Ottenbach, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ottenbach
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
|
||
 Ottenbach
Location in Switzerland
Ottenbach
Location in Canton of Zurich
|
||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Zurich | |
| District | Affoltern | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.02 km2 (1.94 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 409 m (1,342 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
|
||
| • Total | 2,704 | |
| • Density | 538.6/km2 (1,395.1/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
8913
|
|
| Surrounded by | Affoltern am Albis, Aristau (AG), Jonen (AG), Merenschwand (AG), Obfelden | |
Ottenbach is a small town, also known as a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the Affoltern district within the Canton of Zürich. Ottenbach is known for its quiet charm and interesting history.
Contents
Discovering Ottenbach's Past
Ottenbach was first mentioned in old records way back in 831. At that time, it was called Hotumbacharia. Later, in 1169, it was referred to as Ottonbac.
The Rise of Textile Production
Towards the end of the 1700s, the textile industry became very important in Ottenbach. Many people started making textiles from their homes. This was like a "home industry" where families worked together.
By 1784, almost half of the people in Ottenbach (49%) worked in cotton spinning. That's about 430 people! In the early 1800s, there were around 350 weaving machines. A company called the Zurich Mechanical Silk Weaving Mill employed over 200 people from Ottenbach and nearby areas.
Exploring Ottenbach's Geography
Ottenbach covers an area of about 5 square kilometers (about 2 square miles). A large part of this land, over half (56.4%), is used for farming. Forests cover about 20.7% of the area.
Around 19.1% of Ottenbach is built up with buildings and roads. The remaining small part (3.8%) includes natural features like rivers. The town is located close to the Reuss River, right on the border with the Canton of Aargau.
Visiting Ottenbach's Sights
One special place to visit in Ottenbach is the Ottenbach Small Hydro power plant. This power plant still has its original equipment from 1920! It used to create electricity for the silk weaving factory until 1975. Today, you can take guided tours to see how it works.
Understanding Ottenbach's People
Ottenbach has a population of 2,704. As of 2007, about 7.3% of the people living here were from other countries. Over the past 10 years, the number of people living in Ottenbach has grown by 5.5%.
Languages Spoken in Ottenbach
Most people in Ottenbach speak German, which is 93.6% of the population. Italian is the second most common language, spoken by 1.7% of residents. English is the third most common, spoken by 1.0%.
Age Groups in Ottenbach
Looking at the population in 2000, children and teenagers (ages 0–19) made up 26.1% of the people. Adults (ages 20–64) were the largest group, at 64.4%. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 9.6% of the population.
Education and Jobs in Ottenbach
Many adults in Ottenbach have completed a good level of education. About 84.9% of people aged 25-64 have finished either advanced secondary education or higher education, like university.
Ottenbach has a low unemployment rate of 2.04%. This means most people who want to work can find jobs.
- Primary Sector: This involves jobs like farming. In 2005, 47 people worked in this sector, with 21 businesses.
- Secondary Sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing and industry. There were 144 people working in this sector, with 19 businesses.
- Tertiary Sector: This covers service jobs, like shops, offices, and healthcare. This was the largest sector, with 388 people employed and 82 businesses.
Historical Population Growth
The table below shows how Ottenbach's population has changed over many years:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1467 | 22 Households |
| 1650 | 320 |
| 1850 | 1,169 |
| 1900 | 1,107 |
| 1950 | 971 |
| 2000 | 2,164 |
See also
In Spanish: Ottenbach para niños
