Aarwangen
Encyclopedia
Aarwangen is a municipality
in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
.
During the 18th century, by road, and the 19th century, by rail
, this became a busy and important trade route for the movement of goods between the western and eastern parts of Switzerland.
The municipal coat of arms is black and silver. It represents the seal of the Aarwangen family, who built the first Schloss Aarwangen on the southern riverbank, though the present structure only dates back to the Landvögte, or Bailiffs, of Bern in the 16th and 17th centuries. When the Aarwangen family died out in the year 1341 they were succeeded by, the closely allied Grünenberg family, both families being vassals of the Habsburg
family. The Grünenberg family did not last long and had already disappeared from the archives by the early 14th century, when the city of Bern established sovreignity over the region. In 1432, after the conquest of the neighbouring Aargau, Schloss Aarwangen was purchased by the city of Bern, which then acquired the remainder of the former Grünenberg estate, including the area of the current district of Aarwangen, in 1480.
Thus the Bailiffs of Bern came to Aarwangen. Altogether, 75 Bailiffs resided in the castle, where their coat of arms, with its distinctive black bear, is still displayed prominently on the outer wall. They stayed until the revolt, and the end of the Bernse city state, in the spring of 1798, during which the castle sustained serious damage, with the interior almost gutted.
In the year 1803 the canton Bern was divided into official districts and Aarwangen became seat of the district of Aarwangen.
The castle was in private hands for a few years, until it was repurchased and restored by the Canton of Bern where it has become the district court and administrative buildings. It is a heritage site of national significance
.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.4% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 8.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.1%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.1% of the area. 34.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.7% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 31.0% is used for growing crops and 12.1% is pastures, while 2.5% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 39.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(19.8%), the FDP
(17.7%) and the Green Party
(7%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 26.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.5% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 12.4%. In Aarwangen about 73.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
).
Aarwangen has an unemployment rate of 1.48%. , there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 29 businesses involved in this sector. 352 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 46 businesses in this sector. 781 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 125 businesses in this sector.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Bern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
History
Aarwangen grew from a fortified toll crossing over the River Aare, in a region where there were few realistic crossing places. The first bridge was built in the early years of the 13th century, and by the 16th century this had developed into a covered wooden bridge and customs post, defended by a castle.During the 18th century, by road, and the 19th century, by rail
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, this became a busy and important trade route for the movement of goods between the western and eastern parts of Switzerland.
The municipal coat of arms is black and silver. It represents the seal of the Aarwangen family, who built the first Schloss Aarwangen on the southern riverbank, though the present structure only dates back to the Landvögte, or Bailiffs, of Bern in the 16th and 17th centuries. When the Aarwangen family died out in the year 1341 they were succeeded by, the closely allied Grünenberg family, both families being vassals of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
family. The Grünenberg family did not last long and had already disappeared from the archives by the early 14th century, when the city of Bern established sovreignity over the region. In 1432, after the conquest of the neighbouring Aargau, Schloss Aarwangen was purchased by the city of Bern, which then acquired the remainder of the former Grünenberg estate, including the area of the current district of Aarwangen, in 1480.
Thus the Bailiffs of Bern came to Aarwangen. Altogether, 75 Bailiffs resided in the castle, where their coat of arms, with its distinctive black bear, is still displayed prominently on the outer wall. They stayed until the revolt, and the end of the Bernse city state, in the spring of 1798, during which the castle sustained serious damage, with the interior almost gutted.
In the year 1803 the canton Bern was divided into official districts and Aarwangen became seat of the district of Aarwangen.
The castle was in private hands for a few years, until it was repurchased and restored by the Canton of Bern where it has become the district court and administrative buildings. It is a heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
Geography
Aarwangen has an area, , of 9.87 km² (3.8 sq mi). Of this area, 4.5 km² (1.7 sq mi) or 45.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while3.57 km² (1.4 sq mi) or 36.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.48 km² (0.571431194716952 sq mi) or 15.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.29 km² (0.111969625991835 sq mi) or 2.9% is either rivers or lakes and 0.03 km² (7.4 acre) or 0.3% is unproductive land.Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.4% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 8.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.1%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.1% of the area. 34.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.7% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 31.0% is used for growing crops and 12.1% is pastures, while 2.5% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
Demographics
Aarwangen has a population (as of ) of . , the population included 12.0% which were foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 9%. Most of the population speaks German (88.5%), with Albanian being second most common ( 3.3%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 3.0%).In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 39.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(19.8%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(17.7%) and the Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
(7%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 26.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.5% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 12.4%. In Aarwangen about 73.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
Aarwangen has an unemployment rate of 1.48%. , there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 29 businesses involved in this sector. 352 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 46 businesses in this sector. 781 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 125 businesses in this sector.
External links
- Official Website of Aarwangen
- Bern: Schloss Aarwangen - Le château de Aarwangen (in French but with stunning photos)