Meltingen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meltingen
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 Meltingen
Location in Switzerland
Meltingen
Location in Canton of Solothurn
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Solothurn | |
| District | Thierstein | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.75 km2 (2.22 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 586 m (1,923 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 655 | |
| • Density | 113.91/km2 (295.0/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4233
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| Surrounded by | Beinwil, Büsserach, Erschwil, Fehren, Nunningen, Zullwil | |
Meltingen is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Thierstein district of Switzerland. It's part of the Solothurn canton, which is like a state or region in Switzerland.
Contents
History of Meltingen
Meltingen was first written about in the year 1302. Back then, it was already known by the name Meltingen.
Geography and Landscape
Meltingen covers an area of about 5.75 square kilometers (2.22 square miles). A large part of this land, about 40%, is used for farming. Over half of the area, about 54%, is covered by forests. The remaining 5.7% of the land has buildings or roads.
Most of the built-up area includes homes and other buildings. A smaller part is used for roads and transportation. In the forests, much of the land is heavily wooded. Some areas also have orchards or small groups of trees.
The farming land is used for growing crops and for pastures where animals graze. Some parts are also used for orchards or vineyards. Meltingen is located in the Thierstein district, along the upper part of the Ibach river. The municipality includes the main village of Meltingen and a settled church hill.
Meltingen's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Meltingen shows a special picture. It has a golden background. In the middle, there is a picture of the Madonna, who is standing. She is wearing a blue dress and has a golden crown and a golden halo around her head. She is holding the Child, who is dressed in silver with a golden halo. On either side of them are two blue staffs with flower-like tops. At the very bottom, there is a wavy blue line.
Population and People
Meltingen has a population of about 630 people. In recent years, the number of people living here has changed a little. Most of the population speaks German, which is about 97% of the people. A few people also speak French or Italian.
In 2008, about half of the people living in Meltingen were men and half were women. Most of the residents were Swiss citizens. About 50% of the people living in Meltingen in 2000 were born there. Another 22% were born in the same canton, and about 21% were born elsewhere in Switzerland. Only a small number, about 5%, were born outside Switzerland.
Age Groups in Meltingen
Looking at the age of people in Meltingen in 2000:
- About 7% of the population were children aged 0 to 6 years old.
- Around 16.6% were teenagers aged 7 to 19.
- About 4.6% were young adults aged 20 to 24.
- The largest group, about 32%, were adults aged 25 to 44.
- About 22% were adults aged 45 to 64.
- Older adults, aged 65 to 79, made up about 14% of the population.
- About 3.5% of the population were over 80 years old.
Homes and Households
In 2000, there were 236 private homes in Meltingen. On average, about 2.5 people lived in each home. About 20% of homes had only one person living there. Many homes were occupied by married couples, either with or without children. There were also some single parents living with their children.
Most of the buildings in Meltingen are single-family homes. Many of these homes were built between 1971 and 1980, and some newer ones were built between 1990 and 2000. The town has many apartments, with four-room apartments being the most common. Most apartments are lived in all the time.
The chart below shows how Meltingen's population has changed over many years:
Important Sights
The entire village of Meltingen is considered an important cultural site. It is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites, which means it has special historical value.
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Meltingen was very low, at just 1.2%. This means most people who wanted to work had a job.
Types of Jobs
In 2008, people in Meltingen worked in different types of jobs:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming and forestry. About 17 people worked in this area, with 8 businesses.
- Secondary Sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing (making things) and construction (building things). About 23 people worked here, with 9 businesses.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs in services, like sales, transportation, hotels, restaurants, and education. About 49 people worked in this sector, with 17 businesses.
Many residents of Meltingen work outside the municipality. In 2000, about 248 people traveled to other towns for work. About 20% of workers used public transportation, while most, about 65%, drove their own cars.
Religion in Meltingen
According to the 2000 census, most people in Meltingen are Roman Catholic, making up about 83% of the population. About 6% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belong to other Christian churches or are Islamic. About 7% of the population said they did not belong to any church or were agnostic or atheist.
Education in Meltingen
In Meltingen, many adults have completed their high school education. About 6.8% have gone on to get a higher education from a university or a specialized college.
School System
The school system in Solothurn canton starts with two years of optional Kindergarten. In the 2010-2011 school year, there were 11 children in kindergarten in Meltingen. After kindergarten, students attend six years of primary school. For secondary school, students from Meltingen go to schools in a nearby municipality.
In 2000, 89 students came to Meltingen to attend school. At the same time, 27 students from Meltingen went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Meltingen para niños
