History of Zürich in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 22, 2024

Zürich, the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the canton of Zürich, is situated in north-central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. Its population as of January 2023 was 443,037, with a metropolitan area of 1.83 million. A hub for transportation, Zürich boasts the country's largest and busiest airport and railway station.

1916: Dada Movement Founded

The influential Dada art movement was established in Zürich in 1916 at the Cabaret Voltaire.

1922: Augusto Giacometti Wins Amtshaus I Entrance Hall Painting Competition

Artist Augusto Giacometti emerged victorious in a competition held this year for the commission to paint the entrance hall of Amtshaus I in Zürich. This project aimed to enhance the ambiance of the formerly dim space and offer support to local artists facing economic challenges.

August 1928: First Weltklasse Zürich

The inaugural Weltklasse Zürich, a renowned one-day athletics meet, took place in August 1928, marking the beginning of a tradition of record-breaking performances.

1929: UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Zürich hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships for the first time in 1929 at the Oerlikon Velodrome.

1933: Establishment of Refugee Aid Committee

The central committee for refugee aid was established in Zürich in 1933 to help persecuted Jews seeking refuge in Switzerland.

1934: Expansion of Zürich

In 1934, the city of Zürich expanded by incorporating eight additional districts located to its north and west.

1934: Second Large Expansion of Zürich

In 1934, the city of Zürich underwent its second significant expansion, merging with numerous surrounding municipalities that had been experiencing increasing interconnectedness since the 19th century.

1939: World Ice Hockey Championships

Zürich was a co-host city for the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1939.

July 1947: Record High Temperature

The highest temperature ever recorded in Zürich was 37.7 °C (100 °F), occurring in July 1947.

1953: World Ice Hockey Championships

The city of Zürich co-hosted the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1953.

1954: Zürich Hosts FIFA World Cup

Zürich was chosen as one of the host cities for the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

1970: Religious Demographics of Zürich Show 53% Swiss Reformed and 40% Roman Catholic

In this year, a significant portion of Zürich's population identifies as either Swiss Reformed (53%) or Roman Catholic (almost 40%).

1970: Jewish Population in Zürich Remains Stable at 1%

Since this year, the population of Jewish ethnicity and those practicing Judaism in Zürich has remained relatively consistent at around 1%.

1983: UCI Track Cycling World Championships

The Oerlikon Velodrome in Zürich hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships for the sixth and final time in 1983.

1986: Lions City Campaign

The City Vereinigung launched the city campaign in 1986 with a "lions" theme, featuring decorated lion sculptures placed throughout Zürich's city center.

1990: Decline in Roman Catholic Church Membership Begins in Zürich

Around this year, the Roman Catholic Church in Zürich began experiencing a consistent decline in membership.

1991: Knabenschiessen Opens to Female Participants

The Knabenschiessen, a traditional target shooting competition in Zürich, allowed female participants to compete for the first time in 1991.

1992: First Street Parade

The inaugural Street Parade, a techno and dance music festival, took place in Zürich in 1992 with around 1,000 attendees.

1996: Land Use in Zürich

As of 1996, excluding the lake area, the land within the municipality of Zürich was allocated as follows: 45.4% for residential, industrial, and commercial purposes; 15.5% for transportation infrastructure; 26.5% for forests; 11% for agriculture; and 1.2% for water bodies.

1998: Cows City Campaign

In 1998, the city campaign in Zürich featured decorated cow sculptures, inspiring the CowParade concept later adopted by other major cities worldwide.

1998: World Ice Hockey Championships

Zürich hosted the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1998.

2000: Census Highlights 8.8% of Zürich Residents Speak English at Home

A census conducted this year indicated that 8.8% of Zürich's inhabitants speak English in their family environment, a notable increase from previous years.

2000: Regulations on High-Rise Buildings Become More Flexible in Zürich

Around this year, Zürich experienced a shift in its approach to urban planning as regulations surrounding high-rise buildings became more adaptable, paving the way for new architectural projects.

2000: Number of Religiously Unaffiliated Individuals Rises to 17% in Zürich

By this year, the number of people in Zürich who do not identify with any religious confession rose significantly to 17%, reflecting a trend observed since 1970.

2000: Muslim Population in Zürich Stands at 5%

In this year, Muslims constituted 5% of Zürich's population, marking a slight decrease of 1% compared to previous years.

2001: Street Parade Reaches One Million

By 2001, the Street Parade in Zürich had grown significantly, attracting an impressive one million participants.

2003: Benches City Campaign

Zürich's city campaign in 2003 showcased decorated benches as part of its public art exhibition.

2005: Legal Recognition of Jewish Communities

The canton of Zürich officially recognized Jewish religious communities as legal entities in 2005, granting them equal status to national churches.

2005: Teddy Bears City Campaign

The city campaign in Zürich featured decorated teddy bear sculptures in 2005, adding a whimsical touch to public spaces.

August 2007: New Letzigrund Stadium Opens

August 2007 marked the opening of the new Letzigrund Stadium in Zürich, completed in record time following the demolition of its predecessor.

2007: ETH Zurich and University of Zurich Ranked Among Top 50 World Universities

Both ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich earned places among the top 50 universities globally in rankings conducted this year.

2007: SWX Records CHF 1,780,499.5 Million Exchange Turnover

The SWX, now known as SIX Swiss Exchange, achieved an exchange turnover of CHF 1,780,499.5 million this year.

2007: New FIFA Headquarters Inaugurated

The new FIFA headquarters building, designed by architect Tilla Theus, was officially opened in Zürich in 2007.

November 2008: CO2 Emission Reduction Target

In November 2008, the citizens of Zürich voted in a public referendum to establish a legally binding target of reducing CO2 emissions to one tonne per person per year by 2050.

2008: Zürich Hosts UEFA Euro 2008

As one of the eight host cities for UEFA Euro 2008, Zürich hosted matches at the Letzigrund Stadium.

2008: Average Monthly Income in Zürich Approximately CHF 7000 Before Deductions

In this year, the average monthly income for residents of Zürich was around CHF 7000 before deductions for taxes and social insurance contributions.

November 2009: "40 m (130 ft) is enough" Initiative Rejected in Zürich

On this date, the residents of Zürich voted against the "40 m (130 ft) is enough" initiative, which sought to restrict the height and development area of high-rise buildings within the city.

2009: Zürich Ranked 9th Among "World's 10 Most Powerful Cities"

A 2009 survey conducted by CityMayors.com placed Zürich in ninth place on its list of "World's 10 Most Powerful Cities."

2009: Flower Pots City Campaign

In 2009, the city campaign in Zürich brightened up public areas with an exhibition of huge, decorated flower pots.

December 2010: Census Shows 69.3% of Zürich Speaks Swiss German/Swiss Standard German at Home

According to a census conducted in December of this year, 69.3% of Zürich's population primarily uses Swiss German/Swiss Standard German in their homes.

2010: Census Reveals Shifts in Religious Affiliations in Zürich

The census conducted this year indicated a decrease in both Roman Catholic and Swiss Reformed Church members, with the figures standing at 30% and 26%, respectively.

2010: Zürich Records 12,994 Cases of Direct or Indirect Welfare Payments

This year saw an average of 12,994 cases per month involving direct or indirect welfare assistance provided by the state in Zürich.

2011: Baseline for Bicycle Modal Share

The "Masterplan Velo" sets a target to double the modal share of bicycle traffic by 2015, using the 2011 value as a baseline.

2011: Population of Zürich and Suburbs Reaches 1.17 Million

The combined population of Zürich and its surrounding suburbs reached 1.17 million this year.

July 2012: Unemployment Rate in Zürich at 3.2%

During July of this year, the unemployment rate in Zürich stood at 3.2%.

2012: Appointment of Town Chronicler

Claudia Cuche-Curti was appointed as Town Chronicler (Stadtschreiberin) in 2012.

2012: Launch of "Masterplan Velo"

The city council initiated a program known as "Masterplan Velo" in 2012, aimed at enhancing the city's infrastructure and appeal for bicycle traffic.

2012: Men's World Floorball Championships

Zürich hosted the Men's World Floorball Championships for the first time in 2012.

2013: Openair Literatur Festival Zürich Begins

The first edition of the Openair Literatur Festival Zürich, an international literary event, took place in 2013, organized by Literaturhaus Zürich and Kaufleuten.

2014: Temperature Fluctuations in March

In March 2014, Zürich experienced significant temperature variations. The highest temperature for the month reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) on a sunny afternoon of the 20th, while the lowest plummeted to −0.4 °C (31.3 °F) during the night/early morning of the 25th.

2015: Target Year for Doubling Bicycle Modal Share

The "Masterplan Velo" aims to achieve a twofold increase in the modal share of bicycle traffic by 2015, compared to the 2011 baseline.

2016: Non-Swiss Citizens Comprise 32% of Registered Inhabitants

In this year, data reveals that 32% of Zürich's registered inhabitants, a total of 133,473 individuals, do not hold Swiss citizenship.

2016: ETH Zurich Consistently Ranked Among Top 10 Universities Globally

Since this year, ETH Zurich has consistently maintained its position within the top 10 universities worldwide.

2016: Bike Tunnel Project at Zürich Main Station Initially Scheduled

The institution of a bike tunnel at Zürich's main railway station was originally part of a masterplan and slated for this year.

March 2017: Archeological Discovery

In March 2017, the remains of a woman who died around 200 BC were discovered during a construction project in Aussersihl. Buried in a carved tree trunk, she was found with various items, including clothing and jewelry.

2017: Zürich Recognized as 11th Most Competitive Financial Centre Globally

In this year's Global Financial Centres Index, Zürich secured the eleventh position among the most competitive financial centers worldwide, and it was ranked second within Europe, trailing only London.

2019: Zürich Home to 20 Universities, Colleges, and Institutions with 70,000 Students

By this year, Zürich boasted a robust educational landscape with 20 universities, colleges, and institutions of higher education, collectively accommodating around 70,000 students.

2019: Bike Tunnel Project at Zürich Main Station Postponed

The planned bike tunnel at Zürich's main railway station, initially scheduled for 2016, was delayed to at least this year, sparking criticism from groups like Pro Velo, who questioned the masterplan's effectiveness.

December 2020: Population of Zürich Reaches 421,878

As of this date, the population of Zürich is recorded as 421,878, solidifying its position as Switzerland's largest city.

2020: Appointment of Legal Counsel

Andrea Töndury assumed the role of Legal Counsel (Rechtskonsulent) for the City Council in 2020.

2020: Zürich Hauptbahnhof Passenger and Train Traffic

By early 2020, Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Zürich HB), the busiest railway station in Switzerland, was handling approximately 470,000 passengers and close to 3,000 trains daily.

February 2022: Zürich City Council Election

The most recent regular election for the Zürich City Council took place on February 13, 2022.

2022: Voter Distribution

Data on the distribution of voter percentages in the 2022 election was released.

2022: Start of Corine Mauch's Term

The mandate period for the City Council, led by Mayor Corine Mauch, began in 2022.

January 2023: Population of Zürich

As of January 2023, the municipality of Zürich had 443,037 inhabitants.

March 2023: Google Zurich Workers Stage Solidarity Movement

During March of this year, employees at the Google Zurich office initiated a solidarity movement. This action was coordinated with Syndicom, the IT workers' union, and aimed to advocate for a reduction in planned layoffs and oppose potential salary cuts.

May 2023: Composition of Zürich City Council

As of May 2023, the Zürich City Council comprises four representatives from the Social Democratic Party (SP), including the mayor, two members each from the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and one member from the Green Liberal Party (GLP).

2025: Target Year for Stadtverkehr 2025

The "Masterplan Velo" is an integral component of the broader Stadtverkehr 2025 framework, which outlines the vision for various modes of transportation in Zürich.