Hessigkofen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hessigkofen
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 Hessigkofen
Location in Switzerland
Hessigkofen
Location in Canton of Solothurn
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Solothurn | |
| District | Bucheggberg | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.26 km2 (0.87 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 589 m (1,932 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2011)
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| • Total | 261 | |
| • Density | 115.5/km2 (299.1/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4577
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| Surrounded by | Bibern, Gossliwil, Lüterswil-Gächliwil, Mühledorf, Tscheppach | |
Hessigkofen was once a small town, also known as a municipality, in Switzerland. It was located in the Bucheggberg district within the canton of Solothurn. Think of a canton like a state or province.
On January 1, 2014, Hessigkofen joined with several other nearby towns. These towns included Tscheppach, Brügglen, Aetingen, Aetigkofen, Bibern (SO), Gossliwil, Mühledorf (SO), Küttigkofen, and Kyburg-Buchegg. Together, they formed a brand new, larger municipality called Buchegg.
Contents
History of Hessigkofen
Hessigkofen is a very old place. The first time it was ever written about was in the year 1034. Back then, its name was spelled Esikouen.
Geography and Land Use
Before it merged, Hessigkofen covered an area of about 2.3 square kilometers (0.9 square miles). A large part of this land was used for farming. About 59.7% of the area was farmland.
Forests covered a good portion of the land too. Around 32.7% of Hessigkofen was covered in thick forests. The remaining 7.5% of the land was developed. This means it had buildings or roads on it.
Most of the developed land was used for homes and other buildings. Roads and paths made up a smaller part. The farmland was used for growing crops and for pastures where animals could graze. Some areas also had orchards or vineyards.
Hessigkofen was located in the Bucheggberg district. It sat in a valley known as the Müli valley.
Hessigkofen's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol or emblem for a town or family. Hessigkofen's coat of arms has a specific design.
It shows a red rose with four petals. The rose has green parts (called "barbs") and a yellow center (called "seeded"). This rose sits on top of three green hills. The background of the shield is yellow.
Population and People
In 2011, Hessigkofen had a population of 261 people. A small number of these people, about 2.3%, were foreign nationals living there in 2008. Over ten years, from 1999 to 2009, the population grew by 6.9%.
Most people in Hessigkofen speak German. In 2000, about 99.2% of the people spoke German. A very small number spoke French or Swedish.
In 2008, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 50.8% were male and 49.2% were female. Most of the people were Swiss citizens.
Many people living in Hessigkofen in 2000 were born there. About 36.7% were born in Hessigkofen. Others were born in the same canton or elsewhere in Switzerland. A small group, about 2.8%, were born outside Switzerland.
In 2008, the number of Swiss citizens in Hessigkofen slightly decreased. However, the number of non-Swiss people increased a little. Overall, the population grew by 0.4% that year.
In 2000, the age groups in Hessigkofen were:
- Children (0-6 years old): 12.9%
- Teenagers (7-19 years old): 17.7%
- Young adults (20-24 years old): 5.6%
- Adults (25-44 years old): 28.2%
- Older adults (45-64 years old): 24.2%
- Seniors (65-79 years old): 6.9%
- Very old seniors (over 80 years old): 4.4%
In 2000, many people in Hessigkofen were married. About 101 people were single. There were also some widows, widowers, and divorced individuals.
Most of the buildings in Hessigkofen in 2000 were single-family homes. There were also some buildings with multiple apartments. Some buildings were used for both homes and businesses.
All 82 apartments in the town were lived in permanently in 2000. In 2009, new homes were being built at a rate of about 11.5 new units for every 1000 residents. In 2010, very few homes were empty, only about 1.08%.
The chart below shows how the population of Hessigkofen has changed over many years:
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, Hessigkofen had a very low unemployment rate of 0.6%. This means almost everyone who wanted a job had one.
Jobs are often grouped into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs that get raw materials from nature, like farming. In 2008, 22 people worked in this sector, mostly in agriculture.
- Secondary sector: These jobs turn raw materials into products, like manufacturing. Six people worked in this sector in Hessigkofen.
- Tertiary sector: These jobs provide services to people, like shops or schools. In 2008, 72 people worked in this sector.
In total, 133 people living in Hessigkofen had jobs. About 45.1% of these workers were female.
Many people who lived in Hessigkofen traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, 90 residents worked outside the town. Only 26 people came into Hessigkofen for their jobs.
Most people used a private car to get to work. About 60.2% drove. A smaller number, 7.5%, used public transportation.
Religion in Hessigkofen
Based on information from 2000, most people in Hessigkofen belonged to a Christian church.
- About 11.7% were Roman Catholic.
- The largest group, 70.2%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- A small number were part of the Christian Catholic Church or other Christian churches.
About 11.29% of the population did not belong to any church. Some of these people might have been agnostic (meaning they don't know if God exists) or atheist (meaning they don't believe in God).
Weather Patterns
Hessigkofen experiences rain or snow for about 130.6 days each year. On average, it receives about 1112 millimeters (43.8 inches) of precipitation annually. Precipitation means any form of water falling from the sky, like rain, snow, or hail.
The wettest month is August. During this month, Hessigkofen gets about 124 millimeters (4.9 inches) of rain or snow. It rains or snows for about 11.2 days in August.
May has the most days with precipitation, averaging 12.8 days. However, it receives less total rain or snow than August, with about 103 millimeters (4.1 inches). The driest month is March, with about 76 millimeters (3 inches) of precipitation over 12.1 days.
Education and Schools
In Hessigkofen, many adults have completed higher levels of education.
- About 41.1% of the population finished non-mandatory upper secondary education. This is like high school or vocational training.
- About 18.1% went on to get even more education. This includes going to a university or a specialized college (called a Fachhochschule).
In 2000, 150 students came to Hessigkofen from other towns to attend school. At the same time, 37 students who lived in Hessigkofen went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Hessigkofen para niños
