Böckten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Böckten
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 Böckten
Location in Switzerland
Böckten
Location in Canton of Basel-Landschaft
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Basel-Landschaft | |
| District | Sissach | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.28 km2 (0.88 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 385 m (1,263 ft) | |
| Population
(Jun 2021 )
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| • Total | 812 | |
| • Density | 356.1/km2 (922.4/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4461
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| Surrounded by | Gelterkinden, Rickenbach, Sissach, Thürnen | |
Böckten is a small town, also called a municipality, located in Switzerland. It's part of the Basel-Country area, in a district called Sissach. Böckten is known for its quiet charm and its connection to bigger nearby towns.
Contents
Discover Böckten's Location
Böckten covers an area of about 2.28 square kilometers (0.88 square miles). A big part of this land, about 43%, is used for farming. Forests cover another 41.7% of the area. The rest of the land, about 14.5%, has buildings and roads. A small part, 1.3%, is made up of rivers.
Böckten sits in the Ergolz valley. This valley is named after the main river in Basel-Country, the Ergolz. This river flows into the Rhine and was even a source of drinking water for the Romans long ago! Böckten is located between two larger neighboring towns: Sissach to the west and Gelterkinden to the east.
Two smaller towns, Thürnen and Rickenbach, are also close by. Böckten's center is about 385 meters (1,263 feet) above sea level. However, its forest hills reach much higher, up to 740 meters (2,428 feet).
Life in Böckten
Böckten has grown closer to Gelterkinden over the years. However, it still feels separate from Sissach. Even so, Böckten is often linked to Sissach for things like schools and church. Because it's located between these larger towns, which both have train stations, Böckten is well-connected. It's easy to reach bigger cities like Basel and Liestal from here.
One interesting fact about Böckten is that, unlike its neighbors, you won't hear church bells ringing at 6 AM!
Böckten's Past: A Look at History
Böckten was first mentioned long ago as Bettinghofen. This name later became Bettinchon in 1246, and then Betkon in 1339. In the Middle Ages, Böckten was owned by the Earl of Homburg. Its ownership changed several times until it became part of Basel in 1467.
A castle called Bischofstein was built in 1311 to protect the area. Sadly, it was destroyed by a big earthquake in Basel in 1356. But don't worry, it has been rebuilt since then!
Like many towns in Switzerland, Böckten saw a lot of new buildings go up from the 1980s onwards. This caused its population to quickly double, from under 400 people in 1980 to over 700 by 1991.
Who Lives in Böckten?
Böckten has a population of 812. Most people in Böckten, about 90.4%, speak German. Other languages spoken include Albanian (1.9%) and Italian (1.8%).
In 2010, about 8.2% of the population were young children (0-6 years old). Teenagers (7-19 years old) made up about 11.8% of the population.
Economy: How People Work in Böckten
Böckten has several small businesses. It's also home to a factory for a Swiss food company called Le Patron.
In 2005, a small number of people worked in farming (17 people). A much larger group, 334 people, worked in manufacturing and construction. About 62 people worked in services, like shops or restaurants.
Many people who live in Böckten also work in other towns. About 20.5% of workers use public transport to get to work, while 46.9% drive their own cars.
Getting Around Böckten
Böckten is a stop on the 105 bus route. This bus connects the Sissach train station and Gelterkinden center, both just a few minutes away. From Sissach and Gelterkinden, you can catch regular trains to Basel (a 17-minute ride) and to other major cities like Zurich, Bern, and Lucerne.
Gelterkinden's train station is very close to Böckten and can be reached on foot. Sissach's express train station is also easy to reach by bike. If you prefer to drive, you can get onto the Swiss highway system in Sissach, which is about four kilometers away.
Long ago, from 1891, Böckten had a station for an electric tramway that ran between Sissach and Gelterkinden. This tram line stopped running in 1916 when the federal railway line between Basel and Olten was built.
Religion in Böckten
Based on the 2000 census, about 16.9% of the people in Böckten were Roman Catholic. A larger group, 58.1%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other Christian churches, and about 4.93% were Islamic. About 13.3% of the population did not belong to any church or were agnostic or atheist.
Learning in Böckten
Böckten has its own primary school for children aged 7 and up (5 school years). It also has a kindergarten for children aged 5 and up (2 school years).
When students reach secondary school (from age 12, for 4 school years), they travel to Sissach by bike or bus. For higher education, like grammar school, students commute to Liestal by train. The closest university is in Basel.
About 41.7% of the people in Böckten have finished non-mandatory high school. About 12% have gone on to complete higher education at a university or a specialized college.
Social Life and Clubs
Like many Swiss towns, Böckten has many different clubs for people to join. Some of the most popular are the various sports clubs for men, women, boys, and girls. There are also clubs for carnival celebrations, general culture, fishing, shooting, tennis, and even winemaking. There is also a women's club.
Places to Visit in Böckten
- Bischofstein ruin: This old castle ruin is located high up, about 740 meters (2,428 feet) above sea level. From here, you can enjoy a great view towards Sissach.
- Lookout point: There's a special spot in the forest with a fireplace, offering a nice view of Böckten.
Böckten's Coat of Arms
The official symbol, or coat of arms, for Böckten has six horizontal stripes, alternating between silver (white) and blue. This design was the emblem of the last noble family who owned Böckten, the Truchsessen of Rheinfelden.
Images for kids
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Ruins of Bischofstein
See also
In Spanish: Böckten para niños
