Eschen

Eschen (German pronunciation: [ˈɛʃn̩] ^ⓘ; High Alemannic: Escha) is a municipality in the north of Liechtenstein. It covers an area of 10.3 km² (4.0 sq mi), and is one of the five communes in the Unterland electoral district. As of 2024, it has a population of 4,629 inhabitants.

Eschen Escha
Municipality
Eschen Parish Church
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Eschen
Eschen and its exclaves in Liechtenstein
Coordinates: 47°13′N 9°31′E
Country	Liechtenstein
Electoral district	Unterland
Government
• Mayor	Tino Quaderer (FBP)
Area [1]
• Total	10.3 km2 (4.0 sq mi)
Elevation	453 m (1,486 ft)
Population  (2023)
• Total	4,629
• Density	449/km2 (1,160/sq mi)
	[2]
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	CEST
Postal code	9492
Area code	7007
ISO 3166 code	LI-02
Website	www.eschen.li

Etymology

The name is considered to be of Celtic origin, derived from "esca" meaning "by the waterside".^[3]

History

Archeological evidence points to some pre-historic settlements in the region. Eschen was established as "Essane" during the Rätic reign in 842 CE. The name of the village Nendeln appears in written text from the 14th century CE. It is given by different names such as Nendla, Endlen, and Anndlen.^[3] The first lower secondary school was opened in Eschen in 1906.^[4]

Geography

Eschen is a municipality in the north of Liechtenstein.^[5] It covers an area of 10.3 km² (4.0 sq mi), and is one of the five communes in the Unterland electoral district.^[1] It shares international borders with Vorarlberg in Austria, and St. Gallen in Switzerland. Locally, it shares land borders with the capital of Vaduz, and other municipalities of Mauren, Schellenberg, Gamprin, Planken and Schaan.^[6]

As of 2024, it has a population of 4,629 inhabitants.^[2] The municipality includes the village of Nendeln, which has a train station on the Feldkirch-Buchs line.^[7]

Administration

Eschen is locally administered by the mayor and a ten member municipal council, elected every four years.^[8] The incumbent mayor is Tino Quaderer, since 2019.^[7]

List of mayors^[7]

Name	Term	Party
Josef Schlegel	1864–1870		—
Martin Öhri	1870–1873
Andreas Batliner	1873–1876
Johann Georg Hasler	1876–1879
Martin Öhri	1879–1882
Johann Gstöhl	1882–1888
Martin Öhri	1888–1889
Ludwig Marxer	1889–1898
Rochus Schafhauser	1898–1903
Johann Gstöhl	1903–1912
Josef Marxer	1912–1918
Josef Marxer (1877)	1918–1933		FBP
Josef Meier	1933–1951
Johann Georg Hasler	1951–1963		VU
Franz Meier	1963–1969
Alban Meier	1969–1972		FBP
Egon Marxer	1972–1987		VU
Beat Marxer	1987–1991		FBP
Günther Wohlwend	1991–1999		VU
Gregor Ott	1999–2011		FBP
Günther Kranz	2011–2019		VU
Tino Quaderer	2019–present		FBP

Economy

The headquarters of ThyssenKrupp Presta is located in Eschen.^[9] USV Eschen/Mauren is the municipality's local football club.^[7]

Notable people

• Josef Hoop (1895 in Eschen – 1959 in Chur) an attorney-at-law and was Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1928 to 1945.^[10]
• Gerard Batliner (1928 in Eschen – 2008 in Eschen) an attorney-at-law and was Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1962 to 1970.^[11]
• John Latenser Sr. (1858–1936) Native of Nendeln. Architect involved in several large public projects in Omaha, Nebraska of the US.^[12]