Balsthal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balsthal
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 Balsthal
Location in Switzerland
Balsthal
Location in Canton of Solothurn
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Solothurn | |
| District | Thal | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 15.71 km2 (6.07 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 489 m (1,604 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 6,210 | |
| • Density | 395.3/km2 (1,023.8/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4710
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| Surrounded by | Holderbank, Laupersdorf, Mümliswil-Ramiswil, Niederbipp (BE), Oberbuchsiten, Oensingen | |
Balsthal is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Thal district. This town is part of the canton of Solothurn.
Contents
History of Balsthal
Balsthal has a long history. It was first mentioned way back in the year 968! Back then, it was called Palcivallis. Later, in 1255, its name changed to Balcetal.
Geography of Balsthal
Balsthal covers an area of about 15.71 square kilometers (about 6 square miles). A big part of this area, over half, is covered by forests. About 29% of the land is used for farming.
Around 14% of Balsthal's land has buildings or roads. A small part is rivers or lakes. The town is located in the Thal district. It used to be a market town and an important center. Balsthal includes the main village, an industrial area called Klus, and small villages like Sankt Wolfgang.
Balsthal's Coat of Arms
The blazon (description) of Balsthal's coat of arms shows two silver snakes. They are shaped like an 'X' and are looking backward. All of this is on a blue background.
People of Balsthal
Balsthal has a population of around 5,800 people. About 29% of the people living here are from other countries. Most people in Balsthal speak German. Other languages spoken include Albanian and Italian.
In 2000, about 36% of the people living in Balsthal were born there. Many others were born in the same canton or elsewhere in Switzerland. About 20% of the residents were born outside Switzerland.
The age groups in Balsthal include many young people. About 7% are children under 6 years old. Around 17% are teenagers between 7 and 19. Adults aged 25 to 44 make up the largest group, about 30% of the population.
Most households in Balsthal have about 2.4 people. Many households are single-person homes. There are also many married couples, some with children and some without.
The town has many homes. In 2000, about 68% of the buildings were single-family homes. Many of these homes were built between 1919 and 1945. Most apartments in Balsthal are permanently lived in.
The population of Balsthal has changed over time, as shown in the chart below:
Important Historical Sites
The old ruins of Neu-Falkenstein Castle are very important. They are listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The entire town of Balsthal and the factories in Innere Klus are also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means they are special places that need to be protected.
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Neu-Falkenstein Castle
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A factory at Klus.
Economy and Jobs
In Balsthal, many people have jobs. In 2010, the unemployment rate was about 4.7%. This means most people who wanted a job had one.
Many people work in different areas. Some work in farming or forestry. A lot of people work in factories, making things. Others work in construction, building homes and other structures. Many jobs are in the service industry. This includes shops, restaurants, transportation, and health care.
Balsthal is a place where more people leave to work than come in. About 1.3% of the workers who come into Balsthal are from outside Switzerland. Most people use a private car to get to work. About 12.6% use public transportation.
Religion in Balsthal
In Balsthal, many people follow different religions. In 2000, about 53% of the people were Roman Catholic. Around 20% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. There were also people who were Orthodox Christians and other Christian groups. About 10% of the population was Islamic. Some people were Buddhist or Hindu. About 9% of the people did not belong to any church.
Weather in Balsthal
Balsthal usually has rain or snow for about 137 days each year. On average, it gets about 1058 millimeters (41.6 inches) of rain or snow. August is often the wettest month. It gets about 113 millimeters (4.4 inches) of rain or snow over 11.7 days. May has the most days with precipitation, but less total rain. October is the driest month.
Education in Balsthal
Many people in Balsthal have a good education. About 35% of the population has finished high school. About 9% have gone on to college or university.
In the 2010–2011 school year, there were 486 students in Balsthal's schools. Children can attend two years of non-required Kindergarten. After that, they go to six years of primary school. All students from Balsthal go to a nearby town for their secondary school (middle and high school).
Balsthal has a library called Bibliothek Balsthal. In 2008, it had over 6,000 books and other media. It loaned out more than 11,000 items that year. The library was open for 169 days, about 8 hours per week.
Images for kids
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A view of Balsthal.
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Balsthal on a winter day.
See also
In Spanish: Balsthal para niños
