Kirchberg, St. Gallen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kirchberg
Kirchberg Bazenheid village
Coat of arms
Kirchberg Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Kirchberg Location in Canton of St. Gallen Show map of Canton of St. Gallen
Country	Switzerland
Canton	St. Gallen
District	Toggenburg
Area
• Total	42.54 km2 (16.42 sq mi)
Elevation	735 m (2,411 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	9,241
• Density	217.23/km2 (562.63/sq mi)
Postal code	9533
Surrounded by	Fischingen (TG), Jonschwil, Lütisburg, Mosnang, Rickenbach (TG), Sirnach (TG), Wilen (TG)

Kirchberg is a town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It's located in the Toggenburg area of the St. Gallen canton. A canton is like a state or region in Switzerland.

Kirchberg

History of Kirchberg

Kirchberg is an old town with a long history. The first time it was ever written about was in the year 1222. Back then, it was called Kilchberc.

Geography of Kirchberg

Aerial view of Kirchberg from 500 meters up (1929)

Kirchberg covers an area of about 42.6 square kilometers (16.4 square miles). A big part of this land, almost 60%, is used for farming. About 31% of the area is covered by forests.

The town is in the Toggenburg region. It's the most north-western town in this area. To the west, it borders the Thurgau canton. To the east, it's next to the Thur river.

Kirchberg includes several villages and small communities. The main village of Kirchberg is on a high flat area in the middle of the municipality. South of Kirchberg is the village of Gähwil. The village of Bazenheid is located on a terrace above the Thur river. Many smaller communities, called hamlets, are also spread out across the area. These include Müselbach, Dietschwil, and Wolfikon.

Kirchberg's Coat of Arms

Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. Kirchberg's coat of arms has three parts. It shows a red lion with a silver crown on a gold background. It also has a blue eagle with a silver crown on a gold background.

People and Population in Kirchberg

Kirchberg has a population of about 8,000 people. A part of the population, around 23%, are people from other countries. Many of these people come from countries like Germany, Italy, Turkey, and countries that used to be part of Yugoslavia.

Most people in Kirchberg speak German. This is the main language spoken by about 86% of the residents. Other languages spoken include Albanian and Serbo-Croatian.

Age Groups in Kirchberg

The population of Kirchberg includes people of all ages.

• About 14.5% are children aged 0 to 9 years old.
• Around 15.6% are teenagers aged 10 to 19.
• About 11.4% are young adults aged 20 to 29.
• The largest group, about 16.3%, are adults aged 30 to 39.
• Around 14.8% are aged 40 to 49.
• About 10% are aged 50 to 59.
• Seniors, aged 60 and older, make up about 17.4% of the population.

Households in Kirchberg

Most people in Kirchberg live in families. About 63% of households are couples with children. Around 18% are couples without children. About 9% of people live alone. Some people also live in single-parent homes or with other relatives.

Voting and Politics

In the 2007 national election, the most popular political party in Kirchberg was the SVP. They received about 38% of the votes. Other popular parties included the CVP and the SP.

Education in Kirchberg

People in Switzerland are generally well-educated. In Kirchberg, many adults have completed higher education. This means they have gone to a university or a specialized college. About 63% of adults aged 25-64 have completed this level of schooling.

• About 24% of the population finished primary school.
• Around 33% completed secondary school.
• About 7% went on to a higher education school.

Historical Population Growth

The population of Kirchberg has grown a lot over the years.

Important Heritage Sites

Kirchberg has some important historical places. The Catholic parish and pilgrimage church of St. Peter and Paul is a very special building. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means it's a very important cultural landmark for the whole country. The small community of Bäbikon is also recognized as an important heritage site.

Economy and Jobs in Kirchberg

Kirchberg has a strong economy with many different types of jobs.

• Many people work in the primary sector. This includes jobs like farming and forestry.
• A large number of people work in the secondary sector. These jobs involve making things, like in factories.
• The largest number of jobs are in the tertiary sector. This includes jobs in services, like shops, offices, and healthcare.

Many people who live in Kirchberg also work in the town. Others travel to nearby towns for their jobs. Also, many people from other places come to Kirchberg to work.

Religion in Kirchberg

Most people in Kirchberg are Christian.

• About 61% of the population are Roman Catholic.
• Around 17% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.
• There are also smaller groups of people who belong to other Christian churches.
• About 10% of the population are Islamic.
• Some people do not belong to any church or religion.

Transport in Kirchberg

Kirchberg is connected by train. It is on the Wil–Ebnat-Kappel railway line. This line runs between the towns of Wattwil and Wil. The town is served by the St. Gallen S-Bahn (a local train system) at Bazenheid railway station.

Notable People from Kirchberg

• Arthur Wittwer (born 1927) was a Swiss long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
• Ida of Toggenburg (c. 1140 – c. 1226) was a nun and is considered a Catholic saint.

See also

In Spanish: Kirchberg (San Galo) para niños