Gossau, Zürich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gossau
Coat of arms
Gossau Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Gossau Location in Canton of Zurich Show map of Canton of Zurich
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Zurich
District	Hinwil
Area
• Total	18.26 km2 (7.05 sq mi)
Elevation	455 m (1,493 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	10,282
• Density	563.09/km2 (1,458.4/sq mi)
Postal code	8625
Surrounded by	Bubikon, Egg, Grüningen, Hinwil, Mönchaltorf, Uster, Wetzikon

Gossau is a town in Switzerland, located in the canton of Zürich. It is part of the Hinwil district. Besides the main village of Gossau, the town also includes smaller areas like Bertschikon, Grüt, Herschmettlen, and Ottikon.

History of Gossau

Gossau was first mentioned in official records way back in the year 859. Back then, it was known by the name Cozzesouwo.

People from Gossau

• Jakob Falk (died 1528 in Zurich): He was an important person from Gossau. He was part of the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland, which was a religious group during that time.
• Ernst Brugger (1914–1998): He was a well-known politician from Gossau.

Geography of Gossau

Aerial view of Gossau from 400 meters (1925)

Gossau covers an area of about 18.3 square kilometers (7.1 square miles). A large part of this land, about 67%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 14.2% of the area. The rest of the land, about 17.9%, has buildings or roads. A small part (0.8%) is made up of streams or other natural areas.

The town is divided into five main parts: Gossau (which includes the church area of Berg), Bertschikon, Grüt, Herschmettlen, and Ottikon. Gossau is located in the upper part of the Glatt valley. The landscape here was shaped by the ice age. You can see many small hills called Drumlins, which are left behind by glaciers. There is also a basin where the former Gossauer Ried (a type of moor) used to be.

Population and Community

Gossau ZH (2005)

Gossau has a population of about 12,000 people. Around 10.5% of the people living in Gossau are from other countries. The population has been growing steadily over the last ten years.

Most people in Gossau speak German (about 92.4%). Italian is the second most common language, and Portuguese is third.

Age and Education

In Gossau, about 26.5% of the population are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up 62.5% of the population, and seniors (over 64 years old) are about 11%. Most adults in Gossau have a good education. About 82% of people aged 25-64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like a university.

Jobs and Economy

Gossau has a low unemployment rate, meaning most people who want to work can find jobs. Many people work in different areas:

• Farming: About 327 people work in farming, which is the primary economic sector.
• Manufacturing: About 922 people work in factories or making things, which is the secondary sector.
• Services: About 1045 people work in jobs like shops, offices, or healthcare, which is the tertiary sector.

About half of the working people in Gossau have full-time jobs, and the other half work part-time.

Religion in Gossau

In Gossau, there are many different religions. The largest groups are Protestants and Catholics. About 56.4% of the population are Protestant, with most belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church. About 25.5% of the population are Catholic. A small number of people belong to other religions, or do not have a religion.

Historical Population Growth

The number of people living in Gossau has changed a lot over the years. Here is a look at how the population has grown: