Vorderthal Parish, Schwyz, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Vorderthal Parish, Schwyz, Switzerland, ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, parish census, civil census, family history, area history, and military records.



Geography
As of 2006, Vorderthal has an area of 28 km2 (11 sq mi). The municipality is located on the lower level of the Wägital in front of the Gross Aubrig and the Gugelberg.

The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 35.3% - agricultural purposes
 * 59.8% - forested
 * 2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 2.9% - non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains)

History
The first mention of Vorderthal was in 1259 as Wegtal. Vorderthal was known as Vorderwäggithal until 1888.

The population history of Vorderthal is: 1850 - 636 inhabitants 1900 - 746 inhabitants 1941 - 1016 inhabitants 1950 - 930 inhabitants 2000 - 988 inhabitants

In 1785, the parish of Vorderthal divided from the parish of Wägital. A parish church was built in 1778, and in 1882 it was significantly refurbished. The parish church of St. Peter and Paul and the Farmhouse courtyards created the center of the populated area; only around 1900 did a modest street settlement develop.

Surrounding parishes
Altendorf Einsiedeln Galgenen Innerthal Schübelbach

Church Records
The parish of Vorderthal was known as Vorderwäggithal until 1888. It was established in 1786, but did not become a fully independent parish until 1816. Before 1786, it belonged to the parish of Wäggithal, in what is now known as Innerthal. Records are available from 1786 for baptisms, 1816 for marriages, and 1785 for burials. For records before 1786/1816, see the parish of Innerthal.

Digital copies of the church records can be accessed onsite at the Schwyz State Archives. The archive has an online inventory of the records for Vorderthal.

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876. Vorderthal belongs to the Ausserschwyz civil registration district. Records are only available in Switzerland. For further information, contact the civil registry office at:

Zivilstandsamt Ausserschwyz Unterdorfstrasse 9 Postfach 140 CH - 8808 Pfäffikon

Tel: +41 55 416 93 00

email: [mailto:zivilstandsamt@Freienbach.ch zivilstandsamt@freienbach.ch]

Duplicate civil registration registers are located at the Schwyz State Archives. Additionally, the archive has a partial inventory of its holdings. The following records are viewable in person:


 * Births before 1900
 * Marriages before 1930
 * Deaths before 1960

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Vorderthal prior to 1875:

Related sources
The town's website (in German) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Schwyz

Societies
Zentralschweizerische Gesellschaft für Familienforschung

Historischer Verein des Kantons Schwyz