Egnach facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Egnach
Egnach village
Coat of arms
Egnach Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Egnach Location in Canton of Thurgau Show map of Canton of Thurgau
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Thurgau
District	Arbon
Area
• Total	18.43 km2 (7.12 sq mi)
Elevation	408 m (1,339 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	4,789
• Density	259.85/km2 (673.00/sq mi)
Postal code	9322
Surrounded by	Amriswil, Arbon, Eriskirch (DE-BW), Friedrichshafen (DE-BW), Häggenschwil (SG), Muolen (SG), Roggwil, Salmsach

Egnach is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Arbon district, which is part of the canton of Thurgau. Egnach is known for its beautiful location along Lake Constance.

History of Egnach

Early Beginnings and Church Influence

Egnach was first mentioned in official records in 1155. However, its history goes back even further. By the 800s, the area seemed to belong to the Bishopric of Constance. This was a powerful church area led by a bishop.

The Abbey of Saint Gall, another important religious center, also owned land in Egnach. This led to some disagreements between the bishop and the abbey over who had legal rights. These issues were settled in 854.

Changes in Power

During the Late Middle Ages (around the 1300s-1400s), Egnach was an important administrative center for the lands controlled by the Bishops of Constance.

In 1460, the Old Swiss Confederacy (the early form of Switzerland) took control of Thurgau. The new Swiss rulers replaced the bishop's officials. Even though the bishop kept some legal rights until 1798, he lost control over the higher courts to the governor of Thurgau in 1509. Egnach even got its own special local court in 1544.

Religious Changes

Egnach was originally part of the church area of Arbon. In 1515, a chapel called St. James Chapel was built in Erdhausen. After 1588, this chapel started holding Reformed church services. The Gallus Chapel in Steinebrunn, however, remained Catholic.

In the village of Neukirch, most people became Reformed in 1528. A Swiss Reformed church was built there in 1727. Catholic residents of Egnach have belonged to the Catholic church in Steinebrunn since 1872.

Forming the Municipality

Egnach used to be divided into 13 smaller areas called Rotten. These Rotten handled things like education and other local duties. In 1803, the modern municipality of Egnach was officially formed, with Neukirch as its main center.

Later, in 1857, the Rotten of Feilen and Frasnacht left Egnach. But then, in 1858, Lengwil and Ballen joined Egnach from the nearby municipality of Roggwil. Finally, in 1870, the different parts of Egnach officially merged into one combined municipality.

Economic Development

By the 1700s, the Egnach area was famous for its many orchards. People even called the region Mostindien, which means "Cider India." By 1850, farmers started focusing more on raising cattle and dairy farming instead of just fruit.

In the early 1800s, different types of textile (fabric) production also grew in Egnach. The arrival of railways helped the economy a lot. The SBB line opened in 1869, and the Bodensee-Toggenburg-Bahn line opened in 1910. Both lines passed through Egnach, bringing more trade and growth. In 1900, a group was formed in the village to help export cider and fruit.

By 2000, about one-fifth of the jobs in Egnach were in agriculture (farming). About one-third of the jobs were in manufacturing (making things). Even with some factories and homes, Egnach still feels like a rural, countryside area.

Geography of Egnach

Egnach covers an area of about 18.42 square kilometers (7.11 square miles).

Land Use

• Most of the land, about 79.9%, is used for farming. This includes fields for crops and orchards for fruit trees.
• About 6.4% of the land is covered by forests.
• Around 12.6% of the area is developed with buildings and roads.
• A small part, about 0.3%, is made up of rivers or lakes.
• About 1.1% of the land is unproductive, meaning it's not used for farming or building.

Location and Villages

Egnach is located in the Arbon district. It's a large municipality that spreads out along the shores of Lake Constance. The municipality includes the main villages of Egnach, Neukirch, and Steinebrunn. It also has 61 smaller hamlets or farmhouses scattered around.

Population and People

Population Numbers

Egnach has a population of about 4,272 people (as of December 2007). About 11.2% of the people living in Egnach are foreign nationals, meaning they are from other countries. Over ten years (1997–2007), the population grew by about 9.3%.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Egnach speak German (93.0%). The next most common languages are Italian (1.6%) and Albanian (1.2%).

Age Groups

Here's a look at the age groups in Egnach (as of 2009):

• Children (0-9 years old): 11.0%
• Teenagers (10-19 years old): 14.4%
• Young adults (20-29 years old): 12.2%
• Adults (30-39 years old): 12.3%
• Adults (40-49 years old): 17.7%
• Adults (50-59 years old): 13.2%
• Seniors (60-69 years old): 9.6%
• Seniors (70-79 years old): 5.9%
• Seniors (80-89 years old): 3.1%
• Seniors (90 and older): 0.7%

Homes and Households

In 2000, there were 1,469 private households in Egnach. On average, there were 2.7 people living in each home. Most of the homes were single-family houses (83.8%).

Historical Population

Here's how Egnach's population has changed over time:

Important Heritage Sites

Egnach has some buildings that are considered very important to Swiss history and culture. The Bohlenständer House and the Farm House Schär with its Granary are listed as heritage sites of national significance. This means they are protected because of their special historical value.

The village of Steinebrunn and the cultural landscape of Balgen are also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. These areas are recognized for their unique beauty and historical importance.

Economy of Egnach

Jobs and Industries

In 2007, the unemployment rate in Egnach was low, at 1.59%. This means most people who wanted to work had a job.

In 2005, jobs in Egnach were divided into three main types:

• Primary sector: About 450 people worked in this sector, which includes farming and other activities that use natural resources. There were 132 businesses in this area.
• Secondary sector: About 745 people worked in this sector, which includes manufacturing and construction. There were 76 businesses in this area.
• Tertiary sector: About 690 people worked in this sector, which includes services like shops, schools, and healthcare. There were 115 businesses in this area.

Commuting to Work

In 2000, many people who lived in Egnach also worked there. However, about 42.4% of residents worked outside the municipality. At the same time, 837 people came into Egnach for work.

When it came to getting to work, 9% of people used public transportation, and 45.2% used a private car.

Religion in Egnach

Based on the 2000 census, here's a look at the religious groups in Egnach:

• About 30.9% of the population were Roman Catholic.
• About 52.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church (a type of Protestant church).
• Smaller groups included those belonging to the Orthodox Church (0.75%), other Christian churches (2.91%), and Islam (3.52%).
• About 6.62% of the population said they did not belong to any church, or were agnostic (not sure if God exists) or atheist (do not believe in God).

Transport in Egnach

Egnach has good public transport connections. It is served by the St. Gallen S-Bahn, which is a local train system. There are three train stations in Egnach: Egnach, Neukirch-Egnach, and Steinebrunn.

Education in Egnach

Switzerland is known for its good education system. In Egnach, about 74.5% of adults (between 25 and 64 years old) have completed either a non-mandatory upper secondary education (like a vocational school or high school) or higher education (like university).

Images for kids

• 

  An aerial view of Egnach from 1949, showing the spread-out villages and farmlands.

See also

In Spanish: Egnach para niños