Bévilard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bévilard
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 Bévilard
Location in Switzerland
Bévilard
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Jura bernois | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.63 km2 (2.17 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 691 m (2,267 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2011)
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| • Total | 1,674 | |
| • Density | 297.3/km2 (770.1/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2735
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| Surrounded by | Malleray, Champoz, Sorvilier, Péry | |
Bévilard was a small town, also known as a municipality, located in the Jura bernois area of the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It was part of the French-speaking region called Jura Bernois. On January 1, 2015, Bévilard joined with two other towns, Malleray and Pontenet, to create a new, larger municipality named Valbirse.
Contents
A Look at Bévilard's Past
Bévilard was first mentioned in old writings in 1182. Back then, it was called Bevilar. For a long time, the town was under the control of the Provost of Moutier-Grandval Abbey, who was a religious leader.
In 1797, France won a war, and Bévilard became part of a French region. But after Napoleon was defeated, the town was given back to the Canton of Bern in 1815.
The local church, Saint-Georges, was first mentioned in 1263. The building you see today was built in 1716. In 1531, the town adopted the Protestant Reformation, which changed how people practiced their faith. This church was important for Bévilard and nearby towns like Malleray and Pontenet. Later, Champoz also joined the church's area.
For many years, Bévilard was mostly a farming town. But things changed when a railroad station was built nearby in 1877. This made it easier to transport goods, and soon, factories for making precise machines and watches opened. The watch industry brought many jobs and helped the town grow until the 1970s. After that, cheaper electronic watches became popular, and many Swiss watchmakers struggled. This caused Bévilard's population to shrink for a while.
Where is Bévilard?
Before it merged, Bévilard covered about 5.8 km2 (2.2 sq mi) of land. A large part of this land, about 40.7%, was used for farming. Forests covered almost half of the area, at 48.4%. The rest of the land was used for buildings, roads, or had rivers.
The town is located in the upper part of the Birs River Valley. Over time, Bévilard and the nearby town of Malleray grew so close that they became one connected area.
On December 31, 2009, Bévilard's old district was closed. The next day, it became part of the new Jura bernois administrative district.
Bévilard's Town Symbol
The official symbol, or coat of arms, of Bévilard shows a silver dagger on a blue background. The dagger has a golden handle.
Who Lives in Bévilard?
In 2013, Bévilard had a population of 1,730 people. About 15.3% of these people were foreign nationals living there in 2010.
Most people in Bévilard speak French as their main language (about 85%). German is the second most common language, followed by Italian.
In 2008, the population was almost evenly split between men (49.9%) and women (50.1%). Most residents were Swiss citizens.
About 20% of the population in 2011 were children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) made up about 58.7%, and seniors (over 64 years old) were about 21.3%.
The number of people living in Bévilard has changed over time. You can see this in the chart below:
Jobs and Money
In 2011, Bévilard had a low unemployment rate of 2.23%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them.
In 2008, about 788 people worked in the town.
- A small number (16 people) worked in farming.
- Many people (541) worked in the manufacturing sector, especially in factories making things like watches and machines.
- About 231 people worked in the service sector, which includes jobs like sales, restaurants, and healthcare.
Many people who lived in Bévilard also worked there. However, more people left the town for work than came into it. Most people used a private car to get to work, while a smaller number used public transportation.
Religious Beliefs
According to a 2000 survey, about 44.6% of the people in Bévilard belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church (Protestant). About 29.1% were Roman Catholic. A small number of people belonged to other Christian churches or were Islamic. About 5.88% of the population did not belong to any church.
Learning and Schools
In Bévilard, about half of the adults have finished high school or a similar level of education. About 12.8% have gone on to higher education, like a university.
The school system in the Canton of Bern starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. Then, students go to six years of Primary school. After that, they have three years of lower Secondary school, where they are grouped by their abilities. After secondary school, students can choose to continue their studies or start an apprenticeship to learn a trade.
During the 2011-2012 school year, 131 students attended schools in Bévilard. There were 31 kindergarten students and 100 primary school students. Some of these students were not Swiss citizens, and some spoke a different language at home than in the classroom.
Most students who lived in Bévilard also went to school there. However, some students from Bévilard went to schools in other towns.
See also
In Spanish: Bévilard para niños
