St. Gallen District (German: Bezirk St. Gallen) was a former administrative district (Bezirk) in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The district was centered on the city of St. Gallen, which served as its administrative seat, and comprised a collection of surrounding municipalities.
Geography
The district was situated in the northeastern part of the canton, encompassing the urban area of St. Gallen and adjacent rural communities. It was bordered by the districts of Rorschach, Wil, and Toggenburg, and shared a western boundary with the canton of Thurgau.
Composition
Prior to its dissolution, St. Gallen District included the following municipalities:
- St. Gallen (the canton’s capital city)
- Muttenz
- Rorschach
- Kradolf-Schönenberg
- Wittenbach
- And several smaller localities.
(The exact list of municipalities varied over time due to municipal mergers and boundary adjustments.)
History
The district system in the canton of St. Gallen dates back to the 19th century, when cantonal authorities established districts as intermediate administrative units between the canton and the municipalities. St. Gallen District functioned primarily as a jurisdiction for judicial, educational, and statistical purposes.
In 2003, the canton of St. Gallen enacted a major administrative reform that replaced the traditional Bezirke with larger constituencies (Wahlkreise) for political representation and streamlined administrative functions. Consequently, St. Gallen District was dissolved, and its territory became part of the newly created Wahlkreis St. Gallen.
Demographics and Area
Before its dissolution, the district covered an area of approximately 160 km² (62 mi²) and had a population of around 150,000 residents, making it the most populous district in the canton due to the concentration of inhabitants in the capital city.
Legacy
Although no longer an official administrative unit, the term “St. Gallen District” persists in historical references, statistical archives, and some regional planning documents. The former district’s boundaries continue to influence contemporary discussions of urban planning, transportation, and regional identity within the canton.