Page "Aargau" Paragraph 7

Bern used the Aargau bailiwicks mostly as a source of grain for the rest of the city-state.

The administrative cities remained economically only of regional importance.

However, in the 17th and 18th centuries Bern encouraged industrial development in Unteraargau and by the late 18th century it was the most industrialized region in the city-state.

The high industrialization led to high population growth in the 18tf century, for example between 1764 – 98, the population grew by 35 %, far more than in other parts of the canton.

In 1870 the proportion of farmers in Aarau, Lenzburg, Kulm, and Zofingen districts was 34-40 %, while in the other districts it was 46-57 %.