Settlement development of the largest Swiss cities

In its initial phase, the development of settlements in the 19th and 20th centuries was characterised by increasing urbanisation as a result of industrialisation and its associated rural exodus. The second phase featured de-urbanisation. These two opposing processes resulted in a significant increase in urban surfaces. As well as the construction of homes, thoroughfares were also built.

In the first phase, existing cities grew rapidly in just a few decades (e.g. Baden, Winterthur and La Chaux-de-Fonds) and new industrial cities emerged (Le Locle). While the old cities carried out new functions, the new cities were primarily geared towards industry. In the 19th century, working settlements emerged within walking distance of factories. It was only after the introduction of public transport systems (a horse-driven tram in Geneva in 1862 and in Biel in 1877, and electric tramways in Geneva and Zurich in 1894, and in Basel in 1895) and the bicycle (from 1869) that longer commuting distances became possible, little by little. Since industry was extremely decentralised in Switzerland from its very beginnings, populations were not particularly concentrated in any one area. However, there was increasing settlement growth, particularly in the Swiss Plateau.
The urban population, who formed around 10% of Switzerland’s inhabitants in the early 19th century and around 17% in the mid-19th century, rose to around 31% by the start of the 20th century. However, Switzerland continued to be characterised mainly by isolated cities and villages, and stand-alone farmsteads. The first sign that agglomerations were forming was when Zurich merged with surrounding settlements in 1893 and Basel did so in 1907. In the 20th century, the number of city-dwellers increased from one to over four million, which was almost a two-fold increase in its proportion of the population (43% city-dwellers in 1950 and 66% in 2000). The cities became agglomerations. Strong, mutual ties formed between city centres and the suburbs.
Next, settlement growth centred on valleys and parts of the Swiss Plateau. This impacted cities and small towns shaped by industry. The mountain areas (Jura, upper Swiss Plateau and the Alps) were the first to stagnate. However, tourism soon brought a revival (the first hotels in Zermatt opened in 1838, the first in St Moritz in 1852; and Kursaal Interlaken opened in 1859), and it had a broad impact to some degree.

At the turn of the 20th century, a counter-movement of urbanisation began. This movement increased in the second half of the 20th century, and was further strengthened by growing prosperity, increasing individual mobility and the search for a better quality of life. Rural settlements outside the agglomerations expanded and – sometimes by renovating old buildings – increased in value. Alongside this development, settlements in the mountain areas also saw their values increase through tourism and leisure (holiday and second homes).

Land use statistics from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) have provided reliable figures about Switzerland’s urban areas since 1972 on the strength of consistent definitions. For the final 30 years of the 20th century, there was a growth of urban areas (including thoroughfares) from 4.3% in 1972 to 5.9% in 1979-85, to 6.7% in 1992-97, which is an increase of 56% from 1,778 km² to 2,781 km². This increase is equivalent to the area of the Uri Canton.

In the 21st century, the urbanised proportion of the country continues to grow, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. From 1997-2009, urban areas again grew by 9%. To control advancing urban sprawl, the federal administration is urging that existing urban areas remain concentrated within their agglomerations.