Wilchingen
Encyclopedia
Wilchingen is a municipality
in the canton
of Schaffhausen in Switzerland
. The former municipality of Osterfingen was incorporated into Wilchingen in 2005.
In 2005 the village of Osterfingen merged into Wilchingen.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Gules a Ploughshare Argent voided in Cross pattee.
, 15.5% are from Italy
, 1.6% are from Croatia
, 18.7% are from Serbia
, 4.8% are from Macedonia
, and 20.9% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1.2%. Most of the population speaks German (93.8%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.6%) and Italian being third ( 1.1%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 15.7% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 58.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 25.8%.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 43.8% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were the FDP
(28.6%), and the SP
(27.5%) .
In Wilchingen about 79.7% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). In Wilchingen, , 2.37% of the population attend kindergarten
or another pre-school, 8.64% attend a Primary School, 4.8% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.43% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 11.9% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
and 74.3% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church
.
The historical population is given in the following table:
the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.6%. There were 69 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 38.3% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 61.7% were involved in the third. At the same time, 62.5% of the working population was employed full-time, and 37.5% was employed part-time. There were 554 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 44.4% of the workforce. there were 347 residents who worked in the municipality, while 450 residents worked outside Wilchingen and 181 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 3 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 8 beds. The hospitality industry in Wilchingen employs 40 people.
in Waldshut district, Baden-Wurttemberg
state; and at Wilchingen town (Löchlistrasse) with Weisweil, also in Waldshut district.
settlement at Underflüe and the neolithic hilltop settlement at Flühhalde as well as the Trottenhaus and another house in the village of Osterfingen are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance
.
. The wettest month is August during which time Wilchingen receives an average of 101 mm (4 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 11 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 12.2, but with only 76 mm (3 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year is September with an average of 65 mm (2.6 in) of precipitation over 11 days.
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 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 Schaffhausen 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....
. The former municipality of Osterfingen was incorporated into Wilchingen in 2005.
Geography
Wilchingen has an area, , of 21.2 km² (8.2 sq mi). Of this area, 50.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 42.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.9% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.4%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).In 2005 the village of Osterfingen merged into Wilchingen.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Gules a Ploughshare Argent voided in Cross pattee.
Demographics
Wilchingen has a population of 1,692, of which 11.2% are foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 38.5% are from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 15.5% are from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 1.6% are from Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, 18.7% are from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, 4.8% are from Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, and 20.9% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1.2%. Most of the population speaks German (93.8%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.6%) and Italian being third ( 1.1%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 15.7% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 58.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 25.8%.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
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 43.8% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were 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....
(28.6%), and the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(27.5%) .
In Wilchingen about 79.7% 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...
). In Wilchingen, , 2.37% of the population attend kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
or another pre-school, 8.64% attend a Primary School, 4.8% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.43% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 11.9% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and 74.3% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church
Swiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,571 |
| 2000 | 1,646 |
Economy
Wilchingen has an unemployment rate of 0.7%. , there were 211 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 70 businesses involved in this sector. 203 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 22 businesses in this sector. 336 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 50 businesses in this sector.the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.6%. There were 69 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 38.3% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 61.7% were involved in the third. At the same time, 62.5% of the working population was employed full-time, and 37.5% was employed part-time. There were 554 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 44.4% of the workforce. there were 347 residents who worked in the municipality, while 450 residents worked outside Wilchingen and 181 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 3 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 8 beds. The hospitality industry in Wilchingen employs 40 people.
Transportation
There are two official border crossings into Germany in the municipality - one at Osterfingen (Zollstrasse) with JestettenJestetten
Jestetten is a town in the district of Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.The border crossing into Switzerland is located to the east of town along Schaffhauserstraße leading to Neuhausen am Rheinfall...
in Waldshut district, Baden-Wurttemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
state; and at Wilchingen town (Löchlistrasse) with Weisweil, also in Waldshut district.
Heritage sites of national significance
The early-neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
settlement at Underflüe and the neolithic hilltop settlement at Flühhalde as well as the Trottenhaus and another house in the village of Osterfingen are listed as Swiss heritage sites 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...
.
Weather
Wilchingen has an average of 123.6 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives 938 mm (36.9 in) of precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is August during which time Wilchingen receives an average of 101 mm (4 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 11 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 12.2, but with only 76 mm (3 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year is September with an average of 65 mm (2.6 in) of precipitation over 11 days.