Sattel, Switzerland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sattel
Coat of arms
Sattel Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Sattel Location in Canton of Schwyz Show map of Canton of Schwyz
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Schwyz
District	Schwyz
Area
• Total	17.39 km2 (6.71 sq mi)
Elevation	794 m (2,605 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	1,925
• Density	110.70/km2 (286.70/sq mi)
Postal code	6417
Localities	Ecce Homo, Schornen, Mostelberg
Surrounded by	Oberägeri (ZG), Rothenthurm, Steinen, Steinerberg, Schwyz, Unterägeri (ZG)

Sattel is a small town, also called a municipality, in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Schwyz, which is like a state. The name "Sattel" comes from the German word for "saddle". This makes sense because the town is in a valley that looks like a saddle between mountains.

History of Sattel

Battle of Morgarten Chapel

Aerial view of Sattel in 1948

The Battle of Morgarten

A very important event happened near Sattel on November 15, 1315. This was the Battle of Morgarten. It took place at Morgarten, which is now part of another town called Oberägeri.

This battle was between the early Swiss Confederation and Austrian soldiers. The Swiss were a group of states that had joined together. The Austrians were part of the Holy Roman Empire.

About 1,500 Swiss archers surprised the Austrian army. The Swiss were led by Werner Stauffacher. The Austrians were led by Duke Leopold I.

The Swiss set up a roadblock and waited in a narrow path. This path was between a steep hill and a swamp. When the Austrian knights arrived, the Swiss attacked from above. They used rocks, logs, and long weapons called halberds.

The knights could not move or fight well in the narrow space. They suffered a huge defeat. The Austrian foot soldiers at the back ran away. People at the time said the Swiss were very fierce fighters.

After the Battle

After their big win, the Swiss states renewed their alliance. This happened in December 1315. This event helped the Swiss Confederation grow stronger.

Over the next 40 years, more cities joined the group. These included Lucerne, Zug, Zürich, and Bern. The victory gave the Swiss about 60 years of peace. They remained mostly independent.

French Invasion in 1798

In 1798, the French army invaded Switzerland. This ended the old system of government, called the Ancien Régime. The French created a new government called the Helvetic Republic.

Some Swiss areas, like Uri, Schwyz, and Nidwalden, did not want this new government. They formed an army of about 10,000 men. Their leader was Alois von Reding.

General Reding's army fought the French. They won battles at Rothenthurm and Morgarten. But the French General Schauenburg won a battle near Sattel. This allowed him to threaten the town of Schwyz.

On May 4, 1798, the town council of Schwyz surrendered.

Geography of Sattel

Sattel covers an area of about 17.3 square kilometers (6.7 square miles). A large part of this land, about 55.7%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 37.2% of the area.

About 6.2% of the land has buildings or roads. The rest, less than 1%, is made up of rivers, glaciers, or mountains.

Long ago, during the last ice age, a large glacier covered the valley where Sattel is now. This glacier was called the Reussgletschter.

People and Life in Sattel (Demographics)

Sattel has a population of about 1,618 people (as of 2007). In recent years, the number of people living here has grown by about 18.5%.

Most people in Sattel speak German, about 97.3%. A small number speak English or Albanian.

In 2000, there were slightly more males (51.4%) than females (48.6%).

Age Groups

Here's how the population was divided by age in 2008:

• Children and teenagers (0-19 years old): About 29.2%
• Young adults (20-39 years old): About 31.1%
• Middle-aged adults (40-64 years old): About 25.7%
• Seniors (65-74 years old): About 8.4%
• Older seniors (75-79 years old): About 4.4%
• Very old seniors (over 80 years old): About 1.21%

Households and Education

In 2000, there were 503 households in Sattel. About 26.6% of these households had only one person living in them. About 10.1% were large households with five or more people.

Many adults in Sattel, about 60.7%, have finished higher education. This means they went to a special school after high school, like a university.

Jobs and Economy

Sattel has a very low unemployment rate, about 0.69%. This means most people who want to work can find a job.

In 2005, many people worked in different areas:

• Primary sector: 183 people worked in farming and related businesses.
• Secondary sector: 51 people worked in manufacturing or construction.
• Tertiary sector: 197 people worked in services, like shops, hotels, or offices.

Religion

Most people in Sattel are Roman Catholic, about 85.9%. About 6.8% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belong to other Christian churches or are Islamic. Some people do not belong to any church.

Population Changes Over Time

Here is a table showing how the population of Sattel has changed over the years:

See also

In Spanish: Sattel para niños