Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aare, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains,[3] and is west of Zürich,[4] 58 kilometres (36 miles) south of Basel and 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Bern.

The old city of Aarau is situated on a rocky outcrop at a narrowing of the Aare river valley, at the southern foot of the Jura mountains.

[7] Newer districts of the city lie to the south and east of the outcrop, as well as higher up the mountain, and in the valley on both sides of the Aare.

The neighboring municipalities are Küttigen to the north and Buchs to the east, Suhr to the south-east, Unterentfelden to the south, and Eppenberg-Wöschnau and Erlinsbach to the west.

Near the location of the present train station, the ruins of a settlement from the Bronze Age (about 1000 BC) have been excavated.

The Roman road between Salodurum (Solothurn) and Vindonissa passed through the area, along the route now covered by the Bahnhofstrasse.

In 1976 divers in the Aare found part of a seven-meter wide wooden bridge from the late Roman times.

Agnes of Kyburg, who had no male relations, sold the family's lands to King Rudolf I von Habsburg.

A growth in population during the 16th Century led to taller buildings and denser construction methods.

German immigration contributed to the city's favorable conditions, in that they introduced the cotton and silk factories.

In 1820 the city wall was torn down, with the exception of the individual towers and gates, and the defensive ditches were filled in.

Other industries had developed by that time to replace it, including the production of mathematical instruments, shoes and cement.

It developed a good reputation, and was home to Nobel Prize winners Albert Einstein, Paul Karrer, and Werner Arber, as well as several Swiss politicians and authors.

The earliest use of the place name was in 1248 (in the form Arowe), and probably referred to the settlement in the area before the founding of the city.

It comes, along with the name of the River Aare (which was called Arula, Arola, and Araris in early times), from the German word Au, meaning floodplain.

The old town, Laurenzenvorstadt, government building, cantonal library, state archive and art museum are all listed as heritage sites of national significance.

[16][full citation needed] The largest employer in Aarau is the cantonal government, the offices of which are distributed across the entire city at numerous locations.

One of the two head offices of the Aargauer Zeitung, Switzerland's fifth largest newspaper, is located in Aarau, as are the Tele M1 television channel studios, and several radio stations.

The urban center lies in the middle of the "Golden Triangle" between Zürich, Bern, and Basel, and Aarau is having increasing difficulty in maintaining the independence of its economic base from the neighboring large cities.

The idea of merging Aarau with its neighboring suburbs has been recently discussed in the hope of arresting the slowly progressing losses.

Manufacture include bells, mathematical instruments, electrical goods, cotton textiles, cutlery, chemicals, shoes, and other products.

In the last week of September the MAG (Market of Aarauer Tradesmen) takes place there, with regional companies selling their products.

There are three reasons for this population loss: firstly, since the completion of Telli (a large apartment complex), the city has not had any more considerable land developments.

Thirdly, population growth was absorbed by neighboring municipalities in the regional urban area, and numerous citizens of Aarau moved into the countryside.

BC Alte Kanti Aarau plays in the Swiss Women's Basketball Championship, the country's top division.

The remaining four buildings on the list are; the former Rickenbach Factory, the Crematorium, the Haus zum Erker at Rathausgasse 10 and the Restaurant Zunftstube at Pelzgasse.

[14] Each May, Aarau plays host to the annual Jazzaar Festival attracting the world's top jazz musicians.

It is responsible for approving tax levels, preparing the annual account, and the business report.

In the last two elections the parties had the following representation: At the district level, some elements of the government remain a direct democracy.

[8] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent an Eagle displayed Sable beaked langued and membered Gules and a Chief of the last.