Alchenstorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alchenstorf
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 Alchenstorf
Location in Switzerland
Alchenstorf
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Emmental | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.57 km2 (2.54 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 584 | |
| • Density | 88.89/km2 (230.2/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3473
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| Surrounded by | Hellsau, Höchstetten, Koppigen, Niederösch, Rumendingen, Seeberg, Wynigen | |
Alchenstorf is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Emmental area of Switzerland. It is part of the canton of Bern.
Contents
A Look at Alchenstorf's Past
Alchenstorf was first mentioned in official records in the year 1221. Back then, it was known as Alchirstorf.
Early Settlements and Roman Times
People have lived in the Alchenstorf area for a very long time! Scientists have found signs of neolithic (Stone Age) settlements in places like Rain and Kastenmoos. This means people were living here even before written history began.
Later, during the Roman times, a large Roman farm (called a manor) and a hidden collection of coins were found in the Ischbergwald forest. This shows that Romans also lived and worked in this region.
The First Church and Village Life
Alchenstorf had its own church between 1275 and 1471. We don't know the exact spot of this first church, but it was likely in the lower part of the village, called Unterdorf. After this church was taken down, Alchenstorf became part of the larger church area, or parish, of Koppigen.
Even today, Alchenstorf is mostly a rural area, meaning it has many farms and open land. In 1990, most people (64%) who lived in Alchenstorf traveled to nearby towns for their jobs.
Understanding Alchenstorf's Geography
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Alchenstorf covers an area of about 6.6 square kilometers (or 2.5 square miles).
How the Land is Used
A big part of Alchenstorf's land, about 60.8%, is used for agriculture, which means farming. Forests cover another large section, about 32.0% of the area. The remaining land, about 7.8%, is where buildings and roads are located. A very small part, 0.3%, is made up of rivers or lakes.
- Buildings and Roads: About 4.9% of the land is used for houses and other buildings, while 2.4% is for transportation like roads.
- Forests: All the forested land in Alchenstorf is covered with thick forests.
- Farming: Of the farming land, 45.1% is used for growing crops, and 14.0% is for pastures where animals graze. A small part (1.7%) is used for fruit orchards or vineyards.
- Water: All the water in Alchenstorf is from flowing rivers or streams.
Village Structure
Alchenstorf is made up of the main village, which has two parts called Oberdorf and Unterdorf. There are also smaller groups of houses, known as hamlets, and individual farmhouses spread out across the area.
Changes in Administration
On December 31, 2009, the old administrative district of Burgdorf, which Alchenstorf belonged to, was closed down. The very next day, January 1, 2010, Alchenstorf became part of a new administrative area called Verwaltungskreis Emmental.
Alchenstorf's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol or emblem for a town or family. Alchenstorf's coat of arms has a specific design. It shows a blue ploughshare (the cutting part of a plow, used in farming) on top of three red hills. The background color is silver.
Who Lives in Alchenstorf?
Alchenstorf has a population of about 569 people (as of 2022).
Population Facts
- As of 2010, about 3.7% of the people living in Alchenstorf were not Swiss citizens.
- Over the past ten years (from 2000 to 2010), the population of Alchenstorf has slightly decreased by about 0.3%. This was mainly because more people moved away than moved in.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Alchenstorf (about 98.5% as of 2000) speak German as their main language. A few people also speak French or Serbo-Croatian.
Age Groups
As of 2010, the population of Alchenstorf was divided into these age groups:
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up about 21.6% of the population.
- Adults (20–64 years old) make up about 60.3% of the population.
- Seniors (over 64 years old) make up about 18.1% of the population.
Where People Were Born
In 2000, about 44.5% of the people living in Alchenstorf were actually born there. Another 39.2% were born in the same canton (Bern). About 11.6% were born elsewhere in Switzerland, and 2.9% were born outside of Switzerland.
Alchenstorf's Economy
The economy of Alchenstorf is mainly focused on farming, but it also has other types of jobs.
Employment and Jobs
As of 2011, Alchenstorf had a very low unemployment rate of 0.39%, meaning almost everyone who wanted a job had one. In 2008, there were 142 people working in the municipality.
Jobs are often grouped into three main sectors:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs that get raw materials from nature, like farming, fishing, and forestry. In Alchenstorf, 78 people worked in this sector, mostly in agriculture. There were 24 businesses in this area.
- Secondary Sector: This involves making things from raw materials, like manufacturing and construction. In Alchenstorf, 32 people worked in this sector, with 6 businesses. Most of these jobs were in construction.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs that provide services, like shops, restaurants, education, and healthcare. In Alchenstorf, 32 people worked in this sector, with 8 businesses. Examples include sales, hotel work, and teaching.
Commuting to Work
In 2000, 45 people traveled into Alchenstorf for work, while 227 people traveled out of Alchenstorf to work in other towns. This means many people who live in Alchenstorf work elsewhere. About 7% of workers used public transportation, and 58.9% used a private car to get to their jobs.
Religious Beliefs in Alchenstorf
Based on information from 2000, most people in Alchenstorf (about 89.1%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, which is a Protestant church. A smaller number (about 3.8%) were Roman Catholic. Some people belonged to other Christian churches, and a few did not belong to any church.
Education in Alchenstorf
Education is important in Alchenstorf. About 39.7% of the population has completed high school, and 15.2% have gone on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college (called a Fachhochschule).
The Swiss School System
The Canton of Bern has a specific school system:
- Kindergarten: One year of non-required kindergarten.
- Primary School: Six years of primary school.
- Lower Secondary School: Three years of required lower secondary school. Students are grouped based on their abilities.
- After Lower Secondary: After this, students can choose to continue their schooling or start an apprenticeship, where they learn a trade while working.
Local School District
During the 2009-2010 school year, 372 students attended classes in the Koppigen/Alchenstorf/Hellsau school district.
- There were 3 kindergarten classes with 57 students.
- There were 9 primary classes with 169 students.
- There were 8 lower secondary classes with 146 students.
A small percentage of students in all levels were not Swiss citizens or spoke a different language at home than the classroom language.
In 2000, 125 students came to Alchenstorf from other towns to attend school, while 38 Alchenstorf residents went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Alchenstorf para niños
