Schwaz

For the village in the Czech Republic, see Světec.

Schwaz (German pronunciation: [ˈʃvaːts] ^ⓘ) is a city in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative center of the Schwaz district. Schwaz is located in the lower Inn valley.

Schwaz
Municipality
Schwaz seen from the northeast
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Tyrol
Schwaz Location within Austria Show map of Tyrol, Austria Schwaz Schwaz (Austria) Show map of Austria
Coordinates: 47°21′00″N 11°42′00″E
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Schwaz
Government
• Mayor	Victoria Weber (Team Zukunft)
Area [1]
• Total	20.21 km2 (7.80 sq mi)
Elevation	545 m (1,788 ft)
Population  (2018-01-01)[2]
• Total	13,728
• Density	680/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6130
Area code	05242
Vehicle registration	SZ
Website	www.schwaz.at

Location

Schwaz lies in the middle of the Lower Inn Valley at the foot of the Kellerjoch and Eiblschrofen mountains. It is located approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of Innsbruck.

The city covers an area of 20.17 km² (7.79 sq mi).

Neighbouring communities include: Buch bei Jenbach, Fügenberg, Gallzein, Pill, Stans, and Vomp.

History

Schwaz has been firstly mentioned as „Sûates“ in deed dating back to 930–1.^[3] The Counts of Tyrol guarded Schwaz from nearby Burg Freundsberg. At the town's height during the 15th and 16th centuries, it was an important silver mining center, providing mineral wealth for both the Fugger banking family and, through them, for the Austrian emperors. During this period, its population of about 20,000 inhabitants made it the second largest city in the Austrian Empire, after Vienna.^[4]

Schwaz received its city rights in 1898 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	4,813	—
1880	5,124	+6.5%
1890	5,888	+14.9%
1900	6,545	+11.2%
1910	7,385	+12.8%
1923	7,033	−4.8%
1934	7,738	+10.0%
1939	7,523	−2.8%
1951	8,898	+18.3%
1961	9,455	+6.3%
1971	10,298	+8.9%
1981	10,929	+6.1%
1991	11,839	+8.3%
2001	12,212	+3.2%
2011	11,994	−1.8%

Economy

Three large industrial companies have their headquarters in Schwaz:

• Tyrolit – a globally active producer of bonded abrasives
• Adler Lacke – a family-run producer of coating systems
• DAKA – a regional waste management company

Notable people

Martin Hoellwarth, 2004

• Georg Scherer (1540 – 1605), a Roman Catholic pulpit orator and controversialist.^[5]
• Albert Jäger (1801–1891), an Austrian priest and historian who specialized in Tyrolean history.
• Maximilian Joseph von Tarnóczy (1806–1876), an Austrian Cardinal and Archbishop of Salzburg
• Cordula Wöhler (1845–1916), a German author of Christian poetry and hymns, lived locally from 1881
• Joseph Messner (1893–1969), an Austrian musician, composer and priest.
• Hans Köchler (born 1948), a retired professor of philosophy at the University of Innsbruck

Sport

• Traudl Hecher (1943–2023), was an Austrian World Cup alpine ski racer and Olympic medalist.
• Martin Höllwarth (born 1974), a former ski jumper and three time silver medallist at the 1992 Winter Olympics
• Hannes Aigner (born 1981), an Austrian former footballer who played over 400 games
• Michael Steinlechner (born 1987), an Austrian footballer who played 266 games
• Stephanie Brunner (born 1994), an World Cup alpine ski racer and team silver medallist at the 2018 Winter Olympics

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria

Twin towns – sister cities

Schwaz is twinned with:

Bourg-de-Péage Mindelheim Tramin Trento

Verbania Satu Mare Sant Feliu de Guíxols East Grinstead

Gallery

• 
  Aerial view
• 
  Eiblschrofen near Schwaz, seen from N.
• 
  Schwaz seen from NE, closer
• 
  Schwaz, Parish Church, consecrated in 1502
• 
  Tower (der Friedhofsturm) and bust from Ludwig Penz
• 
  View to a street