{{Infobox Canton|short_name=Aargau|
coord={{coor title dm|47|25|N|8|10|E|region:CH-AG_type:adm1st}}|
local_names=Kanton Aargau|
coa_img_path=Argovie-coat of arms.svg|
flag_img_path=Flag of Canton of Aargau.svg|
locatormap_img_path=Swiss_Canton_Map_AG.png|
cantonalmap_img_path=Karte Kanton Aargau.png|
capital=[[Aarau]]|
area=1404|area_rank=10th|area_scale=9|
population=579,489|population_rank=4th|population_asof=2006|
population_density=413|
since=1803|
abbr=AG|
languages=[[German language|German]]|
executive=Regierungsrat|executive_members=5|
legislative=[[Grosser Rat]]|parliament_members=140|
highest=Geissfluegrat|highest_m=908|
municipalities_number=232|
districts_designation=Bezirke|districts_number=11|}}
{{otheruses}}
'''Aargau''' ([[German language|German]] {{Audio|De-Aargau.ogg|'''Aargau'''}}; rarely anglicized '''Argovia''') is one of the more northerly [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] of [[Switzerland]]. It comprises the lower course of the [[river]] [[Aare]], which is why the canton is called Aargau (meaning ''Aare district'').

==Geography==
Its total area is 1,404 km², its population is 579,489 (as of 2006). The capital is [[Aarau]]. It borders [[Germany]] to the north. To the west lie the cantons of [[Basel-Landschaft]], [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]] and [[Canton of Bern|Bern]]. The canton of [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]] lies south of the canton of Aargau, [[Canton of Zürich|Zürich]] and [[Canton of Zug|Zug]] to the east.

The canton of Aargau is one of the least mountainous Swiss cantons, forming part of a great table-land, to the north of the [[Alps]] and the east of the [[Jura mountains|Jura]], above which rise low hills. The surface of the country is beautifully diversified, undulating tracts and well-wooded hills<ref name="eb"/> alternating with fertile valleys watered mainly by the Aar and its tributaries. The valleys alternate with pleasant hills, most of which are full of woods.

It contains the famous hot sulphur springs of [[Baden, Switzerland|Baden]] and [[Schinznach-Bad|Schinznach]], while at [[Rheinfelden]] there are very extensive saline springs. Just below [[Brugg]] the [[Reuss River|Reuss]] and the [[Limmat]] join the Aar, while around Brugg are the ruined castle of [[Habsburg]], the old convent of [[Koenigsfelden]] (with fine painted medieval glass) and the remains of the [[ancient Rome|Roman]] settlement of ''Vindonissa'' ([[Windisch]]).

==History==
[[Image:Aarau Altstadt.jpg|thumb|left|Aarau]]

Argovia was the border region between [[Alamannia]] and [[Burgundy]], and was a disputed territory between these duchies. From the end of the [[Hohenstaufen]] dynasty up to 1415, it was ruled by the [[Habsburgs]], and many historical old castles can be found there. Examples include Habsburg, Lenzburg and Wildegg. There are also a number of former monasteries, such as in Wettingen and Muri. All of these were founded by the Habsburg family. They were closed by the government in 1841, which was one of the causes of the civil war called the "[[Sonderbund War]]," in 1847 in Switzerland. Aargau is also believed to be the ancestral home of Reformist author [[George Mangold]] (1822-1894).

In 1415 the Aargau region was taken from the Habsburgs by the Swiss Confederates. [[Bern]] kept the south-west portion ([[Zofingen]], [[Aarburg]], [[Aarau]], [[Lenzburg]], and [[Brugg]]). Some districts, named the ''Freie Ämter'' or ''free bailiwicks'' (Mellingen, Muri, Villmergen, and Bremgarten), with the countship of Baden, were ruled as ''subject lands'' by all or certain of the Confederates.

[[10 March]] - [[18 April]] [[1798]] it was under French occupation, thereafter the Bernese portion became the canton of Aargau of the [[Helvetic Republic]], the remainder forming the [[Canton of Baden]]. In 1803, the two halves were united under the name of canton of Aargau,<ref>Bridgwater, W. & Beatrice Aldrich. (1966) ''The Columbia-Viking Desk Encyclopedia''. Columbia University. p. 11.</ref> which was then admitted a full member of the reconstituted Confederation. The [[Fricktal]], ceded in 1802 by [[Austria]], via Napoleonic France, to the Helvetic Republic, was shortly a separate Swiss canton under a ''[[Statthalter]]'' ('Lieutenant'), but on [[9 March]] [[1803]] became incorporated as part of the canton Aargau.
The chief magistracy of Aargau changed its style repeatedly:
* first two consecutive ''[[Regierungsstatthalter]]'' :
** April 1798 - November 1801 Jakob Emmanuel Feer (b. 1754 - d. 1833)
** 1802 - 1803 Johann Heinrich Rothpletz (b. 1766 - d. 1833)
* Presidents of the Government Commission
** [[10 March]] [[1803]] - [[26 April]] [[1803]] Johann Rudolf Dolder (b. 1753 - d. 1807)
** [[26 April]] [[1803]] - 1815 a 'Small Council' (president rotating monthly)
* annual ''[[Amtsbürgermeister]]'' 1815-1831
* annual ''[[Landammänner]]'' since 1815

In the year 2003 the canton Aargau celebrated its 200^th birthday.

For centuries, two villages in the Aargau, Endingen and Lengnau, were the only places in Switzerland where Jews were permitted to live. They were not permitted to own houses or to live under the same roof with Christians. For the slow process of Jewish emancipation in Aargau and Switzerland, see link below.

==Economy==
The farmland of the canton of Aargau is some of the most fertile in Switzerland. [[Dairy farming]], [[cereal]] and [[fruit]] farming are among the canton's main economic activities. The canton is also industrially developed, particularly in the fields of electrical engineering, precision instruments, [[iron]], [[steel]] and [[cement]].

Three of Switzerland's five nuclear power plants are in the canton of Aargau (Beznau I + II and Leibstadt). Additionally, the many rivers supply enough water for numerous hydroelectric power plants throughout the canton. The canton of Aargau is often called "the energy canton".

A significant number of people commute into the financial center of the city of [[Zürich]], which is just across the cantonal border.

Tourism is significant, particularly for the hot springs at Baden and Schinznach Bad, the ancient castles, the landscape, and the many old [[museum]]s in the canton<ref name="eb"> [http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9003207 "Aargau."] ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. 11 January 2007</ref>. Hillwalking is another tourist attraction, but is only of limited significance.

==Municipalities==
{{seealso|municipalities of the canton of Aargau|municipalities of Switzerland}}
There are a total of 231 municipalities in the canton of Aargau.

==[[Districts of Switzerland|Districts]]==
{{Canton Aargau districts}}

==See also==
* [[Aargauer Zeitung]]
* [[Spread of printing]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources and External links==
{{commonscat}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Aargau}}
*{{de icon}} [http://www.ag.ch Official website]
* {{HDS|7392}}
* [http://www.statistik.admin.ch/stat_ch/ber00/ekan_ag.htm Official Statistics]
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=3&letter=A ''Jewish Encyclopedia'':] aargau

{{Switzerland}}

[[Category:Aargau| ]]
[[Category:Cantons of the Helvetic Republic]]

[[als:Kanton Aargau]]
[[ar:كانتون أرجاو]]
[[an:Cantón d'Argobia]]
[[frp:Argovia]]
[[bg:Ааргау]]
[[ca:Argòvia]]
[[cs:Aargau]]
[[da:Aargau]]
[[pdc:Canton Aargau]]
[[de:Kanton Aargau]]
[[et:Aargau kanton]]
[[es:Cantón de Argovia]]
[[eo:Kantono Argovio]]
[[eu:Aargau]]
[[fr:Canton d'Argovie]]
[[gl:Argovia]]
[[ko:아르가우 주]]
[[id:Kanton Aargau]]
[[is:Aargau]]
[[it:Canton Argovia]]
[[la:Argovia]]
[[hu:Aargau]]
[[ms:Aargau]]
[[nl:Aargau]]
[[ja:アールガウ州]]
[[no:Aargau]]
[[oc:Canton d'Argòvia]]
[[pl:Argowia]]
[[pt:Argóvia (cantão)]]
[[ro:Cantonul Argovia]]
[[rm:Argovia]]
[[ru:Ааргау]]
[[scn:Canton Argovia]]
[[simple:Aargau]]
[[sk:Aargau]]
[[fi:Aargau]]
[[sv:Aargau]]
[[tr:Aargau (Kanton)]]
[[uk:Ааргау]]
[[zh:阿爾高州]]