Ostermundigen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ostermundigen
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 Ostermundigen
Location in Switzerland
Ostermundigen
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Bern-Mittelland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.96 km2 (2.30 sq mi) | |
| Elevation
(Ober-/Mitteldorfstrasse)
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548 m (1,798 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 17,758 | |
| • Density | 2,979.5/km2 (7,717/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3072
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| Surrounded by | Bern, Bolligen, Ittigen, Muri bei Bern, Stettlen | |
Ostermundigen is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Bern-Mittelland. This town is famous for its history and its connection to the nearby city of Bern.
Did you know that many buildings in the Old City of Bern were built using special stone from Ostermundigen? This old city is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, a famous actress named Ursula Andress was born here!
Contents
A Look at Ostermundigen's Past
Ostermundigen was first mentioned in old records in 1239. Back then, it was called Osturmundingun. Later, in 1279, it was known as Ostermundigen.
How Ostermundigen Grew
Long ago, Ostermundigen was made up of three small medieval villages. These villages slowly grew together. There were also tiny hamlets nearby, like Deisswil and Rörswil.
For a long time, Ostermundigen was part of a larger area called Bolligen. It had many different groups that managed things like forests, schools, and roads. This made things quite complicated!
Becoming an Independent Town
After many years of discussions, the people of Ostermundigen decided to become their own independent town. This big change happened in 1978. By 1983, Ostermundigen was officially a separate municipality.
The Story of Sandstone
Ostermundigen was once a key stop on a trade route. By the 1500s, it had a tavern and a customs house. Rich families from Bern even built country homes here.
The town became very famous for its sandstone quarries. Until the early 1900s, almost every building in Bern was made from Ostermundigen sandstone. In 1859, a train station opened, making it easier to move the stone.
Miners dug tunnels under the Ostermundigenberg mountain to get the stone. In 1871, a special rack railway was built. It was the first in the world to carry stones from the quarry to the train station!
Around 1900, people started using brick and cement more. The demand for sandstone went down. In 1907, the main quarry closed. Today, some smaller quarries still operate.
From Farms to Factories
After 1850, Ostermundigen changed a lot. It went from small farming villages to a town with many factories. Big companies like Zent AG and the Deisswil paper mill were important employers.
However, many people from Ostermundigen worked in nearby towns. This caused financial problems for Ostermundigen. These money troubles were a big reason why the town decided to become independent. Even today, many residents commute to jobs outside the town.
Exploring Ostermundigen's Geography
Ostermundigen covers an area of about 6 square kilometers (2.3 square miles). A good part of the land, about 32%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 25.6% of the area. The rest, about 42.9%, is covered by buildings and roads.
The town is located in the lower Worblental valley. It sits at the foot of two hills, the Ostermundigenberg and the Hättenberg. Ostermundigen is also part of the larger city area of Bern.
Ostermundigen's Coat of Arms
The town's coat of arms shows a red shield. On it, there is a silver knife used by leather workers. This knife has a gold handle. There are also two gold stars on the shield.
People of Ostermundigen
Ostermundigen has a population of about 17,900 people. About 24.4% of the people living here are from other countries.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Ostermundigen speak German. This is the first language for about 82% of the population. Italian is the second most common language, followed by French.
Who Lives Here?
About 18.1% of the population are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up 62.1%. Seniors (over 64 years old) are about 19.8% of the population.
Many people who live in Ostermundigen were also born there. Others were born in the same canton or elsewhere in Switzerland. About 20.9% of the residents were born outside of Switzerland.
Population Changes Over Time
The population of Ostermundigen has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:
Ostermundigen's Economy
In 2011, the unemployment rate in Ostermundigen was about 3.05%. This means a small percentage of people looking for work did not have a job.
Jobs in the Town
Ostermundigen has many different types of jobs.
- A small number of people work in the primary sector, which includes farming.
- About 1,930 people work in the secondary sector. This includes jobs in manufacturing and construction.
- The largest number of jobs, about 4,413, are in the tertiary sector. This sector includes services like sales, transportation, hotels, finance, and healthcare.
Many people who live in Ostermundigen travel to other towns for work. About 46% of workers use public transportation to get to their jobs. About 31.7% use a private car.
Religion in Ostermundigen
In 2000, about 51.7% of the people in Ostermundigen belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. About 23.2% were Roman Catholic. There were also people who belonged to other Christian churches, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. About 8.14% of the population did not belong to any church.
Education in Ostermundigen
Many people in Ostermundigen have a good education. About 42.7% of the population have finished high school. About 10.5% have gone on to higher education, like university.
School System
The school system in the Canton of Bern starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. After that, students go to six years of Primary school. Then, they attend three years of lower Secondary school. In secondary school, students are grouped based on their abilities. After lower secondary school, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship.
In the 2009–10 school year, over 1,300 students attended schools in Ostermundigen. Many students in kindergarten and primary school had a different first language than the classroom language.
Famous People from Ostermundigen
Ostermundigen is the hometown or has been home to several notable individuals:
- Ursula Andress (born 1936): A famous Swiss film and television actress.
- Hans Fahrni (1874–1939): A Swiss chess master.
- Michelle Hunziker (born 1977): A Swiss-Dutch TV host, actress, model, and singer who grew up here.
- Michel Kratochvil (born 1979): A former professional tennis player.
Images for kids
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The Migros supermarket in Ostermundigen, designed by architect Justus Dahinden
See also
In Spanish: Ostermundigen para niños
