Biberstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Biberstein
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 Biberstein
Location in Switzerland
Biberstein
Location in Canton of Aargau
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Aargau | |
| District | Aarau | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 391 m (1,283 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,588 | |
| • Density | 387/km2 (1,003/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
5023
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| Surrounded by | Auenstein, Küttigen, Rohr, Rupperswil, Thalheim | |
Biberstein is a small town, also known as a municipality, in the Aarau district of the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It's a quiet place with a rich history, located close to the city of Aarau.
Contents
Exploring Biberstein's Location
Biberstein is found on the north side of the Aar River, very close to the larger town of Aarau. You can reach Biberstein from downtown Aarau by bus in about 17 minutes.
The communities next to Biberstein are Auenstein to the east, Küttigen to the west, Rohr to the south, Rupperswil to the southeast, and Thalheim to the northeast.
Biberstein covers an area of about 4.1 square kilometers (1.6 square miles). A large part of this area, about 1.81 square kilometers (0.70 square miles), is covered by forests. The land is also used for farming, and some areas have buildings and roads.
A Look Back at Biberstein's History
Biberstein has been a home for people for a very long time. Archaeologists have found signs that people lived here as far back as the 6th century. They discovered ancient graves carved into stone and even a type of sword called a Spatha.
In 2005, the community celebrated its 725th birthday! The town's story began in the 13th century. At that time, a powerful family called the Habsburg-Laufenburg Counts built a castle, Schloss Biberstein, and the village around it. They did this to stop another powerful family, the Counts of Kyburg, from expanding their land.
The castle was built right on the banks of the Aar River. This was a smart move because it allowed them to collect money from boats traveling on the river. There was also a ferry nearby that carried people across the river between Biberstein and Rohr. This ferry operated until the start of World War II, when a bridge was built instead.
Becoming a Town and Changing Hands
The village of Biberstein was first mentioned in official records in the year 1280. Later, in 1315, both the village and the castle were referred to as a "city" owned by the Habsburg-Laufenburg family.
In 1335, a group of knights called the Knights Hospitaller took over Biberstein. By 1399, the city had strong walls around it for protection.
In 1499, during the Swabian War (a conflict in the region), the city of Bern attacked Biberstein. In 1527, Bern took control of the castle and placed an official called a bailiff there. A few years later, in 1535, the Knights Hospitaller had to sell the city to Bern. This was the last time Biberstein was called a "city."
After the Napoleonic wars and the end of the old Swiss government in 1798, Biberstein became part of the Aarau District in the new Canton Aargau.
Biberstein's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Biberstein is quite interesting! It shows a silver beaver sitting on a silver mound, chewing on a piece of gold wood.
This design is a type of "canting" symbol. It's a visual pun on the town's name. In German, "Biber" means beaver, and "Stein" means stone. So, it's a beaver on a stone!
Who Lives in Biberstein?
Biberstein has a population of 1,588 people. A small part of the population, about 10.2%, are people from other countries. Over the last ten years, the number of people living here has grown by about 24.1%.
Most people in Biberstein speak German, which is about 94.7% of the population. English is the second most common language, and Albanian is the third.
Education in Biberstein
Switzerland is known for its good education system, and Biberstein is no different. About 81% of adults (aged 25–64) in Biberstein have completed either advanced high school education or gone on to higher education, like university.
In the 2008/2009 school year, there were 86 students attending primary school in Biberstein.
What Biberstein Does for Work
In 2007, Biberstein had a very low unemployment rate of 0.72%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them.
The town has different types of businesses:
- Some people work in the primary sector, which means jobs like farming.
- A few people work in the secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
- The largest number of people work in the tertiary sector, which covers services like shops, offices, and healthcare.
Many people who live in Biberstein travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 80.8% of residents worked outside Biberstein. However, Biberstein also has jobs, with 112 people coming into the municipality for work.
Religion in Biberstein
Based on a census from 2000, about 21.4% of the people in Biberstein were Roman Catholic. A larger group, about 61.6%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A very small number of people belonged to the Christian Catholic faith.
Images for kids
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The Biberstein castle.
