Mervelier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mervelier
|
||
|---|---|---|
Mervelier village
|
||
|
||
 Mervelier
Location in Switzerland
Mervelier
Location in Canton of Jura
|
||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Jura | |
| District | Delémont | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.74 km2 (3.76 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 556 m (1,824 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
|
||
| • Total | 528 | |
| • Density | 54.21/km2 (140.40/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2827
|
|
| Surrounded by | Montsevelier, Corban, Vermes, Schelten(BE), Beinwil(SO) | |
Mervelier is a small and charming municipality located in the Jura canton of Switzerland. It is part of the Delémont district. This lovely village is known for its quiet surroundings and beautiful natural areas.
Contents
History
Mervelier was first mentioned around the year 1184. Back then, it was known as Morswilre. For a while, it also had a German name, Morschwil, but that name is no longer used today.
Geography
Mervelier covers an area of about 9.70 square kilometers (about 3.75 square miles). A large part of this land is used for nature.
Land Use
- About 43.9% of the land is used for farming. This includes fields for crops and pastures for animals.
- More than half, about 51.9%, is covered by forests.
- Only a small part, about 3.6%, has buildings or roads.
- A tiny bit, 0.1%, is rivers or lakes.
- About 0.3% is land that cannot be used for anything, like rocky areas.
Location
The municipality is located in the Delémont district. It sits in a valley called Val Terbi, right at the foot of the Schelten Pass. The Scheulte river flows through the area.
Future Plans
Mervelier and some nearby municipalities are thinking about joining together. These include Corban, Courchapoix, Courroux, Montsevelier, Vermes, and Vicques. If they merge, they would form a new municipality called Val Terbi.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Mervelier shows a special design. It has a red background. On it, you can see Saint Rémy dressed in bishop's clothes. He wears a special hat called a mitre, has a halo around his head, and holds a bishop's staff. All of these details are shown in gold.
Population and People
Mervelier has a population of about 565 people (as of 2003). The number of people living here has changed a bit over the years.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Mervelier speak French. About 92.8% of the population uses French as their main language. The second most common language is German, spoken by about 5.3% of the people. A very small number of people also speak English or Italian.
Who Lives Here?
As of 2008, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 48.4% were male, and 51.6% were female. Most people living in Mervelier are Swiss citizens. Only a small number, about 1.8%, are foreign nationals.
Many people who live in Mervelier were born there. About 51.8% of the population in 2000 were born in Mervelier. Others were born in the same canton (Jura) or in other parts of Switzerland. A small group, about 5.6%, were born outside of Switzerland.
Age Groups
The population of Mervelier includes people of all ages.
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up about 31.6% of the population.
- Adults (20–64 years old) make up about 52.1%.
- Seniors (over 64 years old) make up about 16.2%.
Households
In 2000, there were 202 private households in Mervelier. On average, there were about 2.9 people living in each household. Some households had only one person, while others had five or more people. Most apartments in Mervelier are lived in all the time.
Population Over Time
The chart below shows how the population of Mervelier has changed throughout history:
Economy
Mervelier has a low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find jobs. In 2010, the unemployment rate was 3.1%.
Job Sectors
Jobs in Mervelier are divided into three main types:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs related to nature, like farming. In 2008, about 26 people worked in this sector.
- Secondary Sector: This involves making things, like in factories or construction. About 48 people worked in this sector. Many of these jobs were in manufacturing or building.
- Tertiary Sector: These are service jobs, like working in shops, restaurants, or schools. About 23 people worked in this sector.
Many people who live in Mervelier travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 197 people left Mervelier to work elsewhere, while only 20 people came into Mervelier for their jobs. Most people use a private car to get to work, while some use public transportation.
Religion
According to the 2000 census, most people in Mervelier are Roman Catholic. About 80.7% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Another 9.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belonged to other Christian churches or had no religious affiliation.
Weather
Mervelier experiences a good amount of rain or snow each year. On average, it has about 144.8 days with precipitation. The total amount of rain or snow it receives is about 1184 millimeters (46.6 inches) per year.
Wettest and Driest Months
- The wettest month is usually June, with an average of 139 millimeters (5.5 inches) of rain or snow. It rains or snows for about 13.1 days in June.
- May has the most days with precipitation, about 14.7 days, but with slightly less rain or snow than June.
- The driest month is February, with about 76 millimeters (3 inches) of precipitation over 12 days.
Education
In Mervelier, many adults have completed a good level of education. About 34.7% of the population has finished upper secondary education, which is like high school. About 6.0% have gone on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college.
School System in Jura
The school system in the Canton of Jura works like this:
- Children can attend two years of non-mandatory Kindergarten.
- This is followed by six years of Primary school.
- Then, there are three years of required lower Secondary school. Students are grouped based on their abilities.
- After lower Secondary, students can choose to go to an optional upper Secondary school for three or four years. They can also go to a higher education school or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).
Local Schools
During the 2009-2010 school year, Mervelier had 34 students in 3 classes. There were no kindergarten classes in the municipality itself. Mervelier had 2.5 primary classes with 34 students. Since there are only nine secondary schools in the whole canton, students from Mervelier attend their secondary school in a different municipality nearby.
In 2000, 4 students came to Mervelier from other municipalities for school. However, 49 students from Mervelier went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Mervelier para niños
Images for kids
-
A view of Mervelier village
-
An aerial view of Mervelier from 1955
-
The Scheulte river flowing through Mervelier, with houses nearby
