Cossonay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cossonay
Cossonay town hall
Coat of arms
Cossonay Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Cossonay Location in Canton of Vaud Show map of Canton of Vaud
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Vaud
District	Morges
Area
• Total	8.28 km2 (3.20 sq mi)
Elevation	562 m (1,844 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	4,223
• Density	510.0/km2 (1,321.0/sq mi)
Postal code	1304
Localities	Allens
Surrounded by	Penthalaz, Gollion, Senarclens, La Chaux, Dizy, Lussery-Villars

Cossonay is a town in Switzerland, located in the canton of Vaud. It's part of the Morges area. This charming municipality sits on a high plateau, offering great views and a rich history.

A Look at Cossonay's Past

Cossonay has a long and interesting history, with signs of both Roman times and the Middle Ages. The town was first mentioned in writing in 1096, called Cochoniacum. Over time, its name changed to Cosonai in 1164 and then Cossonai by 1228.

Early Days and City Rights

In 1096, the local church was given to a monastery. Later, in 1224, it went to another monastery, which built a priory (a type of religious house) there. The town also had a wall built in the 11th century, which was made stronger in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Cossonay officially became a city in 1264, meaning it gained special rights and freedoms. However, a big fire at the end of the 14th century destroyed much of the town, including its important records. In 1421, the town came under the rule of the House of Savoy.

Changes in Rule

When the Bernese people took over the canton of Vaud in 1536, Cossonay became part of the administration based in Morges. Later, from 1798 to 1803, Cossonay was part of the Helvetic Republic, a short-lived Swiss state. After that, it became part of the modern canton of Vaud. Cossonay was the capital of its own district from 1798 until 2006, when it joined the Morges district.

Where is Cossonay? (Geography)

Aerial view of Cossonay

Aerial view (1949)

Cossonay is located about 562 meters (1,844 feet) above sea level. It's about 14 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of Lausanne, a larger city. The town sits on a high flat area, about 130 meters (427 feet) above the Venoge river valley. This area is known as the Gros de Vaud, which is a fertile region in the middle of the Vaud canton.

Land Use and Natural Features

Cossonay is often called the "breadbasket" of Vaud because a lot of its land is used for farming. About 62.1% of the municipality's area is farmland. Forests cover about 23% of the land, and buildings and roads make up about 14%.

The eastern edge of Cossonay is marked by the Venoge river. To the west, you'll find the Sépey forest, which is home to the highest point in the municipality, at 620 meters (2,034 feet). There's also a small lake called Étang du Sépey, which formed in an old quarry.

Town Layout and Nearby Places

The municipality includes the main town, Cossonay-Ville, and a smaller village called Allens. Down at the foot of the hill, you'll find the area of Grands Moulins, a cable factory, and the train station (Cossonay-Gare). These are actually located in the nearby municipality of Penthalaz.

Cossonay is surrounded by several other towns, including Penthalaz, Gollion, Senarclens, La Chaux, Dizy, and Lussery-Villars.

Cossonay's Symbol (Coat of Arms)

The coat of arms for Cossonay is quite simple. It's described as Per pale Azure and Argent, which means it's divided vertically into two halves: one blue and one silver (white).

Who Lives in Cossonay? (Demographics)

Old town of Cossonay

Old town of Cossonay

Old town of Cossonay

Cossonay has a population of around 3,321 people (as of 2022). Over the past decade, the population has grown quite a bit, mostly because more people have moved here.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Cossonay speak French, which is the main language in this part of Switzerland. About 89.1% of the population speaks French. Other languages spoken include German (3.1%) and Portuguese (2.7%).

Age Groups

The population of Cossonay includes a good mix of age groups. About 12.1% of the people are children aged 0-9, and 14.7% are teenagers aged 10-19. Adults aged 20-59 make up a large portion of the population, and about 15.2% are seniors aged 60 and older.

Population Changes Over Time

The chart below shows how Cossonay's population has changed throughout history:

Important Buildings and Sites

Church in Cossonay

The Swiss Reformed Church of St-Pierre and St-Paul in Cossonay is a very important historical building. It's listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance, meaning it's protected because of its historical and cultural value. The entire town of Cossonay, along with the nearby village of La Chaux, is also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

How People Make a Living (Economy)

For a long time, Cossonay was mainly a farming town. Until the 15th century, people grew a lot of grapes for wine. After that, they started growing other crops and raising cattle.

From Mills to Modern Jobs

In the 16th century, mills were built along the Venoge river. Then, in the 19th century, industries started to develop. Today, many people who live in Cossonay travel to work in the larger city of Lausanne.

In 2010, the unemployment rate in Cossonay was 3.8%. Most jobs are in the "tertiary sector," which includes services like sales, finance, education, and healthcare. There are also jobs in farming (primary sector) and manufacturing or construction (secondary sector).

Many people who live in Cossonay commute to other towns for work. About 13.2% use public transportation, while 66.2% drive their own cars.

Beliefs and Religions

Based on a 2000 survey, about 46.2% of the people in Cossonay belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church (a type of Protestant church). About 29.8% were Roman Catholic. There were also smaller numbers of people who belonged to other Christian churches, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or no religion.

Cossonay's Climate (Weather)

Cossonay usually has about 116.7 days of rain or snow each year. On average, it gets about 909 millimeters (35.8 inches) of precipitation annually. June is often the wettest month, with about 93 millimeters (3.7 inches) of rain or snow. May has the most days with precipitation, but April is usually the driest month.

Learning in Cossonay (Education)

Education is important in Cossonay. About 37.8% of the population has completed upper secondary education (like high school), and 13.7% have gone on to higher education, such as university.

School System

In the 2009/2010 school year, there were 508 students in the Cossonay school district. The canton of Vaud provides two years of optional pre-school. Primary school lasts for four years, and lower secondary school lasts for six years.

Many students from other towns come to Cossonay for school, and some Cossonay residents attend schools outside the municipality.

Getting Around (Transportation)

Cossonay is an important crossroads for highways connecting different towns. The A1 motorway, which links Lausanne and Yverdon, is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the town center.

Trains and Funiculars

In 1855, a railway line opened a train station at Cossonay-Gare. This station is now served by three lines of the RER Vaud commuter train network. To get from Cossonay-Gare (the train station) up to Cossonay-Ville (the main town), you can take the Cossonay–Gare–Ville funicular, which is a special cable railway that goes up a steep slope.

Buses

Postal buses also run from Cossonay-Gare to other towns like Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne and L'Isle. From Cossonay-Ville, you can take buses to Cottens and Morges.

Famous People from Cossonay

• Marcel Pilet-Golaz (1889–1958): A Swiss politician who served on the Swiss Federal Council, which is like the country's government, from 1928 to 1944.
• Ervin Y. Galantay (1930–2011): A Hungarian-American architect who lived most of his life in Cossonay.

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See also

In Spanish: Cossonay para niños