SCHAFFHAUSEN, a canton of Switzerland, the most northerly and also one of the smallest of the whole; bounded E., N., and W. by the grand-duchy of Baden, S. by the cantons of Zurich and Thurgau. It is divided by Baden into three portions: the largest of which lies farthest north, another to the south, and a third to the east of it. The southern boundary of all three is formed by the Rhine; on the other side there is no natural limit. Total area, 115 square miles. The surface is very rugged, though it can hardly be called mountainous, as there are no very high elevations. Several ridges of hills, ramifications of the Jura range, traverse the country from S.W. to N.E. These have, in general, a gradual slope towards the Rhine, but on the other side the declivities are steeper. Numerous long and narrow valleys stretch towards the Rhine, but nowhere do they open out into plains. The highest summit in the canton is the Randenberg, 2957 feet above the sea. Except the Rhine, which receives the whole drainage, there are no important rivers; but limpid rivulets abundantly water the land. The geological formation that is most prevalent is that of Jura limestone. Iron is obtained in considerable abundance, and is smelted at Laufen, on the Rhine. Gypsum, alabaster, and sandstone, are the only other important minerals. The soil is generally fertile, and the climate milder here than in most parts of Switzerland. Agriculture forms the occupation of the most of the people. In 1854 Schaffhausen contained 31,000 acres of arable land, 3100 of vineyards, 7058 of meadows and pasture land, 27,300 of forests, and 7000 of waste land. In the same year there were 1416 horses, 8726 horned cattle, 483 sheep, 2864 goats, and 748 swine. Few manufactures are carried on here, the chief being tanning, cotton-spinning, and distilling cherry-water. Some steel and hardware are also fabricated. A considerable transit trade is carried on through the canton, especially by the Rhine. The constitution of the canton is democratic; the electoral franchise being possessed by all citizens above twenty, with the exception of paupers, bankrupts, and criminals. The legislature consists of a great council of seventy-eight members, popularly elected; who appoint a smaller or executive council of nine members, at the head of whom stands a burgomaster. Both councils exist only for four years. Education is well attended to, there being a lyceum in the capital, and numerous elementary schools throughout the country. Schaffhausen is divided into six districts, but there are only three towns of any importance—Schaffhausen, the capital, Neunkirch, and Stein. The inhabitants are of German origin, and for the most part profess the reformed religion. Pop. (1850) 35,300; of whom 33,889 belong to the Reformed, and 1411 to the Roman Catholic Church.