The municipality consists of a number of villages on the eastern flank of the Alvier group, along the left shore of the Alpine Rhine.

Over the same time period the amount of forested land has increased by 56 ha (140 acres).

Of the foreign population, (as of 2000[update]), 84 are from Germany, 176 are from Italy, 424 are from ex-Yugoslavia, 53 are from Austria, 25 are from Turkey, and 155 are from another country.

In the 14th century, the higher parts of the territory of the modern municipality (Matug, Walserberg, Palfris) were settled by Walser.

The church at Gretschins was dedicated to Saint Martin in 1494, but the parish adopted the Swiss Reformation at an early time, in the 1520s.

Attempts to re-introduced the Catholic mass in 1694/4 resulted in the "Wartau conflict" (Wartauerhandel), which almost triggered a larger religious war in the Swiss Confederacy.

It shows a grapevine below a gold star in a red field (Gules a Vine Stump Vert leaved issuant from Coupeaux of the same and in chief a Mullet Or).

[15] In 1802, a short-lived "Republic of Wartau" was proclaimed, before the modern municipality was formed as part of the Swiss canton of St. Gallen in 1803.

The Walser population which now found itself on the territory of the municipality was naturalized only in 1827, under pressure from the cantonal authorities.

[16] The prehistoric settlement and sacrifice site at Gretschins-Herrenfeld and Ochsenberg, as well as the nearby medieval castle ruins and the Walser Rathaus (council house) auf Palfries are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

[17] The villages of Azmoos and Oberschan as well as the hamlets of Fontnas and Gretschins are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

[13] Wartau is an industrial community, a municipality where manufacturing provides over a quarter of all jobs.

The Swiss Reformation was adopted still in the 1520s, and the population resisted attempts made by Glarus in the 17th century of re-introducing Roman Catholicism.

Wartau has received a significant immigrant population since the later 20th century, reflected by 7.8% (367 individuals) identifying as Muslim in the 2000 census.

[13] The Gretschins-Herrenfeld and Ochsenberg prehistoric settlement and sacrifice site as well as the ruins of Wartau Castle and the so-called Walser Rathaus (town council house) auf Palfries are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

The villages of Azmoos and Oberschan and the hamlets of Fontnas and Gretschins are part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.