Les Planchettes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Les Planchettes
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 Les Planchettes
Location in Switzerland
Les Planchettes
Location in Canton of Neuchâtel
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Neuchâtel | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.73 km2 (4.53 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,063 m (3,488 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 210 | |
| • Density | 17.9/km2 (46.4/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2325
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| Surrounded by | Grand'Combe-des-Bois (FR-25), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Les Brenets, Villers-le-Lac (FR-25) | |
| Twin towns | Bardouville (France) | |
Les Planchettes (pronounced "le plahn-shett") is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. It's a quiet place with a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings.
Contents
History of Les Planchettes
Les Planchettes is quite old! It was first mentioned in official records way back in 1455. At that time, it was known by a slightly different name: Les Planchotes.
Geography and Nature
Les Planchettes covers an area of about 11.7 square kilometers (about 4.5 square miles). A large part of this land is covered by nature.
About 37% of the area is used for farming. This means you'll see fields and pastures where animals graze. Even more land, about 57%, is covered by forests. These are thick woods that add to the natural beauty.
A smaller part, about 3%, has buildings and roads. Rivers and lakes make up about 2.6% of the area. The famous Doubs river flows near the town.
Les Planchettes is located north of a larger city called La Chaux-de-Fonds. The town stretches from the Doubs river up to the northern side of a hill called Pouillerel.
Town Symbols: The Coat of Arms
Every town in Switzerland has a special symbol called a coat of arms. It's like a unique picture that represents the town.
The coat of arms for Les Planchettes has a silver "chevron." A chevron is a V-shaped design, often seen on military uniforms. On this coat of arms, you'll also see the number 1812 written in black. This number is very important because it tells us the year Les Planchettes officially became its own municipality.
People and Population
Les Planchettes is a small community. As of the latest information, it has a population of around 227 people.
Most people in Les Planchettes speak French as their main language. About 91% of the residents speak French. Some people also speak German, and a very small number speak Dutch or Italian.
The population is made up of slightly more women than men. About 32% of the people living in Les Planchettes were born there. Many others were born in the same canton (Neuchâtel) or elsewhere in Switzerland. A small number of residents were born outside Switzerland.
Young people are a big part of the community. Children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) make up about 35% of the population. Adults (20-64 years old) make up 56%, and seniors (over 64) make up about 9%.
Most households in Les Planchettes have about 2.8 people. Some people live alone, while other families are larger with five or more members.
The chart below shows how the population of Les Planchettes has changed over many years:
Economy and Jobs
The economy of Les Planchettes is quite small, with most jobs in farming.
In 2008, there were 27 people working in the primary sector. This mainly means jobs in agriculture, like farming. There were also 10 people working in the secondary sector, mostly in construction.
The tertiary sector had 12 people working. This sector includes jobs like those in hotels or restaurants.
Many people who live in Les Planchettes travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 62 workers left the municipality for their jobs, while only 10 came into Les Planchettes to work. Most people use a private car to get to work, but some use public transportation.
Religion in the Community
In Les Planchettes, people follow different religions. According to a survey in 2000:
- About 21% of the people were Roman Catholic.
- About 51% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- A small number of people belonged to other Christian churches or were Islamic.
- About 20% of the population did not belong to any church, or identified as agnostic or atheist.
Education and Schools
Education is important in Les Planchettes. About 33% of the population has finished high school (called upper secondary education). A smaller number, about 7%, have gone on to get a higher education from a university or a specialized college.
In the canton of Neuchâtel, where Les Planchettes is located, children usually attend two years of non-mandatory kindergarten. After that, they have five years of mandatory primary school. Then, they go to secondary school for four more years. Many students travel to larger towns for secondary school.
Les Planchettes has a primary school that works together with the schools in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In the 2010-2011 school year, there were 7 kindergarten students and 2,042 primary students in the combined system.
Many students from Les Planchettes travel outside the town to attend school. In 2000, 26 students from Les Planchettes went to schools in other municipalities.
See also
In Spanish: Les Planchettes para niños
