Männedorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Männedorf
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 Männedorf
Location in Switzerland
Männedorf
Location in Canton of Zurich
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Zurich | |
| District | Meilen | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.77 km2 (1.84 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 419 m (1,375 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 11,397 | |
| • Density | 2,389.3/km2 (6,188/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
8708
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| Surrounded by | Oetwil am See, Richterswil, Stäfa, Uetikon am See, Wädenswil | |
Männedorf (which is Mänidoorf in the local High Alemannic dialect) is a town in Switzerland. It is a municipality located in the Meilen district, within the Canton of Zürich. Männedorf sits right on the beautiful Lake Zürich.
Contents
History of Männedorf
Just like other villages along Lake Zürich, Männedorf has a very long history. Archeologists have found signs of people living here since the Stone Age. The first real settlement started around the 7th or 8th century.
The name Mannidorf was first written down in the year 933. It means "Village of Manno," who was likely an important nobleman. The otter you see on Männedorf's coat of arms comes from a medieval church leader named Eberhard Ottikon.
Originally, the people of Männedorf were mostly fishermen, farmers, and people who grew grapes for wine. For a long time, Männedorf was owned by the monastery of Pfäfers. Later, from 1405 to 1798, it became a special area ruled by the city of Zürich, called a bailiwick.
Männedorf really started to grow after 1894. That's when the Lake Zurich right bank railway opened, connecting Zürich to Rapperswil. This made it easier for people and goods to travel. Many new businesses started, like a tannery (where leather is made), organ-building workshops, and places that made very precise mechanical parts. There was also a mill, a blacksmith's shop, a public bath, and more guesthouses for visitors.
Today, Männedorf is part of the larger Zürich area. It's a modern town that has grown a lot, just like other villages in the region.
Geography and Landscape
Männedorf covers an area of about 4.8 square kilometers (about 1.85 square miles). A good portion of this land, about 34.1%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 24.8% of the area.
Most of the remaining land, 40.6%, is developed with buildings and roads. Only a tiny part, 0.4%, is non-productive land like rivers or mountains. In 1996, homes and other buildings made up 28.5% of the total area. Roads and other transportation areas made up 12.3%.
Männedorf is located on the north side of Lake Zürich. It is part of the Pfannenstiel region, which is known for its beautiful hills and views.
People and Population
Männedorf has a population of about 11,000 people. In 2007, about 17% of the people living here were from other countries. The population has grown quite a bit, about 26.7% over the last 10 years.
Most people in Männedorf speak German (88%). Italian is the second most common language (2.6%), followed by English (1.5%).
In 2000, about 19.9% of the population were children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) made up 62.4%, and seniors (over 64 years old) were 17.8%. Many adults (about 82.5%) have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like university.
Männedorf has a low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find jobs. Many people work in the service industry, like shops, hospitals, or offices. Others work in manufacturing or farming.
In 2008, there were about 2,606 Catholics and 4,284 Protestants living in Männedorf. The largest group of Protestants belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
Here's how Männedorf's population has grown over time:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1799 | 2,166 |
| 1850 | 2,382 |
| 1900 | 2,902 |
| 1950 | 4,396 |
| 2000 | 8,348 |
Getting Around Männedorf
Männedorf is well-connected by different types of transport.
The Männedorf railway station is served by the S-Bahn Zürich (a local train system). You can catch a train every half hour to Zürich Hauptbahnhof (the main train station in Zürich) or to Rapperswil. A train ride to Zürich takes about 25 minutes.
During the summer, you can also travel by boat on Lake Zürich. The Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG) runs regular boat services between Zürich and Rapperswil, stopping at Männedorf and other towns along the lake. There's also a passenger ferry that runs hourly all year round. It connects Männedorf with Wädenswil, which is on the other side of the lake. The train station and the boat landing are only about a 5-minute walk apart.
Local buses are operated by the Verkehrsbetriebe Zürichsee und Oberland (VZO) bus company, making it easy to get around the town and nearby areas.
Famous People from Männedorf
Many interesting people have connections to Männedorf:
- Albert Billeter (1815–1894): He was born in Männedorf and became famous for making amazing astronomical clocks for churches and cathedrals.
- Friedrich Staub (1826–1896): A Swiss expert in words and dialects, and a librarian.
- Kurt Pahlen (1907–2003): An Austrian conductor and music expert who moved to Männedorf in the 1970s.
- Adolf Muschg (born 1934): A Swiss writer and literature professor.
- Ulrich Luz (born 1938): A Swiss theologian and professor.
- Barbara Schmid-Federer (born 1965): A Swiss politician and president of the Swiss Red Cross.
- Magdalena Martullo-Blocher (born 1969): A Swiss businesswoman and politician who is the CEO of Ems-Chemie.
- Marc Sway (born 1979): A Swiss soul and pop singer.
- Teo Gheorghiu (born 1992): A Swiss-Canadian pianist and actor.
Sports Stars
- Jo Zeller (born 1955): A Swiss racing driver.
- Yvonne Schnorf-Wabe (born 1965): A Swiss road cyclist.
- Diana Romagnoli (born 1977): A Swiss fencer who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Maurice Brunner (born 1991): A Swiss footballer.
- Stefanie Wetli (born 2000): A Swiss ice hockey player who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Tim Berni (born 2000): A promising ice hockey player for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
See also
In Spanish: Männedorf para niños
