Styria

Styria (Ger. Steiermark), a duchy of Austria, is bounded on the N. by Upper and Lower Austria, E. by Hungary, S. and W. by Carniola, Carinthia, and Salzburg. Its area is 8629 sq. m., and pop. (1880) 1,213,197; (1890) 1,281,023, who are partly (67 per cent.) of German and partly (33 per cent.) of Slavonic origin. Styria is a mountainous country, traversed in all parts by ramifications of the Alps. The Save and Drave water the southern districts; the Mur, going south to the Drave, flows through the middle of the duchy; while the Enns skirts the north-west boundary. The climate is variable, but generally raw and cold in the northern and more mountainous portion, and mild in valleys and in the south. Forests cover 51½ per cent. of the area; 25½ per cent. is meadows and pastures; and 22 per cent. is under cultivation, producing oats, maize, rye, potatoes, roots for cattle, flax, wine. The chief wealth of the country, however, lies in its mineral products, especially iron; the secondary minerals include salt, coal, graphite, zinc, &c. The chief industries are connected with the production of iron and steel, and their manufacture into such articles as machinery, agricultural implements, wire, and so forth. There are also manufactures of cement, chemicals, candles, cloth, gunpowder, beer, paper, tobacco, and glass. Styria was anciently divided between Noricum and Pannonia, and in the end of the 6th century was colonised by the Wends (Slavs). In 1056 it was separated from Carinthia and made a separate margraviate; and in 1192 it was joined to the Austrian crown, having a few years previously been made a duchy.