Dreamy suburb awaits you. That is Kreis 12 Schwamendingen in Zurich. Once a distinct municipality, Schwamendingen became part of Zurich in 1934.
What does Schwamendingen offer today? Let us discover more about this place.
Schwamendingen is divided into three administrative units. These units are Schwamendingen Mitte Saatlen and Hirzenbach. These divisions are primarily for statistical purposes.
Did you know that “Zürich Nord” often includes Kreis 11 and Kreis 12? Both lie in the Glattal valley.
Let’s talk about the history of Schwamendingen. The name comes from an Alemannic settler. His name was Swabmund. So “Schwamendingen” means “among Swabmund’s people”.
In the 9th century, Picho gifted his Schwamendingen properties. He gave them to the Grossmünster in Zurich. Back then, the village was called Swamundinga.
Zurich took control of Schwamendingen in 1428. It became a separate district with surrounding hamlets. The Grossmünster remained the feudal lord. In 1461, it gifted a bell to the village church.
The Reformation changed Schwamendingen in 1526. Hans Schmid became the first Reformed pastor. The Grossmünster’s rule ended with the partial secularization.
Schwamendingen was once a farming village. The village offered horses and oxen. These animals helped pull carts up the steep road to Zurich.
World history touched Schwamendingen in 1798. A French army occupied the area. The locals had to pay for their lodging. In 1799, the Second Battle of Zurich occurred near Schwamendingen. French and Russian armies fought.
Oerlikon separated from Schwamendingen in 1872. Both became independent communities.
Industrialization arrived late in Schwamendingen. The railway line to Winterthur bypassed the village. It went through Wallisellen and Oerlikon. In 1906, a tram line reached “Hirschen”. It connected Zurich Oerlikon and Seebach. Schwamendingen got electricity in 1910.
Schwamendingen became part of Zurich in 1934. Initially it formed District 11 with other former municipalities.
In the 1950s, a construction boom increased the population. The population grew from 3,000 to 34,500 by 1966.
The district revision in 1971 created Kreis 12. The statistical office divided Schwamendingen into its three current parts.
Today, about 33,500 people live in Schwamendingen. The percentage of foreigners is above the city average. This might be because of lower housing prices.
The district has three Reformed churches. The St. Niklauskirche was first mentioned in 1270. The Stefanskirche Hirzenbach was built in 1954-1955. The Kirche Saatlen was inaugurated in 1964. Schwamendingen also has the Roman Catholic Church of St. Gallus. It was built in 1956-1957.
Schwamendingen is crossed by the A1 motorway. A 900-meter enclosure of the highway is planned.
Trams and buses connect Schwamendingen. The tram tunnel Milchbuck Schwamendingen is important. The Glattalbahn Line 12 connects Stettbach station with Zurich Airport.
Despite being near the airport, Schwamendingen faces additional noise from flights since 2003.
The urban development plan from 1948 shaped Schwamendingen. Mostly cooperative housing estates offer attractive spaces. Private gardens, communal areas, and green spaces enhance living quality. Renovations aim to preserve the garden city character.
Schwamendingen is not just a suburb. It is a community with its own unique story. It is also a place with attractive living for families.