Stein () is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland.
History
The municipality separated from Hundwil in 1749 and was named after the Uf Stein section of the neighbouring river.
Geography
thumb|Aerial view from 300 m by [[Walter Mittelholzer (1923)]]
Stein has an area, , of . Of this area, 68.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 22% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 8.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (1.4%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains). Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1.8%. Most of the population () speaks German (97.3%), with Spanish being second most common ( 0.5%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 0.4%).
, the gender distribution of the population was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.
In the 2007 federal election the FDP received 71.4% of the vote. The museum is devoted to Appenzell culture and handicrafts such as beltmaking, cowbells and carpentry. There is also an extensive display of traditional folk art, such as furniture decorated with scenes from daily scenes. The most prolific of these uncelebrated artists is Johannes Müller who also worked as a clockmaker.
Stein is also home to a show dairy. The various processes of cheesemaking can be watched from a gallery above the churns and vats.
The village center was built in the 18th century and includes the village church. The church was built in 1749 by Jakob and Hans Ulrich Grubenmann, and renovated in 1832/1833 by Gebhard Moosbrugger.
Between the hamlet of Störgel and the Haggen section of St. Gallen, is the highest foot bridge in Europe. The Ganggelibrugg (wacky bridge) stretches over the wide Sitter river canyon and is above the river. It was completed in 1937. This bridge is the most used bridge in Switzerland for suicide.
Heritage sites of national significance
The Appenzeller Volkskunde-Museum, Eisensteg Zweibruggen (shared with St Gallen), Gmündertobel Bridge (with Teufen), Urnäschbrücke im Kubel (bridge shared with Herisau) and the Wattbach Bridge (shared with Teufen and St Gallen) are listed as heritage sites of national significance.