Merzligen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merzligen
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 Merzligen
Location in Switzerland
Merzligen
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Seeland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.3 km2 (0.9 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 509 m (1,670 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 389 | |
| • Density | 169/km2 (438/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3274
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| Surrounded by | Bellmund, Hermrigen, Jens, Kappelen | |
| Twin towns | Jamné (Czech Republic) | |
Merzligen is a small town, known as a municipality, located in Switzerland. It's found in the Seeland area, which is part of the canton of Bern. This charming place is nestled between Lake Biel and the Bernese Seeland region.
Contents
Merzligen's Past: A Look at Its History
Merzligen was first mentioned in official records way back in 1278. Its name was written as Merzelingen then.
Ancient Roads and Early Settlements
The oldest sign of people living here is a piece of an old Roman road. This ancient road was found near a part of Merzligen called Kühmatt.
During the Late Middle Ages, which was a long time ago, many local nobles and monasteries owned land in the village. In 1398, the city of Bern took over Merzligen. It became part of the bailiwick of Nidau.
St. Niklaus: From Hermitage to Battle Site
A small village nearby, called St. Niklaus, got its name from a tiny chapel and a hermitage. A hermitage is a place where a religious person lives alone. By 1480, this hermitage had grown into a small monastery.
When Bern changed its religion to Protestantism in 1528, the monastery was closed. Later, during the French invasion of Switzerland in 1798, a small battle happened near St. Niklaus. Sixteen Swiss soldiers died in this battle. They were all buried there, and a memorial was built to remember them. In 1824, a new, taller monument (an obelisk) replaced the first one.
Church History and Parish Changes
For most of its history, Merzligen was part of the Bürglen church area, called a parish. In 1674, the people of Merzligen built their own church. They tried to separate from the Bürglen parish but didn't succeed. They tried again in 1724, 1776, and 1932, but it didn't work. Finally, in 1947, Merzligen joined the parish of Worben.
Merzligen's Landscape: Exploring Its Geography
Merzligen covers an area of about 2.3 square kilometers (0.89 square miles). A large part of this land is used for farming.
Land Use in Merzligen
About 71.5% of Merzligen's land is used for farming. This includes fields for growing crops and areas for animals to graze. Another 16.7% of the land is covered by forests. The remaining land is used for buildings, roads, and other developed areas.
The village of Merzligen is located on the hills between Lake Biel and the Bernese Seeland. It also includes part of the small village, or hamlet, of St. Niklaus. The other part of St. Niklaus belongs to the nearby town of Bellmund.
Administrative Changes
On December 31, 2009, Merzligen's old administrative area, Amtsbezirk Nidau, was closed. The very next day, January 1, 2010, Merzligen became part of a new administrative area called Verwaltungskreis Seeland.
Merzligen's Symbol: The Coat of Arms
The official symbol, or coat of arms, of Merzligen shows a green Linden tree on a silver background. The tree grows from a green base.
Merzligen's People: Demographics
Merzligen has a population of about 410 people. A small part of the population, about 5.9%, are people from other countries. Over the past ten years, the number of people living in Merzligen has changed only a little.
Languages Spoken in Merzligen
Most people in Merzligen speak German as their main language. About 91.5% of the population uses German. French is the second most common language, spoken by about 6.1% of the people. A small number of people also speak Italian.
Where People Come From
About 31.9% of the people living in Merzligen in 2000 were born there. Many others, about 48.4%, were born in the same canton (Bern). Some people, about 12.9%, were born in other parts of Switzerland. About 6.1% of the population was born outside of Switzerland.
Age Groups in the Community
In 2011, children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) made up about 19.3% of the population. Adults (20 to 64 years old) made up 54.4%. Older people (over 64 years old) made up 26.3% of the population.
Family Life and Homes
In 2000, most people in Merzligen were married. There were also single people, widows, and divorced individuals.
In 2010, there were 31 homes where only one person lived. There were also 12 homes with five or more people. Most apartments in Merzligen are lived in all the time. Single-family homes are the most common type of housing in the town.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Merzligen has changed over many years, as shown in this chart:
Merzligen's Work Life: Understanding Its Economy
Merzligen has a very low unemployment rate, meaning most people who want to work have jobs. In 2011, it was only 0.42%.
Types of Jobs in Merzligen
In 2008, about 40 people worked in Merzligen. Most jobs were in the primary economic sector, which includes farming. There were also jobs in the secondary sector, like manufacturing and construction. The tertiary sector (service jobs) included hotels, restaurants, and healthcare.
Many people who live in Merzligen travel to other towns for work. However, some people both live and work right there in Merzligen. Most people use private cars to get to work, while some use public transportation.
Taxes and Financial Support
In Switzerland, people pay taxes to their local town and to their canton (like a state). In 2011, the tax rate in Merzligen was similar to the national average. A very small number of people in Merzligen received financial help from the government.
Merzligen's Beliefs: Religion
Based on information from 2000, most people in Merzligen belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number are Roman Catholic.
Some people belong to other Christian churches. There were also a few individuals who were Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu. About 9.98% of the population did not belong to any church or had no specific religious belief.
Merzligen's Learning: Education
Many adults in Merzligen have completed a good level of education. About 58.2% have finished non-mandatory high school, and 22.6% have gone on to higher education, like university.
In 2000, only one student living in Merzligen went to school within the municipality. Most students from Merzligen, about 61 of them, went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Merzligen para niños
