Affoltern am Albis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Affoltern am Albis
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 Affoltern am Albis
Location in Switzerland
Affoltern am Albis
Location in Canton of Zurich
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Zurich | |
| District | Affoltern | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.59 km2 (4.09 sq mi) | |
| Elevation
(Central crossing near church)
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491 m (1,611 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 12,289 | |
| • Density | 1,160.4/km2 (3,005.5/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
8910 Affoltern am Albis, 8909 Zwillikon
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| Localities | Zwillikon, Ferenbach, Loh, Unterdorf, Oberdorf | |
| Surrounded by | Aeugst am Albis, Hedingen, Jonen (AG), Mettmenstetten, Obfelden, Ottenbach, Stallikon | |
Affoltern am Albis is a town and a municipality in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Zürich, which is like a state or region. People sometimes call it Affoltern a.A. for short. The town is also known as Affoltere in Swiss German.
Contents
History of Affoltern am Albis
Affoltern am Albis has a long history. It was first mentioned in official records way back in 1190. Back then, it was known as Afiltre.
The municipality was formed in the 1800s. It was created by joining several smaller places. These included Oberaffoltern, Unteraffoltern, Zwillikon, and Loo-Fehrenbach.
Geography and Nature in Affoltern
Affoltern am Albis covers about 10.6 square kilometers (about 4 square miles). A large part of this land, about 45.7%, is used for farming. Forests cover almost 29% of the area.
About 25% of the land has buildings or roads. The rest is made up of rivers or other natural areas.
The town is located west of the Albis hills. It sits in a special type of landscape called a moraine landscape. This kind of land was shaped by ancient glaciers. The Reuss River flows nearby.
People and Life in Affoltern
Affoltern am Albis is home to many people. As of 2022, its population is about 12,800. Over the last 10 years, the number of people living here has grown by almost 10%.
Many different people live in Affoltern. About 25.5% of the residents are from other countries. Most people in the town speak German, which is the main language. Italian is the second most common language, followed by Serbo-Croatian.
Age Groups in Affoltern
The town has a good mix of age groups. About 25% of the population are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up the largest group, about 62.4%. Seniors (over 64 years old) make up about 12.3% of the population.
Education and Jobs
Many adults in Affoltern have a good education. About 71% of people aged 25 to 64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education. This includes university or a specialized college called a Fachhochschule.
The unemployment rate in Affoltern is low, around 2.8%. This means most people who want to work can find jobs.
Many people work in different types of jobs:
- Farming: About 85 people work in farming. There are 33 businesses in this area.
- Industry: About 1,238 people work in factories or making things. There are 126 businesses in this sector.
- Services: The largest number of people, 3,533, work in service jobs. This includes shops, offices, and healthcare. There are 441 businesses in this area.
Population Growth Over Time
The population of Affoltern has changed a lot over the years. Here is how it has grown:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| until about 1700 | 100–250 |
| 1736 | 1,060 |
| 1850 | 1,855 |
| 1900 | 2,779 |
| 1950 | 3,484 |
| 2000 | 10,314 |
Getting Around Affoltern
Affoltern am Albis has its own train station. It is called Affoltern am Albis railway station. This station is part of the Zürich S-Bahn network.
You can catch trains like the S5 and S14 from here. A train ride to Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the main train station in Zürich, takes about 28 minutes.
Famous People from Affoltern
Many interesting people have connections to Affoltern am Albis:
- Esther Fischer-Homberger (1940–2019), a Swiss psychiatrist and medical historian.
- Barbara Hofmann (born 1962), a humanitarian who founded ASEM-Mozambique.
- Idy Hegnauer (1909–2006), a Swiss nurse and peace activist.
- Ernst Nievergelt (1910–1999), a Swiss racing cyclist who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- René Strehler (born 1934), a Swiss former professional racing cyclist.
- Giuseppe Reichmuth (born 1944), a Swiss painter and artist.
See also
In Spanish: Affoltern am Albis para niños
