Together with Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft was part of the canton of Basel, which joined the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1501.

Basel-Landschaft, together with Basel-Stadt, formed the historic Canton of Basel until they separated following the uprising of 1833 (Battle of the Hülftenschanz near Frenkendorf).

The site of Augusta Raurica includes the best-preserved amphitheatre north of the Alps, and a reconstructed Roman villa.

The country was economically dependent on the city, most probably because of the cost and difficulty in transporting agricultural goods to further markets, the financing of land transactions and crop production by city-based merchants.

Low levels of education and literacy in the agricultural areas of Europe was typical in that era.

The two half cantons agreed in principle to merge, but in 1969 the people of Basel-Landschaft voted down a referendum on this proposal in favour of retaining their independence.

It is thought that the closing economic gap between the two cantons was the main reason why the population changed their attitude.

The thirty rivers of Baselland are: Since the decision to remain independent from Basel-Stadt in 1969 there have been a number of requests in the parliament for Basel-Landschaft to become a full canton.

The aim remains to change the Swiss constitution to recognize the two cantons of Basel as full members.

In 1792 French troops occupied the district and in 1793 the lands were annexed by France, which explains the linguistic switch of the Family of the House of Basel's name from "von Basel" to "de Bâle", since Arlesheim holds their manor.

It was allowed self- determination and in 1980 the people decided to join the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

This led to Laufental joining the canton of Basel-Landschaft on 1 January 1994 after a lengthy administrative process.

Protestantism is the main religion in the canton (43% as of 2000[update]), while about one-third of the population (32%) is Roman Catholic.

[8] The historical population is given in the following table: Agriculture in the canton includes fruit growing, dairy farming and cattle breeding.