Plagne, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plagne
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 Plagne
Location in Switzerland
Plagne
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Jura bernois | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.55 km2 (2.92 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 862 m (2,828 ft) | |
| Population
(December 2020)
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| • Total | 361 | |
| • Density | 47.81/km2 (123.84/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2536
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| Surrounded by | Péry, Vauffelin, Romont | |
Plagne was once a small town, or "municipality," in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. It's located in a French-speaking area called the Bernese Jura. On January 1, 2014, Plagne joined with another town, Vauffelin, to form a new municipality called Sauge. So, Plagne is now part of a bigger community!
Contents
History of Plagne
Plagne was first mentioned in old documents in 1311. Back then, it was called Blenn. Later, in 1610, it was known as Plaentsch. For a while, it also had a German name, Plentsch, but that name is not used anymore.
Plagne's Early Ownership
In 1311, Plagne was like a piece of land, called a fief, that belonged to the Basel Cathedral. They gave it to a person named Bourkard de La Roche. Plagne was also part of a larger area called the seigniory of Erguel. This area was controlled by the Prince-Bishop of Basel, who was a powerful church leader and ruler.
Changes in Control
Things changed a lot in 1797 when the French won a big war. Plagne became part of a French region called Mont-Terrible. A few years later, it moved to another French region, Haut-Rhin. After Napoleon lost power, European leaders met at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. They decided that Plagne would become part of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Rebuilding the Village
In 1862, a big fire sadly destroyed the main part of Plagne village. The people of Plagne had to work hard to rebuild their homes and community in the years that followed.
How People Made a Living
Long ago, people in Plagne mostly worked in farming. Some also dug for small amounts of metal ore or white clay, which was used to make pottery. By the late 1700s, many families started making parts for watches right in their homes. This was a common way to earn money back then. In the 1970s, more people began to move to Plagne. Many of them traveled to work in the nearby city of Biel/Bienne.
Geography of Plagne
Before Plagne joined with Vauffelin, it covered about 7.5 square kilometers (about 2.9 square miles). A large part of this land, about 33.8%, was used for farming. Even more, about 61.8%, was covered by forests. The remaining 4.7% of the land had buildings and roads.
Land Use in Plagne
Most of the built-up area was for houses and other buildings. A smaller part was for roads and transportation. In the forested areas, over half was dense forest. Some parts also had orchards or small groups of trees. For farming, some land was used for growing crops, while other parts were pastures for animals.
Plagne is located on the side of a mountain, overlooking the Vauffelin valley. This gives it a beautiful view!
Plagne's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol for a town or family. Plagne's coat of arms has a design that is "Per pale Or and Gules overall three Cauldrons counterchanged." This means it's split down the middle. One side is gold (Or) and the other is red (Gules). On top of this, there are three cauldrons, which are like big pots. These cauldrons change color depending on which side of the split they are on.
People of Plagne
In 2011, Plagne had a population of 364 people. Most people in Plagne speak French as their main language. About 76.3% of the population spoke French in 2000. The second most common language was German, spoken by about 21.1% of the people. A small number also spoke Italian.
Where People Were Born
In 2000, about 38.9% of the people living in Plagne were born there. Another 34.9% were born in the same canton (Bern). About 13.7% came from other parts of Switzerland, and 8.4% were born outside of Switzerland.
Age Groups in Plagne
In 2010, children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) made up about 19.7% of Plagne's population. Adults (20 to 64 years old) were the largest group, making up 52.9%. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 27.4% of the population.
Population Changes Over Time
The chart below shows how Plagne's population has changed over many years.
Economy and Jobs in Plagne
In 2011, Plagne had a very low unemployment rate, meaning almost everyone who wanted a job had one. In 2008, there were 50 people working in the municipality.
Types of Jobs
Jobs are often grouped into three main types:
- Primary sector: These jobs involve getting raw materials from nature. In Plagne, 8 people worked in this sector, mostly in agriculture (farming).
- Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things. In Plagne, 5 people worked in this sector, with some in manufacturing and others in construction.
- Tertiary sector: These jobs involve providing services. In Plagne, 37 people worked in this sector. This included jobs in sales, transportation, hotels, restaurants, education, and healthcare.
Many people who lived in Plagne traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, 147 people left Plagne to work elsewhere, while only 12 people came into Plagne for work. Most people used a private car to get to work, while some used public transportation.
Religion in Plagne
Based on information from 2000, most people in Plagne belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, which is a type of Protestant church. About 68.7% of the population were part of this church. About 14.0% of the people were Roman Catholic. A small number belonged to other Christian churches or were Islamic. Some people did not belong to any church or preferred not to say.
Education in Plagne
In Plagne, many adults have completed a good amount of schooling. About 37.9% of the population finished non-mandatory high school education. Also, about 9.7% went on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college.
School System in Bern
The school system in the Canton of Bern works like this:
- Children can attend one year of non-required Kindergarten.
- Then, they go to six years of Primary school.
- After that, there are three years of required lower Secondary school. In these years, students are grouped based on their abilities.
- After lower Secondary school, students can choose to continue their education or start an apprenticeship to learn a trade.
During the 2010-2011 school year, 19 students attended classes in Plagne. There was one kindergarten class with all 19 students. Some of these students were not Swiss citizens, and some spoke a different language at home than the one used in the classroom. In 2000, 25 students from Plagne went to schools in other towns.
See also
- In Spanish: Plagne (Berna) para niños
