Benken, Zürich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benken
Coat of arms
Benken Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Benken Location in Canton of Zurich Show map of Canton of Zurich
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Zurich
District	Andelfingen
Area
• Total	5.66 km2 (2.19 sq mi)
Elevation	420 m (1,380 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	856
• Density	151.24/km2 (391.7/sq mi)
Postal code	8463
Surrounded by	Dachsen, Laufen-Uhwiesen, Marthalen, Rheinau, Trüllikon

Benken is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It's located in the Andelfingen district. This district is part of the canton of Zürich. Switzerland has many cantons, which are like states or regions.

Benken's Past: A Look at History

Benken was first written about in the year 858. Back then, it was called Pecchinhova. This shows Benken has a very long history!

Exploring Benken's Geography

Benken covers an area of about 5.7 square kilometers (about 2.2 square miles). A big part of this land, almost 60%, is used for farming. About 33.6% of the area is covered by forests. The remaining 7.4% is where buildings and roads are located.

An aerial view of Benken from 1919.

The town is surrounded by many vineyards. It sits at the bottom of the Cholfirst mountain, on its southwest side.

Who Lives in Benken? Demographics

Let's learn about the people who live in Benken.

Benken's Population and Languages

Benken has a population of 856 people. A small part of the population, about 7.7%, are people from other countries. Over the last 10 years, the number of people living in Benken has slightly decreased.

Most people in Benken speak German, about 93.8% of them. French is the second most common language, spoken by 1.4% of the people. Spanish is the third most common language, spoken by 0.7%.

Understanding Elections and Politics

In the 2007 election, the most popular political group was the SVP. They received more than half of the votes, about 55.5%. Other popular groups included the SPS (14.3%), the Green Party (9%), and the FDP (5.8%).

Age Groups and Education in Benken

When we look at the age of people in Benken, almost 30% are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults, aged 20–64, make up about 58% of the population. People over 64 years old make up about 12.8%.

Many adults in Benken have a good education. About 83.2% of people aged 25-64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education. This could be a university or a special college called a Fachhochschule.

Jobs and Businesses in Benken

Benken has a low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find a job. About 1.91% of people are unemployed.

Jobs in Benken are divided into three main types:

• Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming. About 83 people work in this area, and there are 24 businesses.
• Secondary sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing or making things. About 34 people work here, with 10 businesses.
• Tertiary sector: This includes jobs in services, like shops or offices. About 85 people work in this sector, and there are 24 businesses.

How Benken's Population Has Changed Over Time

The table below shows how the number of people living in Benken has changed throughout history: