Champoz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Champoz
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
 Champoz
Location in Switzerland
Champoz
Location in Canton of Bern
|
||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Jura bernois | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.17 km2 (2.77 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 849 m (2,785 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
|
||
| • Total | 174 | |
| • Density | 24.27/km2 (62.85/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2735
|
|
| Surrounded by | Bévilard, Malleray, Souboz, Perrefitte, Moutier, Court, Sorvilier | |
Champoz is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the Jura mountains, in the French-speaking part of the canton of Bern. Champoz is part of the Jura bernois administrative district.
Contents
History of Champoz
Champoz was first mentioned in old records in the year 1365. Back then, it was called Champo.
Early History and Roman Times
The Roman army once had an observation post on a nearby mountainside. This was close to where the village is today. We don't know much about the very early days of Champoz.
For a long time, the village was owned by the bailiff of Malleray. A bailiff was like a local manager or ruler. This bailiff worked under the provost of Moutier-Grandval Abbey. A provost was a high-ranking church official.
In 1499, during the Swabian War, soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire destroyed the village.
Changes in Religion and Rule
Before and after the Protestant Reformation in 1531, Champoz was part of the church area (called a parish) of Chalières. The Protestant Reformation was a big change in how people practiced Christianity. Later, in 1746, Champoz became part of the Bévilard parish instead.
In 1797, France won a war and took control of the area. Champoz became part of a French region called Mont-Terrible. A few years later, in 1800, it moved to another French region called Haut-Rhin. After Napoleon was defeated, leaders met at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. They decided that Champoz would become part of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Modern Development
Champoz is located high up in the mountains, above the Tavannes valley. Because of its location, new roads, railroads, and factories in the 1800s mostly went through the valley, bypassing Champoz. Today, many people in Champoz still work in farming. Others travel to jobs in the Tavannes valley.
Geography of Champoz
Champoz covers an area of about 7.11 square kilometers (2.75 square miles).
Land Use
- Almost half of the land (46.5%) is used for farming. This includes fields for crops and pastures for animals.
- More than half of the land (50.6%) is covered by forests.
- A small part (2.9%) has buildings or roads.
- A tiny bit (0.1%) is rivers or lakes.
Most of the forests (44.0% of the total land) are dense woods. Some areas (6.5%) have orchards or small groups of trees. For farming, 11.4% is for crops, 15.9% is for pastures, and 18.7% is for mountain pastures.
Location and Layout
Champoz is located on the southern side of Moron mountain. The town itself is a linear village, meaning its buildings are spread out along a road. It also includes part of a smaller settlement called Le Petit-Champoz, which is a hamlet. A hamlet is a very small village.
On January 1, 2010, Champoz became part of a new administrative area called Arrondissement administratif Jura bernois.
Champoz Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Champoz shows a yellow shield with a green hill at the bottom. From the hill, a blue gentian flower grows. At the top, there is a red band with a silver half-sun rising.
People and Population
Champoz has a population of about 157 people (as of December 2011).
Population Changes
Over ten years (from 2001 to 2011), the population of Champoz changed by about 2.6%. More people moved into the town than moved out.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Champoz (about 90.7%) speak French as their main language. A few others speak German.
Where People Live
- About 47% of the people living in Champoz in 2000 were born there.
- About 41.7% were born in the same canton (Bern).
- About 7.9% were born elsewhere in Switzerland.
- About 3.3% were born outside Switzerland.
Age Groups
In 2011, the population was made up of:
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old): 25.5%
- Adults (20–64 years old): 61.8%
- Seniors (over 64 years old): 12.7%
Family Life
In 2000, there were 72 single people in Champoz who had never been married. There were 74 married people, 3 widows or widowers, and 2 divorced people.
Homes in Champoz
In 2010, there were 10 homes with only one person living in them. There were also 10 homes with five or more people. In 2000, most apartments (66.7%) were lived in all the time. Some (26.1%) were used only during certain seasons, and a few (7.2%) were empty.
Historical Population Chart
The chart below shows how the population of Champoz has changed over time.
Important Sights
The entire village of Champoz is considered an important part of Swiss heritage. This means its buildings and layout are protected because of their historical value.
Economy and Jobs
In 2011, the unemployment rate in Champoz was low, at 1.79%.
Types of Jobs
In 2008, 41 people worked in Champoz.
- Most jobs (32 people) were in the primary economic sector. This means jobs like farming and forestry. There were 12 businesses in this area.
- A few jobs (3 people) were in the secondary sector. This includes manufacturing and construction. There were 2 businesses here.
- Some jobs (6 people) were in the tertiary sector. This covers services like shops, restaurants, and education. There were 3 businesses in this sector.
Many people who live in Champoz also work there. In 2000, 31 workers both lived and worked in the town. However, more people left Champoz to work elsewhere than came into Champoz for work.
Getting to Work
- About 1.5% of workers used public transportation to get to their jobs.
- About 49.2% used a private car.
Religion in Champoz
Based on the 2000 census:
- About 49.7% of the people belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- About 5.3% were Roman Catholic.
- About 56.29% belonged to other Christian churches.
- About 5.3% said they had no religion or were agnostic (meaning they don't know if God exists) or atheist (meaning they don't believe in God).
Education in Champoz
Education is very important in Switzerland.
School System
The Canton of Bern has a specific school system:
- One year of non-required Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of required lower Secondary school. Here, students are grouped by their abilities.
- After lower Secondary, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is like learning a job by working with an experienced person.
Students in Champoz
During the 2011–2012 school year, 12 students attended classes in Champoz.
- There were no kindergarten classes in the town.
- There was one primary class with 12 students.
- About 8.3% of these primary students spoke a different language at home than the one used in the classroom.
In 2000, 27 students lived and went to school in Champoz. Another 11 students came from other towns to study there. At the same time, 15 students from Champoz went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Champoz para niños
