Hard, Austria

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.

Hard
Coat of arms
Location in the district
Hard Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°28′00″N 09°40′00″E
Country	Austria
State	Vorarlberg
District	Bregenz
Government
• Mayor	Eva-Maria Mair (ÖVP)
Area [1]
• Total	17.46 km^2 (6.74 sq mi)
Elevation	398-400 m (−914 ft)
Population  (2018-01-01)[2]
• Total	13,495
• Density	770/km^2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6971
Area code	05574
Vehicle registration	B
Website	www.hard.at

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

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1869	2,305	—
1880	2,085	−9.5%
1890	2,183	+4.7%
1900	2,914	+33.5%
1910	3,637	+24.8%
1923	3,049	−16.2%
1934	3,387	+11.1%
1939	3,488	+3.0%
1951	4,788	+37.3%
1961	6,671	+39.3%
1971	8,887	+33.2%
1981	10,103	+13.7%
1991	10,747	+6.4%
2001	11,471	+6.7%
2011	12,546	+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.

External links

• Town of Hard