Bellmund facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bellmund
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Ipsach as seen from the lake; Bellmund is to the rear.
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 Bellmund
Location in Switzerland
Bellmund
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Biel/Bienne | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.8 km2 (1.5 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 499 m (1,637 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,723 | |
| • Density | 453/km2 (1,174/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2564
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| Surrounded by | Hermrigen, Ipsach, Jens, Merzligen, Port, Sutz-Lattrigen | |
| Twin towns | Dobronin (Czech Republic) | |
Bellmund (in French, Belmont) is a small town in Switzerland. It is a municipality located in the Biel/Bienne area of the canton of Bern.
Contents
History of Bellmund
Bellmund was first mentioned in old records in 1107. Back then, it was called Bellus mons. Later, in 1228, it was known as Belmunt. The town used to be called Belmont in French, but that name is not used much anymore.
The very first signs of people living here are some tools from the Neolithic Age. This was a time long ago when people used stone tools. These tools were found on a hill called Jensberg. Later, during the Roman times, people found iron pieces in a forest nearby. They also found what might have been a Roman road leading to Sutz.
In the Early Middle Ages, some old graves were found in the modern village. During the High Middle Ages, a castle called Knebelburg was built on the Jensberg hill. Around 1107, the royal family of Burgundy started a priory near the village. A priory is a type of monastery. In 1127, this priory moved to St. Peter's Island in Lake Biel.
Bellmund was once part of a larger area called Nidau. It slowly came under the control of Bern, a major city in Switzerland. This happened partly in 1388 and fully in 1393.
The first church in Bellmund was mentioned in 1228. It fell down in 1509. In 1528, the Protestant Reformation arrived in Bellmund. This was a big change in how people practiced Christianity. The village accepted the new faith and became part of the parish of Nidau. A parish is a local church community.
Bellmund used to be on an important old road connecting Bern, Aarberg, and Nidau. But in 1864, a new railroad and highway were built. These new routes went around Bellmund, not through it. Because of this, Bellmund stayed a quiet, farming village for a long time.
In the 1950s, the nearby city of Biel started to grow. Bellmund slowly became a commuter town. This means many people who live in Bellmund travel to Biel for work. In 1980, a new area called Stöckleren was built to provide homes for the growing number of people.
Geography
Bellmund covers an area of about 3.8 square kilometers (1.5 square miles). A large part of this land, about 52%, is used for farming. About 33% of the land is covered by forests. The rest, about 15%, has buildings or roads. A very small part, less than 1%, is made up of rivers or lakes.
Most of the forested land is thick forest. For farming, about 39% is used for growing crops. Another 10% is used for pastures where animals graze. A small part, about 3%, is used for orchards or vineyards. All the water in Bellmund is from flowing rivers or streams.
The town is located in a region called Berner Seeland. This area is south of Biel, between two hills called Oberholz and Jensberg. Bellmund includes the main village and a small part of a hamlet called St. Niklaus. A hamlet is a very small village.
In 2009, the old district that Bellmund belonged to was changed. The next day, it became part of a new, larger district called Biel/Bienne.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Bellmund is a special design that represents the town. It is divided into four sections, two red and two white. In the middle, there is a white shepherd's staff, which is a symbol of a bishop or abbot. On either side of the staff, there are two red suns.
People of Bellmund (Demographics)
Bellmund has a population of about 1,500 people. In 2010, about 6% of the people living in Bellmund were from other countries. Over ten years, from 2001 to 2011, the population grew by about 4.3%. Most of this growth was because more people moved into the town than left it.
In 2000, most people in Bellmund spoke German as their main language (about 90%). The second most common language was French (about 6%), followed by Italian (about 1.6%).
About 24% of the people in Bellmund are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up about 61% of the population. Seniors (over 64 years old) make up about 15.5%.
The number of people living in Bellmund has changed over time, as you can see in this chart:
Economy
In 2011, Bellmund had a low unemployment rate of 1.76%. This means most people who wanted a job had one.
In 2008, about 305 people worked in Bellmund. These jobs were in different areas:
- Primary Sector: About 29 people worked in farming. This sector includes agriculture and fishing.
- Secondary Sector: About 214 people worked in this sector. This includes manufacturing (making things) and construction (building things).
- Tertiary Sector: About 62 people worked in this sector. This includes services like shops, restaurants, and education.
Many people who live in Bellmund travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 557 people left Bellmund to work elsewhere. Only 122 people came into Bellmund to work. This means Bellmund is a "net exporter" of workers.
About 17% of working people used public transportation to get to work. Most people, about 63%, used a private car.
Religion
According to a census in 2000, most people in Bellmund belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church (about 66.5%). The next largest group was Roman Catholic (about 17%). A smaller number of people belonged to other Christian churches. There were also small groups of people who were Islamic or Buddhist. About 8% of the population did not belong to any church.
Education
In Bellmund, many adults have completed higher levels of education. About 55% have finished non-mandatory upper secondary education. This is like high school or vocational training. About 30% have completed even higher education, like university.
The school system in the Canton of Bern works like this:
- One year of non-required Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of required lower Secondary school. Here, students are grouped based on their skills.
After lower Secondary school, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is when you learn a job by working with an experienced person.
During the 2011-2012 school year, 156 students attended schools in Bellmund. There were 35 students in kindergarten and 121 students in primary school. Some students in Bellmund's schools were from other countries or spoke a different language at home.
In 2000, almost all students who went to school in Bellmund also lived there. At the same time, 100 students who lived in Bellmund went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Bellmund para niños
