The territory of the canton comprises land acquired by the former town, mainly in the Middle Ages.

Part of this, the massif of the Weissenstein, overlooks Solothurn and the Mittelland from the north and has views of the Bernese Alps.

[6] The historical population is given in the following table: Up to the 19th century agriculture was the main economic activity in the canton.

The industries of the canton are specialized in watches, jewellery, textiles, paper, cement and auto parts.

[citation needed] The canton is home to the Gösgen Nuclear Power Plant near Däniken which started operation in 1979.

[citation needed] The canton has good connections with other parts of Switzerland, both by rail and by road.

There is a railway junction at Olten with direct trains to Geneva, Zürich, Basel and the Ticino via Lucerne.