Erschmatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erschmatt
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Erschmatt village
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 Erschmatt
Location in Switzerland
Erschmatt
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Valais |
| District | Leuk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.2 km2 (4.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,228 m (4,029 ft) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 278 |
| • Density | 24.82/km2 (64.3/sq mi) |
| Postal code |
3957
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| Surrounded by | Bratsch, Ferden, Gampel, Guttet-Feschel, Leuk |
Erschmatt was once a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It was located in the Valais region, in an area known as the Leuk district. On January 1, 2013, Erschmatt joined with the nearby town of Leuk. So, it is no longer a separate municipality.
Contents
History of Erschmatt
Erschmatt is a very old place. The first time it was ever written about was in the year 1328. Back then, its name was Huers. Later, in 1357, people called it Hoers.
Geography and Location
Before it merged with Leuk, Erschmatt covered an area of about 11.2 square kilometers (about 4.3 square miles). A large part of this land, about 37%, was used for farming. Forests covered about 22.8% of the area.
Only a small part, 1.9%, had buildings or roads. The rest, about 38.4%, was unproductive land like mountains or rocky areas.
Erschmatt is located high up in the mountains. It sits at an elevation of about 1,230 meters (4,035 feet). This village is part of the Leuker Sonnenbergen mountain range. Besides the main village, there is also a small settlement called Brentschen. This place is even higher, at about 1,540 meters (5,052 feet). People usually live there all year round, often for herding animals.
Erschmatt's Coat of Arms
Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. Erschmatt's coat of arms has a blue background. In the middle, there is a white stripe that goes across. On this stripe, you can see a red flaming sword with a black handle.
Above the stripe, there is a white six-pointed star. Below the stripe, there is a white clover leaf. At the very bottom, there are green hills.
People and Population
In 2010, Erschmatt had a population of 278 people. Over the ten years before that (from 1999 to 2009), the number of people living there went down by 9%. This was partly because fewer people moved in and more moved out. Also, there were fewer births than deaths.
Most people in Erschmatt speak German. In 2000, about 99% of the people spoke German as their main language. A very small number spoke French or Romansh.
In 2008, there were slightly more men than women. About 51.9% of the population were men, and 48.1% were women. Most of the people living in Erschmatt in 2000 were born there. About 65.6% were born in Erschmatt itself. Another 24.8% were born in the same region (canton).
Looking at age groups in 2000, about 24.5% of the people were children and teenagers (under 20 years old). Adults (20 to 64 years old) made up 53.6% of the population. Older people (over 64 years old) were about 21.9%.
This chart shows how the population of Erschmatt has changed over many years:
Interesting Sights in Erschmatt
The entire village of Erschmatt is considered a special heritage site in Switzerland. This means it has important historical and cultural value.
One very interesting building in Erschmatt is the world's first residential Heliodom. This special house was built by Herbert Lötscher in 2013. A Heliodom is designed to use the sun's energy in a smart way. In winter, its large windows let in lots of sunlight to warm the whole building. In summer, the windows are shaded, keeping the house cool. This clever design helps the Heliodom use up to 80% less energy than a normal house. It's a great example of green building!
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Erschmatt village view
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Another view of Erschmatt
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The Heliodom in Erschmatt, September 2013
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Another view of the Heliodom, September 2013
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, Erschmatt had a very low unemployment rate, only 1.2%. This means almost everyone who wanted a job had one.
The jobs in Erschmatt were divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs that get raw materials from nature. In 2008, about 26 people worked in this sector, mostly in farming and forestry.
- Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things. About 6 people worked in this sector, for example, in manufacturing or construction.
- Tertiary sector: These jobs provide services to people. About 20 people worked in this sector. This included jobs in shops, restaurants, and education.
In 2000, more people from Erschmatt traveled to other towns for work than people who came into Erschmatt to work. About 22.7% of working people used public transportation to get to their jobs. A much larger number, 60.3%, used their own cars.
Religion
According to a survey in 2000, most people in Erschmatt were Roman Catholic. About 92.4% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. A smaller group, about 3.6%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A few people did not belong to any church or preferred not to say.
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Corpus Christi procession, 2012
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Corpus Christi procession, 2012
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Corpus Christi procession, 2011
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Corpus Christi procession, 2010
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Corpus Christi procession, 2012
Education
In Erschmatt, about 28.8% of the people had finished their upper secondary education. This is like finishing high school. A smaller number, about 4%, had gone on to higher education, like university.
In 2000, 9 students came to Erschmatt from other towns to go to school. At the same time, 20 students from Erschmatt went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Erschmatt para niños
