E. by Glarus ; N.E. by St. Gall, from which it is separated by the river Linth; N. by the Lake of Zurich ; W. by Zug, from which it is separated- by the ridge of Morgarten and by the Rolligrg ; S.W. by Luzern, the group of the
Rigi lying on the borders of the two cantons; and S., partly by the Waldstiatten Lake, or Lake of Luzern, which separates it from Unter walden, and partly by the canton of Uri, an offset of the Alps called the Rowitock, from 6000 to 7000 feet high, forming the boundary. Its area is 333 square miles. The population numbers 44,168, all Catholics but 155, who are Calvinists, and all native Swiss except 198. None of the mountains of Schwyz are covered with perpetual snow, the cold is therefore not so severe as in the other Alpine valleys, and cattle, which number about 20,000, are able to feed in summer as far as the summits. There are also a few sheep, and large herds of swine and flocks of goats. In the district of Einaiedeln the breeding of horses is attended to. A considerable quantity of cheese and butter is made. Corn is only partially cultivated; potatoes are a common article of food ; flax and hemp are produced in several districts; artificial grass Is sown in some places. There are vineyards near the borders of the Lake of Zurich, but cider is the common drink of the people. Kirschwasser is distilled. The forests form a considerable source of wealth. The canton exports butter, cheese, timber, firewood, cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs. It imports corn, wine, brandy, salt, coffee, sugar, and manufactures of various sorts.
The manufactures of the canton consist chiefly of linens, potash, soap, walnut-oil, wax-candles, tobacco, and gunpowder. There are also some breweries, and many saw-mills and lime- and brick-kilns.
Tho people of Schwyz are remarkable for their square athletic forms and muscular strength. Most of the houses are built of wood, covered with tiles, end warmed by stoves. The total number of land- and house-owners in the canton, at the census of March 1850, amounted to 5994. There are elementary schools in the various communes There is a college or gymnasium in the town of Schwyz, and a clerical seminary at Einsiedeln. There is also at Einsiedeln a deaf and dumb school. The language of the people is Swiss German.