The foundation of the canton St. Gallen derives supposedly from the construction of a pilgrimage church in this region by the Irish monk named Gallus in the year 600. 100 years after his death the abbey church of St. Gallen was built and gave the canton its name. 

In the year 1803, at the end of the Helvetian Republic, which was founded by Napoleon, St. Gallen was established due to a mediation act, where two short-term cantons, Linth and Säntis, were combined into one. The German-speaking canton surrounds the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden.

St. Gallen was the most important city of the textile industry until 1920. At this point in time the focus lies more in cattle-breeding, half of the total land is used for it, and in winegrowing in the lower lands. 

Mentionable places of the canton are the Tektonikarena Sardona, which became a UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 2008, as well as the university of St. Gallen, which is one of the four best economic universities in Europe.