While a single late Bronze Age site has been discovered in the forest outside Appenzell, there is no evidence of a prehistoric settlement.

The region around Appenzell remained forested and very lightly settled until the end of the Early Middle Ages.

[2] Under the authority of the abbots of the monastery of St. Gall settlers began to colonization of the Sitter river valley in the late 11th century.

By 1200, the parish included the area of the modern district as well as villages of Brenden, Lank, Lehn and Meistersrüte.

It is likely that the first village houses were along the road between church and abbot's farm, which was built at what is now Reichsstrasse near the Gansbach stream.

Starting on 10 November 1367, and often in the 15th century, the village and court are called Hof to distinguish it from the rest of ze Appacelle.

The Answer and Mandate Book of 1547 includes regulations and controls for farmers, millers and butchers.

In the 15th century there is evidence of a tavern in Appenzell village and a set of weights and measures for regulating commercial activities.

[4] By about 1360, conflicts over grazing rights, taxes, and tithes were causing concern for both the abbot and the farmers of Appenzell.

With the support of League, Appenzell refused to pay many of the gifts and tithes that the Abbot Kuno von Stoffeln demanded.

In response to the loss of revenue from his estates, Kuno approached the Austrian House of Habsburg for help.

In response, in 1401 Appenzell entered into an alliance with the city of St. Gallen to protect their rights and freedom.

Appenzell declared itself ready to stand against the abbot, and in 1403 formed an alliance with the Canton of Schwyz, a member of the Old Swiss Confederation that had defeated the Austrians in the last century.

A small force of Appenzell and Confederation troops defeated the League army and signed a short lived peace treaty.

[5] During the expansion, Appenzell had even captured the abbot of St Gall and in response they were excommunicated by the Bishop of Constance.

The city of St. Gallen and the Canton of Schwyz each paid off the Austrians to avoid an attack, and the Bund was dissolved by King Rupert on April 4, 1408.

[5] As part of the peace treaty, the abbot gave up his ownership of Appenzell, but was still owned certain taxes.

[5] In 1411 Appenzell signed a defensive treaty with the entire Swiss Confederation (except Bern), which strengthened their position against the abbot.

This treaty represented the end of Appenzell's last financial tie to the Abbey of St. Gall, and a movement to closer relationships with the Confederation.

Later Appenzell began to establish independent foreign trade relations (1494 Venice, 1497 Constance, about 1499 Lyon, 1529 Frankfurt am Main).

Starting in the last quarter of the 15th century there was a weekly yarn and weaving market held in village.

However, efforts to create an independent cloth weaving and embroidery industry in Appenzell failed repeatedly in the face of tough competition from the city of St.

[4] In the 16th–18th centuries, foreign military service played an important role in the economy of the village.

Numerous families (especially the Sutter, Bischofberger, Büchler, Knusert and Ulmann) grew to dominate the foreign mercenary industry in the village.

The coat of arms shows an upright black bear with red claws on a silver background.

It also includes the Feuerschaugemeinde (fire-fighting municipality), Kirchgemeinde (parish) and Schulgemeinde (school district).

The village of Appenzell is located in the center of the Sitter river valley on the eastern border of the district.

[12] About 45.3% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage or a rent-to-own agreement).

The religious buildings on the list include the Capuchin Monastery Maria der Engel and the Parish Church of St. Mauritius.

The wettest month is June during which time Appenzell receives an average of 212 mm (8.3 in) of rain or snow.