Buchs, vibrant border town
Municipal population in 2001: 10’235
inhabitants, Municipal area: 15.96 km2
Highest point: Glannachopf 2’232 metres
above sea level

Buchs on the Alpenrhein - the river bordering the Principality of Liechtenstein - is the proud metropolis of the Werdenberg region. As a result of its energy policy merits, the cosmopolitan municipality bears the label «Energy City». Located at the junction of the East-West and North-South traffic flows, Buchs plays a dominating role in international rail as well as road traffic.

In medieval times the town belonged to the County of Werdenberg. In 1517 the Swiss confederate state Glarus acquired Werdenberg County together with Wartau. The inhabitants of Werdenberg County remained Glarus subjects for a full 281 years. The reign of the Glarus state came to an end with the fall of the former confederacy in 1798. In 1803 the Werdenberg County came under the jurisdiction of the newly-founded canton St. Gallen. Buchs retained Lake Werdenberg, while the Werdenberg Castle and township were awarded to the larger municipality of Grabs.

Influenced by the railway on a lasting basis, the municipality experienced an enormous economic upswing.
In 1858 the Vereinigten Schweizer Bahnen «United Swiss Railways» (VSB) inaugurated the Rhine Valley route, and in 1872 the Vorarlberg Railway opened the Feldkirch-Buchs branch line. The start-up of the Arlberg route in 1884 was the start signal for the skyrocketing increase in East-West rail traffic. The town’s structures changed.
A large freight terminal with warehouses was created in Buchs. Customs, postal and railway operations created new jobs. Shipping agencies settled in the area. Commercial and industrial companies developed their business activity. The two World Wars temporarily interrupted the progressive trend.

Buchs is characterised by a varied cultural and commercial structure.
Whereas companies of the service sector of the most varying nature predominate, the Werdenberg metropolis has become an important commercial factor specially for the chemical industry. Approximately one fourth of all enterprises in Buchs are active in trade and industry, compared with three-fourths of businesses in the service sector and about four percent in agriculture and forestry. Buchs offers over 5’500 jobs. The coexistence of the small-town centre and the rural surroundings is especially charming. Short distances enable the rapid alternation between residential area and the rich availability of jobs. The population growth resulted in new accommodations which offers outstanding quality of life and residential quality in a central location.

Buchs is international
The international Eurocity trains Paris / Rotterdam - Basel - Zurich - Buchs - Vienna / Belgrade exude a touch of the big wide world.

The Interstate Technical College (NTB) Buchs and the Interstate Vocational Training Centre (bzb) spread their reputations far beyond the national boundary. The «International School Rheintal» sincerely welcomes pupils of every single back-ground. It is accommodated in the former old people’s home Aeuli. Sauntering under trees in the city provides a special type of enjoyment. People of all skin colours crowd the banking and shopping centre. The Bahnhof Street and the Grünau Street - municipal «showcases» - offer lots of experiences, pleasure and surprises with their variety of well-looked-after, interesting and also exclusive shops and service businesses.

For more informations: http://www.buchs-sg.ch