Rüte
Rüte is the capital of the canton of Appenzell Outer Rhodes in Switzerland. It has a population of 2600 (2000, estimate). The area of Rüte is 4082 hectares.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms shows a golden crown on a black background. From the crown a swan's nack with a red beak emerges. This is a modified version of the coat of arms of the Schönenbühl family who were the landlords of the abbey in St. Gallen in the 13th century. The family formerly resided in a castle in Rüte.
Name
The name Rüte goes back to Reuten, which refers to the German word roden (wood clearing). The name originally comes from one of the two hamlets called Rüti.
Formation
The municipality was formally established in 1872 and did not undergo major changes since then.