Metzerlen-Mariastein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Metzerlen-Mariastein
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Mariastein Abbey
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 Metzerlen-Mariastein
Location in Switzerland
Metzerlen-Mariastein
Location in Canton of Solothurn
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Solothurn | |
| District | Dorneck | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.48 km2 (3.27 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 526 m (1,726 ft) | |
| Highest elevation
(Ränzeboden/Challplatten)
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875 m (2,871 ft) | |
| Lowest elevation
(Ried/Geissberg)
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474 m (1,555 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 938 | |
| • Density | 110.61/km2 (286.5/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4116
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| Surrounded by | Biederthal (FR-68), Blauen (BL), Burg im Leimental (BL), Dittingen (BL), Hofstetten-Flüh, Leymen (FR-68), Rodersdorf, Röschenz (BL) | |
Metzerlen-Mariastein is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Solothurn, within the Dorneck area. The town got its current name in 2003. Before that, it was simply known as Metzerlen.
A very important place nearby is the Benedictine Mariastein Abbey. It is a famous spot where people go on pilgrimages, which means they travel there for religious reasons.
Contents
History of Metzerlen-Mariastein
The town of Metzerlen was first written about in the year 1194. For a long time, its official name was just Metzerlen. Then, in 2003, the name was changed to Metzerlen-Mariastein to include the important Mariastein Abbey.
Exploring Metzerlen-Mariastein's Geography
Metzerlen-Mariastein covers an area of about 8.49 square kilometers (3.28 square miles). A big part of this land, almost half (47%), is used for farming. Another large part, about 45.8%, is covered by forests.
The rest of the land is used for buildings and roads (7.7%). A very small amount (0.1%) is made up of rivers or lakes. Most of the water in the town comes from flowing rivers.
The town is found in the Dorneck district. It sits at the northern base of the Blauen mountain. It includes the main village of Metzerlen, which is shaped like an "S", and the smaller areas (called hamlets) around the Mariastein monastery.
Understanding the Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Metzerlen-Mariastein is quite simple. It has a gold background with a black horizontal stripe across the middle. This design is called Or a Fess Sable in the language of blazonry, which is how coats of arms are described.
People and Population in Metzerlen-Mariastein
Metzerlen-Mariastein has a population of about 938 people. About 7.2% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the last ten years, the number of people living in the town has grown by about 11%.
Most people in Metzerlen-Mariastein speak German. About 96.6% of the population speaks German. A smaller number of people speak English (0.7%) or French (0.6%).
Many people who live in Metzerlen-Mariastein were also born there. About 39% of the population in 2000 were born in the town. Others were born in the same canton (9.7%) or elsewhere in Switzerland (37.8%). About 10.9% of the people were born outside of Switzerland.
The chart below shows how the population of Metzerlen-Mariastein has changed over many years:
Important Heritage Sites
The Mariastein Abbey, which belongs to the Benedictine monks, is a very important historical site. Its library is especially famous and is considered a heritage site of national significance in Switzerland. The entire village of Metzerlen, along with the Abbey, is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means they are protected because of their historical and cultural value.
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Metzerlen-Mariastein was low, at 1.8%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs.
Many people work in different types of jobs:
- Farming: About 63 people work in farming, which is the primary sector. There are about 16 businesses related to farming.
- Manufacturing and Construction: About 21 people work in the secondary sector, which includes making things (manufacturing) and building things (construction). There are 7 businesses in this area.
- Services: The largest number of people, 176, work in the tertiary sector, which includes services. This sector has 31 businesses. Service jobs can be in shops, hotels, restaurants, or other services.
Overall, about 448 people living in Metzerlen-Mariastein have jobs. About 42.9% of these workers are women.
Religion in Metzerlen-Mariastein
According to a survey in 2000, most people in Metzerlen-Mariastein are Roman Catholic, making up about 66.2% of the population. Another group, about 12.6%, belongs to the Swiss Reformed Church.
There are also smaller numbers of people who follow other Christian churches, Islam, or Hinduism. About 15.5% of the population said they did not belong to any church or were agnostic or atheist.
Education in Metzerlen-Mariastein
Education is important in Metzerlen-Mariastein. About 41.9% of the people have finished upper secondary education, which is like high school. Also, about 14.9% have gone on to higher education, like university or a specialized college called a Fachhochschule.
In the 2010-2011 school year, there were 78 students in the local school system.
- Kindergarten: Children can attend two years of Kindergarten before primary school. There were 23 children in kindergarten during that year.
- Primary School: The school system requires students to attend six years of primary school. In Metzerlen-Mariastein, there were 55 students in primary school.
- Secondary School: After primary school, students go to secondary school. Students from Metzerlen-Mariastein attend their secondary school in a nearby town.
See also
In Spanish: Metzerlen-Mariastein para niños
