Montfaucon, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montfaucon
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Hotel du Lion d'Or in Montfaucon village
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 Montfaucon
Location in Switzerland
Montfaucon
Location in Canton of Jura
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Jura | |
| District | Franches-Montagnes | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 18.25 km2 (7.05 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 996 m (3,268 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 572 | |
| • Density | 31.34/km2 (81.18/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2362
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| Surrounded by | Le Bémont, Les Enfers, Saint-Brais, Lajoux, Les Genevez, Tramelan(BE) | |
Montfaucon is a charming town located in the Jura canton of Switzerland. It's part of the Franches-Montagnes district. In 2009, the nearby town of Montfavergier joined with Montfaucon. This area is known for its beautiful landscapes and peaceful atmosphere.
Contents
Montfaucon's Past
Montfaucon was first mentioned in old records way back in 1125. Its name then was de Monte Falconis. For a while, it was also known by its German name, Falkenberg, but that name isn't used anymore.
Exploring Montfaucon's Geography
Montfaucon covers an area of about 18.24 square kilometers (about 7 square miles). A large part of this land, about 65.5%, is used for farming. Forests cover another 30.2% of the area. The remaining land includes buildings, roads, and a small amount of unproductive land.
The town is situated on a ridge, which is like a long, narrow hilltop. It lies between the towns of Glovelier and Saignelégier. Montfaucon includes two main villages: Montfaucon itself and Montfavergier.
Some nearby towns are thinking about joining together in the future to form a new, larger municipality called Franches-Montagnes.
Understanding the Coat of Arms
The official symbol of Montfaucon is its coat of arms. It shows a red falcon standing on red hills against a silver background. This design is a special type of coat of arms called "canting arms." It's a clever way to show the town's name, because "Montfaucon" means "Falcon Mountain" in French!
Montfaucon's Population and People
Montfaucon has a population of 572 people. A small percentage of the people living here are from other countries.
Most people in Montfaucon speak French as their main language. About 91.8% of the population speaks French. The second most common language is German, spoken by about 7.2% of the people. A very small number of people also speak Spanish.
In 2008, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 44.3% of the people living in Montfaucon in 2000 were actually born there. Many others were born in the same canton or elsewhere in Switzerland.
The town has a good mix of age groups. About 26.2% of the population are children and teenagers (under 19 years old). Adults (aged 20-64) make up the largest group at 59.6%, and seniors (over 64) make up 14.2%.
There are about 200 households in Montfaucon, with an average of 2.6 people living in each.
Montfaucon's Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Montfaucon was 3.7%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs.
Many people in Montfaucon work in the primary economic sector, which mainly involves farming. There are also jobs in the secondary sector, like manufacturing. The largest number of jobs are in the tertiary sector, which includes services. These services can be things like:
- Sales and retail (shops)
- Transportation and storage
- Working in hotels or restaurants
- Insurance or finance
- Education
Many people who live in Montfaucon travel to other towns for work. About 60% of the working population uses a private car to get to their jobs.
Getting Around Montfaucon
Montfaucon has two train stations: La Combe and Pré-Petitjean. Both stations are on the train line that connects La Chaux-de-Fonds and Glovelier. This makes it easy for people to travel to and from the town.
Religion in Montfaucon
Based on a census from 2000, most people in Montfaucon are Roman Catholic, making up about 70.9% of the population. Another 11.8% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. There are also smaller numbers of people who follow other Christian faiths, or no religion at all.
Learning and Education
Education is important in Montfaucon. About 34.2% of the population has completed upper secondary education, which is like high school. A smaller group, about 7.2%, has gone on to higher education at a university or a specialized college.
The school system in the Canton of Jura works like this:
- Two years of optional Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of required lower Secondary school, where students are grouped by their abilities.
After lower Secondary, students can choose to go to an optional three or four-year upper Secondary school, or they can start an apprenticeship to learn a trade.
In the 2009-2010 school year, Montfaucon had 47 students in 3 classes. There was one kindergarten class and three primary classes. Students from Montfaucon attend secondary school in other towns because there are only a few secondary schools in the canton.
See also
In Spanish: Montfaucon (Jura) para niños
