Buchs, St. Gallen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buchs SG
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Buchs
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 Buchs SG
Location in Switzerland
Buchs SG
Location in Canton of St. Gallen
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | St. Gallen | |
| District | Werdenberg | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 15.95 km2 (6.16 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 448 m (1,470 ft) | |
| Highest elevation
(Glannachopf)
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2,232 m (7,323 ft) | |
| Lowest elevation | 441 m (1,447 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 13,053 | |
| • Density | 818.37/km2 (2,119.6/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
9470
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| Surrounded by | Eschen (LI), Gams, Grabs, Schaan (LI), Sennwald, Sevelen, Vaduz (LI) | |
Buchs (pronounced buhks) is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of St. Gallen. Buchs is special because it sits right on the border with Liechtenstein. In 2002, Buchs officially became known as a town.
Contents
History of Buchs
Early Beginnings
Buchs was first mentioned way back in the year 765. At that time, it was called de Pogio. This name appeared in an old document from a bishop named Tello.
Later, in 1213, the town was called Buchs. It was then owned by a powerful family known as the Counts of Werdenberg.
Changes Over Time
In 1404, the Werdenberg lands, including Buchs, were taken over by the Counts of Montfort. Then, in 1483, Count John Peter of Sax-Misox became the new owner.
A big change happened in 1517. The people of Glarus bought the area. They brought the Protestant Reformation to Buchs. This changed how people practiced their religion.
Modern History
From 1798 to 1803, Buchs was part of the short-lived Helvetic Republic. This was a time when France had a lot of influence in Switzerland. After that, Buchs joined the new Canton of St. Gallen.
Geography of Buchs
Buchs covers an area of about 16 square kilometers (about 6 square miles). A large part of this land, almost 40%, is used for farming. About 28% is covered by forests.
More than 25% of the land has buildings or roads. The rest, about 7.5%, is made up of rivers or lakes.
Location and Importance
Buchs is located in the Werdenberg area. It is an important center for shopping, businesses, and services. It serves the upper Rhine valley in St. Gallen.
The town includes the main village of Buchs. It also has larger small communities called Räfis and Burgerau. There are also smaller settlements on the Buchserberg mountain.
As mentioned, Buchs is right on the border with Liechtenstein. It is very close to the town of Schaan in Liechtenstein.
Coat of Arms
The official symbol, or coat of arms, of Buchs is a green shield. In the middle, there is a silver stripe. On this stripe, there is a black altar cloth with gold rings and fringes.
People of Buchs
Population and Languages
Buchs has a population of over 13,000 people. About 30% of the people living in Buchs are from other countries. Many come from Germany, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Austria, and Turkey.
Most people in Buchs speak German. About 85% of the population uses German as their main language. Other languages spoken include Serbo-Croatian and Albanian.
Age Groups
The population of Buchs includes people of all ages. In 2000, about 11% of the people were children aged 0 to 9 years old. Teenagers, aged 10 to 19, made up about 12.5% of the population.
Adults aged 20 to 59 made up a large part of the population. Older adults, aged 60 and above, made up about 19% of the population.
Political Choices
In the 2007 federal election, the most popular political party was the SVP. They received about 36% of the votes. Other popular parties included the SP and the FDP.
Population Growth Over Time
Here is how the population of Buchs has grown over many years:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1831 | 1,781 |
| 1850 | 2,015 |
| 1900 | 3,851 |
| 1950 | 5,204 |
| 2000 | 10,399 |
Education in Buchs
Many adults in Buchs have a good education. About 65% of people aged 25 to 64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education. This includes universities or special colleges.
Important Schools
Buchs is home to the NTB Interstate University of Applied Sciences of Technology Buchs. This university is part of a larger group of applied sciences universities. NTB offers degrees in engineering subjects.
There is also the International School Rheintal. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. They teach in English and follow the International Baccalaureate Programs.
Places to See
The area around Schloss Werdenberg is a special place. It is shared between Buchs and the nearby town of Grabs. This area is recognized as an important Swiss heritage site.
Economy of Buchs
Jobs and Businesses
Buchs has a strong economy. In 2005, there were 143 people working in farming. There were also 1,624 people working in manufacturing and industry.
The largest number of people, 4,147, worked in the service sector. This includes jobs in shops, offices, and other services.
Major Companies
A big company in Buchs is Merck. This company works in chemicals and life sciences. It used to be called Sigma-Aldrich. Today, Merck employs over 500 people in Buchs.
Many people who live in Buchs also work there. In 2000, about 2,671 residents worked in the town. Also, many people from outside Buchs come into the town for work.
Religion
In 2000, about 34% of the people in Buchs were Roman Catholic. About 41% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
Other religions in Buchs include the Orthodox Church and other Christian churches. About 9% of the population was Islamic. Some people did not belong to any church.
Famous People from Buchs
- Simon Schwendener (1829–1919), a Swiss botanist and professor.
- Gallus Berger (1903–1982), a politician who was a member of the Swiss National Council.
- Walter R. Kramer (1914–1995), a U.S. badminton player.
- Heinrich Rohrer (1933–2013), a Swiss physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1986.
See also
In Spanish: Buchs (San Galo) para niños
