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Niederhelfenschwil
Niederhelfenschwil village from the air
Niederhelfenschwil village from the air
Coat of arms of Niederhelfenschwil
Coat of arms
Niederhelfenschwil is located in Switzerland
Niederhelfenschwil
Niederhelfenschwil
Location in Switzerland
Niederhelfenschwil is located in Canton of St. Gallen
Niederhelfenschwil
Niederhelfenschwil
Location in Canton of St. Gallen
Country Switzerland
Canton St. Gallen
District Wil
Area
 • Total 16.37 km2 (6.32 sq mi)
Elevation
580 m (1,900 ft)
Population
 (Dec 2020 )
 • Total 3,181
 • Density 194.32/km2 (503.28/sq mi)
Postal code
9527
Surrounded by Bischofszell (TG), Kradolf-Schönenberg (TG), Niederbüren, Oberbüren, Wuppenau (TG), Zuzwil

Niederhelfenschwil is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of St. Gallen. This town is part of the Wil area. It is known for its beautiful countryside and quiet village life.

Discovering Niederhelfenschwil's Past

Niederhelfenschwil has a long history. It was first mentioned in old writings in the year 818. Back then, it was called Helfolteswilare. Later, in 1426, its name changed to Nidren-Helffentswile. Another village nearby, Lenggenwil, was mentioned even earlier, in 903. It was known as Linkenvilare then.

Exploring Niederhelfenschwil's Geography

Aerial View of Niederhelfenschwil 14.02.2008 14-52-13
Aerial view of Niederhelfenschwil

Niederhelfenschwil covers an area of about 16.3 square kilometers (about 6.3 square miles). A large part of this land, about 71%, is used for farming. Forests cover almost 20% of the area. The rest of the land is used for buildings, roads, or is made up of rivers and lakes.

The town is located north of the Thur river. It lies between the towns of Bischofszell and Wil. Niederhelfenschwil includes the main villages of Niederhelfenschwil, Lenggenwil, and Schloss Zuckenriet. It also has smaller areas called hamlets, like Enkhüseren, Dietenwil, and Dägetschwil.

Understanding the Coat of Arms

ETH-BIB-Zuckenriet-LBS H1-017501
Aerial view of Niederhelfenschwil (1954)

A coat of arms is a special design that represents a town or family. Niederhelfenschwil's coat of arms has a blue background. It shows a golden "pall," which is a Y-shaped symbol. Around this symbol are the letters N, L, and Z. These letters likely stand for Niederhelfenschwil, Lenggenwil, and Zuckenriet.

People of Niederhelfenschwil: Demographics

Niederhelfenschwil has a population of about 3,100 people. A small part of the population, about 5.6%, are people from other countries. Most people in Niederhelfenschwil speak German, which is 97% of the population. A smaller number of people speak Albanian or Portuguese.

Age Groups in Niederhelfenschwil

The town has a good mix of age groups.

  • About 18% of the population are children aged 0 to 9 years old.
  • Teenagers, aged 10 to 19, make up about 15.6% of the population.
  • Adults aged 20 to 59 make up a large part of the population.
  • Older adults, aged 60 and above, make up about 13.5% of the population.

Education in Niederhelfenschwil

Many people in Niederhelfenschwil have completed a good level of education. About 77% of adults between 25 and 64 years old have finished either upper secondary education or higher education, like university. This shows that education is important in the town.

Historical Population Growth

The number of people living in Niederhelfenschwil has changed over time. Here's how the population has grown:

year population
1837 1,275
1850 1,279
1900 1,250
1950 1,469
1970 1,614
2000 2,599

Important Buildings and Sites

Niederhelfenschwil Zuckenriet Grotte
Grotto underneath Schloss Zuckenriet

Niederhelfenschwil has some very important historical sites. The Catholic parish church of St. John the Baptist is one of them. This church is a significant religious building. Another important site is Zuckenriet Castle. Both the church and the castle are listed as important heritage sites in Switzerland. This means they are protected because of their historical and cultural value.

Niederhelfenschwil's Economy

The economy of Niederhelfenschwil is made up of different types of jobs.

  • Farming: Many people work in the primary sector, which means farming. There are about 90 businesses related to farming.
  • Manufacturing: The secondary sector includes jobs like manufacturing and construction. There are about 49 businesses in this area.
  • Services: The tertiary sector includes jobs like shops, schools, and healthcare. There are about 58 businesses in this sector.

Many people who live in Niederhelfenschwil also travel to other towns for work. At the same time, some people come into Niederhelfenschwil to work.

Religious Life in Niederhelfenschwil

In Niederhelfenschwil, people follow different religions.

  • Most people, about 69%, are Roman Catholic.
  • About 20% of the population belongs to the Swiss Reformed Church.
  • Smaller numbers of people belong to other Christian churches, the Orthodox Church, or are Islamic.
  • Some people do not belong to any church or have other beliefs.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Niederhelfenschwil para niños

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