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Appenzell Ausserrhoden (German; French: Appenzell Rhodes-Extérieures; in English sometimes Appenzell Outer Rhodes) is a canton of Switzerland. The seat of the government and parliament is Herisau, judicial authorities are in Trogen. Appenzell Ausserrhoden is located in the north east of Switzerland, bordering the cantons of St. Gallen and Appenzell Innerrhoden. The area is 243 km² and population as of 2001 53,200.

1 History

Settlement in Appenzell started in the 7th and the 8th century alongside the river Glatt . The monastery of St. Gallen is of great influence on the local population. In 907 Herisau is mentioned for the first time, the canton (Appenzell: abbatis cella) is named first in 1071.

The canton witnessed a number of battles, including the Battle of Vögelinsegg ( 1403) and the Battle at the Stoss ( 1405Events Early feminist Christine de Pizan writes The Book of the City of Ladies Erection of Bath Abbey 1499) Publication of Bellifortis by Konrad Kyeser (book on military technology) Births October 18 Pope Pius II Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, Albania's nati).

In 1513 Appenzell joins the Swiss confederation as the 13th canton. In 1597Events January 24 Battle of Turnhout. Maurice of Nassau defeats a Spanish force under Jean de Rie of Varas in the Netherlands The first opera is considered to have been written. Bali discovered by the Dutch explorer Cornelis Houtman Births Pieter Saenreda the Protestant canton was divided for religious reasons from the former canton Appenzell, with the CatholicGeneral meaning Catholic means universal or whole''. With respect to the Christian Church, the early Christians used the term to refer to the whole undivided church. It is in that sense that all Christians today claim ownership of the term, including Prot Appenzell Innerrhoden being the other half.

From the 16th century onwards linen production was established little by little. Larger textile businesses established themselves, later diversifying into weaving and embroidery. The textile industry collapsed between 1920 and 1939.

In 1834 for the first time a constitution was adapted, undergoing reforms in 1876 and 1908. The construction of numerous railway lines between 1875 and 1913 helped the local industry and the population grew to a maxium of 57,973 people in 1910 (compared with 53,200 in 2001).

In 1934 Johannes Baumann was the first citizen from Appenzell Ausserrhoden to become a federal councilor. Women's right to vote was introduced in 1972 on a local level, but only in 1989 on a canton-wide level. In 1994 for the first time two women were elected into government. The open assembly ( Landsgemeinde) was abolished in 1997.