Degersheim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Degersheim
Coat of arms
Degersheim Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Degersheim Location in Canton of St. Gallen Show map of Canton of St. Gallen
Country	Switzerland
Canton	St. Gallen
District	Wil
Area
• Total	14.48 km2 (5.59 sq mi)
Elevation	819 m (2,687 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	4,099
• Density	283.08/km2 (733.2/sq mi)
Postal code	9113
Surrounded by	Flawil, Herisau (AR), Lütisburg, Mogelsberg, Oberuzwil, Sankt Peterzell, Schwellbrunn (AR)

Degersheim is a lovely town in Switzerland, located in the Canton of St. Gallen. It's part of the Wil area.

History

Degersheim has a long history! It was first mentioned way back in 837. At that time, it was called Tegarascai. Later, it was known as Tegerschen until 1803, when its name officially became Degersheim. Another small village nearby, Wolfertswil, was mentioned even earlier, in 838.

Geography

An aerial view of Degersheim from 1922

Degersheim covers an area of about 14.4 square kilometers (about 5.6 square miles). A big part of this land, more than half (53.4%), is used for farming. About 36.5% is covered by forests, and 10% has buildings or roads. Only a tiny bit (0.1%) is made up of rivers or lakes.

The town includes the main village of Degersheim. It also has smaller communities called hamlets, like Magdenau (which has an old abbey), Wolfertswil, and Hinterschwil. There's even a small part of Degersheim called Obergampen that is separate from the main area, known as an exclave. You'll also find many scattered farmhouses around the area.

Coat of Arms

The design of Degersheim's coat of arms is quite unique. It shows a black background on one side with a golden ash tree that looks like it's been pulled out of the ground. On the other side, it has a golden background with a black Cross of Lorraine.

People and Population

Degersheim has a population of about 3,900 people. Many people in Degersheim speak German, which is the most common language (about 89.9%). Some people also speak Italian (2.3%) and Spanish (1.8%).

The town has a good mix of ages. About 13% of the population are young children (0-9 years old), and 16.1% are teenagers (10-19 years old). Most adults are between 20 and 59 years old, making up about 51.7% of the population. Older adults (60 and above) make up about 19.2% of the population.

Over the years, the number of people living in Degersheim has changed. Here's a quick look:

Many people in Degersheim are well-educated. About 68.2% of adults (aged 25-64) have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like a university.

Important Heritage Sites

Magdenau Abbey and its church

Degersheim is home to some very important historical places. The old church of St. Verena in Magdenau and the Cistercian abbey (a type of monastery) at Magdenau are considered heritage sites of national significance in Switzerland. This means they are very important cultural landmarks.

The main village of Degersheim itself is also recognized as an important Swiss heritage site.

Economy

Degersheim has a healthy economy with people working in different areas.

• The primary sector involves jobs like farming and forestry. About 138 people work in this area.
• The secondary sector includes manufacturing and construction. About 820 people work in these types of jobs.
• The tertiary sector covers services, like shops, offices, and healthcare. About 604 people work in this sector.

Many people who live in Degersheim also work there. However, some residents travel to other towns for work, and people from other towns come to Degersheim for their jobs.

Religion

The Swiss Reformed Church in Degersheim

In Degersheim, many people follow different religions.

• About 44% of the population are Roman Catholic.
• About 34% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church (a type of Protestant church).
• Smaller groups include people who are Orthodox Christian (1.87%), other Christians (4.96%), and Muslim (5.29%).
• Some people belong to other churches, or do not follow any religion.

Weather

Degersheim experiences a good amount of rain or snow each year. On average, it has about 153.6 days with precipitation and receives about 1549 millimeters (61 inches) of rain or snow annually.

• The wettest month is usually June, with about 193 millimeters (7.6 inches) of rain or snow over about 15 days.
• May has the most days with precipitation (also about 15 days), but with slightly less rain or snow (163 millimeters or 6.4 inches).
• The driest month is January, with about 90 millimeters (3.5 inches) of precipitation over about 15 days.

Images for kids

• 

  Degersheim in winter

See also

In Spanish: Degersheim para niños