Bevaix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bevaix
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 Bevaix
Location in Switzerland
Bevaix
Location in Canton of Neuchâtel
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Neuchâtel | |
| District | Boudry | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.76 km2 (4.15 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 475 m (1,558 ft) | |
| Highest elevation
(Petite Ecoeurne)
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1,335 m (4,380 ft) | |
| Lowest elevation | 429 m (1,407 ft) | |
| Population
(December 2007)
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| • Total | 3,753 | |
| • Density | 348.79/km2 (903.4/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2022
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| Surrounded by | Boudry, Chevroux (VD), Cortaillod, Forel (FR), Gorgier | |
Bevaix was once a municipality in the canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It was part of the Boudry district.
On January 1, 2018, Bevaix joined with five other municipalities. These were Saint-Aubin-Sauges, Gorgier, Vaumarcus, Montalchez, and Fresens. Together, they formed a new, larger municipality called La Grande-Béroche.
Contents
History of Bevaix
Bevaix was first mentioned in old records in the year 998. Back then, it was known as in villa Bevacensi. Later, in 1139, its name appeared as Betuaci.
The village of Bevaix is located near Lake Neuchâtel. It sits on a small flat area. People have lived here since the Bronze Age and Neolithic times. A special church building called a priory was built here in 998.
Many old boats and canoes were found nearby. These discoveries helped us learn about how boats were built in ancient Gallo-Roman times. For a long time, Bevaix was mostly a farming village. This changed when a railway station was built in 1860. Around 1900, the wet areas around the village were drained. This made the area more suitable for homes. Today, local businesses often work with microtechnology.
Exploring Bevaix's Geography
Bevaix covers an area of about 10.8 square kilometers (4.2 square miles). A large part of this land is used for farming. About 34.1% of the area is farmland. Forests cover an even bigger part, about 47.1%.
Around 18.3% of Bevaix is covered by buildings and roads. This includes homes, businesses, and transportation routes. A small amount, less than 1%, is unproductive land.
Most of the built-up area is for houses and other buildings. Roads and transport take up another part. Power and water facilities also use some land. In the forested areas, most of the land is heavily wooded. Some small areas have orchards or groups of trees. For farming, people grow crops on about 18.7% of the land. Pastures for animals cover 8.2%. Orchards and vineyards use 5.8% of the land.
The municipality is located in the Boudry district. It sits on a small, somewhat marshy plateau close to Lake Neuchâtel. There was a plan to combine Bevaix with the nearby towns of Boudry and Cortaillod. However, the people living there voted against this idea.
Bevaix Coat of Arms
A blazon describes a coat of arms. Bevaix's coat of arms has a special design. It shows a silver fish standing upright on a blue background. Next to it, there is a gold bar. On the other side, on a red background, there is a silver fountain. Above the fountain, there are two silver five-pointed stars.
Who Lives in Bevaix?
Bevaix had a population of about 3,753 people in December 2007. In 2008, about 16% of the people living there were foreign nationals. Over ten years (from 2000 to 2010), the population grew by about 7.8%. This growth was mostly due to people moving into the area.
Most people in Bevaix speak French. About 86.6% of the population speaks French as their main language. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 5.1% of people. Italian is the third, spoken by about 2.4%.
In 2008, the population was split evenly between males and females. About 50% were male and 50% were female. Most of the people living in Bevaix were Swiss citizens.
Many people living in Bevaix in 2000 were born there. About 21.3% were born in Bevaix. Another 31.8% were born in the same canton, Neuchâtel. About 23.2% were born elsewhere in Switzerland. The remaining 20.6% were born outside of Switzerland.
In 2000, about 25% of the population were children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) made up about 59.7%. Seniors (over 64 years old) were about 15.3% of the population.
The population of Bevaix has grown quite a lot over time. For example, in 1850, there were 740 people. By 1900, it had grown to 1,074. By 2000, the population reached 3,603.
Important Heritage Sites
Bevaix is home to some very important historical sites. The prehistoric lake shore settlement at Baie De Bevaix is one. Another is the Neolithic burial and cultural center called Treytel-A Sugiez. Both are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national importance.
World Heritage Site in Bevaix
Bevaix also has a site called L’Abbaye 2. This is a prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement. It is part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is recognized as a very special place by UNESCO.
L'Abbaye 2 is a site from the Bronze Age. It was once a village built on stilts in the water. It is about 180 meters (590 feet) from the lake shore. Scientists have used tree rings to date the village. They found it was built between 1040 and 986 BC. The village covered an area of about 150 by 80 meters (490 by 260 feet). It was probably connected to the shore by a bridge. Around 400 Bronze Age objects have been found in the water near the village.
What People Do for Work
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Bevaix was 3.8%. This means a small number of people who wanted jobs could not find them.
In 2008, many people worked in different areas. About 65 people worked in farming and related businesses. This is called the primary economic sector. There were 22 businesses in this area.
The secondary sector employed 443 people. This sector includes manufacturing and construction. There were 52 businesses in this area. The tertiary sector employed 629 people. This sector includes services like sales, healthcare, and education. There were 99 businesses in this sector.
In total, 1,788 residents of Bevaix had jobs. About 43% of these workers were female. Many people who live in Bevaix travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 1,295 people left Bevaix to work elsewhere. About 660 people came into Bevaix for work. Most people used a private car to get to work. About 10.5% used public transportation.
Religion in Bevaix
Based on the 2000 census, many people in Bevaix belonged to Christian churches. About 29.7% were Roman Catholic. Another 41.4% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other Christian churches, including Orthodox churches.
A small number of people followed other religions. For example, about 1.42% were Islamic. Some people did not belong to any church. About 20.15% said they had no religion or were agnostic or atheist.
Education in Bevaix
Education is important in Bevaix. About 37.5% of the population has completed upper secondary education. This is education after mandatory schooling. About 15% have gone on to higher education. This includes university or specialized colleges.
In the canton of Neuchâtel, most towns offer two years of non-mandatory kindergarten. After that, children have five years of mandatory primary education. Then, there are four years of mandatory secondary education. Many students travel to larger schools for secondary education.
During the 2010-2011 school year, Bevaix had 5 kindergarten classes with 86 students. There were also 13 primary classes with 257 students. In 2000, 26 students came to Bevaix for school from other towns. However, 345 students from Bevaix went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Bevaix para niños
