Hard
Coat of arms of Hard
Location in the district
Location in the district
Hard is located in Austria
Hard
Hard
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°28′00″N 09°40′00″E / 47.46667°N 9.66667°E / 47.46667; 9.66667
CountryAustria
StateVorarlberg
DistrictBregenz
Government
  MayorMartin Staudinger (SPÖ) (ÖVP)
Area
  Total17.46 km2 (6.74 sq mi)
Elevation
398−400 m (−914 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
  Total13,495
  Density770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
6971
Area code05574
Vehicle registrationB
Websitewww.hard.at

Hard is a town in the west of the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, directly on the southern shores of Lake Constance. Hard's attractions include the Strandbad and the Grünerdamm. Hard is also known for its skatepark.

An honorary consulate of Brazil is located in Hard.[3]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18692,305    
18802,085−9.5%
18902,183+4.7%
19002,914+33.5%
19103,637+24.8%
19233,049−16.2%
19343,387+11.1%
19393,488+3.0%
19514,788+37.3%
19616,671+39.3%
19718,887+33.2%
198110,103+13.7%
199110,747+6.4%
200111,471+6.7%
201112,546+9.4%

Geography

Hard has an area of 17.46 km² (6.75 sq mi). Hard is also located between the two rivers Bregenzer Ach and Rhine, and borders on the provincial capital Bregenz.

History

In the 7th century, Alemanni settled near Mittelweiherburg. Near Lake Constance, around the year 1200, large parts of the woods were cleared to build a village: Hard (Old High German for "forest"). The community of Hard was first mentioned in a charter from Pope Innocent IV to the monastery of Mehrerau in 1249.

In 1794, Samuel Vogel from Alsace opened the first Hard textile factory. In 1802, the "Allmenden" (common grounds) were suspended, resulting in private fields, pastures and forests. In 1997, the textile printing museum in Mittelweiherburg was opened.

Harder Schwabenkinder (Swabian children)

The Schleienlöcher nature reserve in Hard

From the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century, many poor Vorarlberg farmers sent their children to Swabia, Southern Germany, to do seasonal work there. These children were called "Schwabenkinder", the undertaking itself was referred to as "Schwabengehen".

Heraldry

The coat of arms of Hard shows two trees and a sailboat. They symbolize important early activities in Hard: logging and fishing.

References

  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. "Foreign representations in Austria". Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Austria). Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2009-01-28.


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