Rütschelen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rütschelen
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 Rütschelen
Location in Switzerland
Rütschelen
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Oberaargau | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.98 km2 (1.54 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 545 m (1,788 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 564 | |
| • Density | 141.71/km2 (367.0/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
4933
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| Surrounded by | Bleienbach, Leimiswil, Lotzwil, Madiswil, Ochlenberg | |
Rütschelen is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Oberaargau area of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Contents
History of Rütschelen
Rütschelen was first mentioned in old records in the year 1273. Back then, it was known as Ruschole.
Early Rulers and Land Ownership
For a long time, Rütschelen was under the control of the Counts of Kyburg. However, other important groups, like St. Urban's Abbey and the Thunstetten Commandery, also owned land there.
In 1385, the local court, which handled smaller legal matters, was given to the Rohrmoos and Mattstetten families. These families were once knights who served the Kyburg counts. But later, these families had to give the court to the town of Burgdorf in 1394 and 1402. By 1400, Burgdorf had bought more land nearby. They combined all this land into one part of the Lotzwil region.
Changes in Farming and Work
Around the 1600s, the people of Rütschelen divided up their shared land into private plots. This meant that land that everyone could use, like for grazing animals, became owned by individuals. In 1616, an agreement for shared grazing with nearby towns was also stopped.
Losing this shared land made it harder for many farmers. Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, there were disagreements among farmers and with the village leaders about using the remaining shared land.
Starting in the 1700s, people began to work from home to earn extra money. They would weave linen or knit stockings. This was called a cottage industry. After 1850, farming became more modern with new machines. This meant fewer people were needed to work on farms. Because of fewer jobs, many people moved from Rütschelen to bigger cities. Even today, farming is still very important in Rütschelen. In 2005, more than half of all jobs were in farming.
Geography of Rütschelen
Rütschelen covers an area of about 4.0 square kilometers (1.5 square miles). A large part of this land, about 56.3%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 36.9% of the area. The remaining 7.0% is used for buildings and roads.
Landscape and Villages
The town is located on the western side of the Langeten valley. Rütschelen is a linear village, which means it stretches out along a road. It includes different parts like Dorf, Flösch, Wil, and Spiegelberg. There's also a newer area called Berg and many scattered farmhouses.
Rütschelen's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Rütschelen shows a black bear on a white background. The bottom part of the shield is red.
People of Rütschelen (Demographics)
As of 2010, Rütschelen has a population of 564 people. About 3.1% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the past ten years (2000-2010), the population has grown by about 4.9%. Most of this growth came from people moving into the town.
Languages and Backgrounds
Most people in Rütschelen, about 99.1%, speak German as their main language. A few others speak French or English.
In 2008, about 48.8% of the population was male and 51.2% was female. Most people in Rütschelen were born either in the town itself or in the same canton of Bern.
Age Groups
In 2010, children and teenagers (ages 0–19) made up 26% of the population. Adults (ages 20–64) made up 57.4%, and seniors (over 64 years old) made up 16.6%.
Population Over Time
The chart below shows how the population of Rütschelen has changed over many years:
Economy and Jobs
In 2011, the unemployment rate in Rütschelen was low, at 1.29%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them.
Types of Jobs
In 2008, there were 73 people working in Rütschelen. Jobs are often grouped into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs that get raw materials from nature, like farming. In Rütschelen, 40 people worked in farming, across 13 businesses.
- Secondary sector: This involves making things, like in factories or construction. Four people worked in this sector, in 3 businesses.
- Tertiary sector: This includes jobs that provide services, like shops, restaurants, or schools. 29 people worked in this sector, in 8 businesses.
Many people who live in Rütschelen travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 177 workers left the town for their jobs, while only 15 came into Rütschelen to work. Most people (58.4%) used a private car to get to work, while 5.7% used public transportation.
Religion
Based on the 2000 census, most people in Rütschelen are Christian. About 81.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, and 6.2% were Roman Catholic. A small number of people belonged to other Christian churches. About 6.42% of the population said they did not belong to any church.
Education in Rütschelen
Education is important in Rütschelen. About 42.8% of the people have finished high school (upper secondary education). Also, about 10.8% have gone on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college.
School System
The Canton of Bern has a specific school system:
- 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. Students are placed in different classes based on their skills.
- After lower Secondary, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).
During the 2009-2010 school year, 48 students were attending classes in Rütschelen. There was one kindergarten class with 15 students and two primary classes with 33 students. Some students from Rütschelen also attended schools in other towns.
See also
In Spanish: Rütschelen para niños
