Ferenbalm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ferenbalm
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 Ferenbalm
Location in Switzerland
Ferenbalm
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Bern-Mittelland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.17 km2 (3.54 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 485 m (1,591 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,214 | |
| • Density | 132.39/km2 (342.9/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3206
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| Surrounded by | Agriswil (FR), Gempenach (FR), Gurbrü, Gurmels (FR), Kriechenwil, Laupen, Mühleberg, Ulmiz (FR), Wileroltigen | |
Ferenbalm (which is Les Baumettes in French) is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the Bern-Mittelland area of the canton of Bern.
Contents
A Look at Ferenbalm's Past
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Ferenbalm was first mentioned in old records in the year 1123. Back then, it was called villa de Balmis. Later, in the 1500s, it became known as Feren-Balm to tell it apart from another place called Oberbalm.
Early Settlements and Roman Times
The very first signs of people living here are ancient burial mounds. These mounds are likely from the Hallstatt era, a time long ago when people used iron tools. Another burial mound from the La Tene era has also been found.
During the Roman era, there were settlements in Ferenbalm. At a place called Gümirain, only bricks and pottery remain from a Roman settlement. At Biberen, bronze pipes were found, showing another Roman presence.
Changes in Ownership
An old document says that the Kings of Burgundy gave this land to a monastery called Payerne Priory around 961-962. However, experts now think this document might have been created later. Still, by 1123, Ferenbalm was definitely part of the Priory's lands.
In the 1200s, the Counts of Kyburg took over the village. They made it part of their territory, known as the Herrschaft of Oltigen. By 1410, the Kyburg Counts were in debt. They had to sell Oltigen and its lands to the city of Bern. Later, parts of Ferenbalm were added to the Laupen district. The villages of Biberen and Gammen joined between 1502 and 1527.
The Village Church and Modern Growth
The village church, named St. Peter and Paul, was also first mentioned in 1123. In 1528, Bern adopted the Protestant Reformation, a new form of Christianity. The church in Ferenbalm also became a Reformed parish church. This church served many German-speaking communities nearby. After a fire in 1657, the church was rebuilt.
Ferenbalm has always benefited from its location. It was on a main road that split, leading to Lausanne and Neuchatel. When a train station was built, it brought more money and people to the area. Starting in the 1960s, many people who worked in nearby cities moved to Ferenbalm. New housing areas like Kleingümmenen, Biberen, and Rizenbach were built. Today, about half of the working people travel to jobs in other cities.
Where is Ferenbalm?
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Ferenbalm covers an area of about 9.18 square kilometers (3.54 square miles). Most of this land, about 68.3%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 19.1% of the area. About 11.4% of the land has buildings or roads. A small part, 1.6%, is rivers or lakes.
Ferenbalm is located on a flat area called a plateau. This plateau is between the Saane and Bibern rivers. Ferenbalm is not one big town. Instead, it is made up of several villages like Ferenbalm, Vogelbuch, Kleingümmenen, and Biberen. It also includes an exclave called Gammen, which is a part of Ferenbalm that is separated from the main area. The municipality is right on the border with the Canton of Fribourg.
Ferenbalm's Coat of Arms
The design on Ferenbalm's coat of arms shows a red background. On it, there is a silver key and a silver sword crossed over each other. Behind them is a green linden tree with its roots showing.
Who Lives in Ferenbalm?
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Ferenbalm has a population of about 1,252 people (as of December 2011). About 7.2% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the past ten years, the population has changed slightly.
Most people in Ferenbalm, about 95.7%, speak German as their main language. A smaller number of people speak French (1.0%) or Italian (1.0%).
Population Details
In 2008, about 47.9% of the population was male and 52.1% was female. Many people, about 31.3%, were born in Ferenbalm and still lived there in 2000. About 41.2% were born in the same canton, while 18.9% were born elsewhere in Switzerland. About 5.8% were born outside of Switzerland.
In 2011, children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) made up 17.6% of the population. Adults (20-64 years old) made up 64.6%, and seniors (over 64 years old) made up 17.8%.
In 2010, there were 124 homes where only one person lived. There were also 27 homes with five or more people. Most apartments, about 91.6%, were lived in all the time.
The chart below shows how the population of Ferenbalm has changed over time:
Important Heritage Sites
Ferenbalm has several places that are considered important heritage sites for Switzerland. These include:
- The old house in Jerisberghof
- The farm house at Statthalterhof
- The railroad bridge (viaduct) over the Saane river
- The Ofen house
The entire village of Gammen and the small settlement (or hamlet) of Jerisberghof are also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. The old house in Jerisberghof was built in 1703 and is now a farm museum.
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The old house at Jerisberghof
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Farm House at Statthalterhof
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Railroad-Viaduct over the Saane river
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Ofen house
Economy and Jobs
In 2011, Ferenbalm had a low unemployment rate of 0.98%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them. In 2008, there were 335 people working in the municipality.
Types of Jobs
Jobs are often grouped into three main types:
- Primary sector: These are jobs related to getting raw materials, like farming. In Ferenbalm, 112 people worked in this sector, mostly in agriculture.
- Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things, like in factories or construction. There were 113 people in this sector, with many in manufacturing and construction.
- Tertiary sector: These jobs provide services, like shops, restaurants, or education. About 110 people worked in this sector.
Many people who live in Ferenbalm travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 501 people commuted out of Ferenbalm for their jobs, while 122 people came into Ferenbalm to work. About 24.7% of working people used public transport to get to work, and 46.2% used a private car.
Religion in Ferenbalm
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Based on the 2000 census, most people in Ferenbalm belong to the Swiss Reformed Church, about 73.7%. About 11.6% were Roman Catholic. A smaller number of people belonged to other Christian churches or were Islamic. About 6.26% of the population did not belong to any church, or were agnostic or atheist.
Education for Kids
In Ferenbalm, about 59.6% of adults have finished non-mandatory upper secondary education. This is like high school. About 19.5% have gone on to higher education, like university.
School System
The school system in the Canton of Bern starts with one year of non-required Kindergarten. After that, students go to Primary school for six years. Then, they have three years of lower Secondary school. In Secondary school, students are grouped based on their abilities. After lower Secondary, students can choose to continue their education or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).
During the 2011-2012 school year, 84 students attended schools in Ferenbalm. There was one kindergarten class with 17 students. The municipality also had three primary classes with 67 students.
Getting Around
Ferenbalm has a train station called Gümmenen. This station is on the Bern–Neuchâtel train line, making it easy to travel to nearby cities.
See also
In Spanish: Ferenbalm para niños
