Signau facts for kids
Signau is a cool town, or 'municipality,' located in the Emmental district of the Bern canton in Switzerland. It's a great place to learn about Swiss history and nature!
Quick facts for kids
Signau
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Signau village
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 Signau
Location in Switzerland
Signau
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Emmental | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 22.13 km2 (8.54 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 683 m (2,241 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 2,594 | |
| • Density | 117.22/km2 (303.59/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3534
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| Surrounded by | Lauperswil, Langnau im Emmental, Eggiwil, Röthenbach im Emmental, Bowil, Oberthal | |
Contents
A Look at Signau's Past
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Signau was first mentioned in old writings between 1130 and 1146. It was called Sigenowo back then.
People have lived in the Signau area for a very long time. We know this from old tools and items found from the Stone Age and Bronze Age. In the Middle Ages, local lords built their castles here. One important castle was Alt-Signau. Even though this castle became a ruin, Signau remained an important center.
The Barons of Signau built St. Mary's Church. This church was the main church for the whole area. In 1529, the city of Bern took control of Signau. Later, in 1648, the nearby village of Eggiwil became its own separate town. The village church in Signau was rebuilt in 1850.
How Signau Grew
By 1622, Signau had a yearly market in the fall. Two more markets were added in the 1700s. By 1800, many different businesses were in town, not just farmers.
In 1856, a canal was built to drain wet land. This made more space for farms. In 1864, a train line connected Signau to the rest of Switzerland. Another train line opened in 1875. These good connections helped more businesses come to Signau. Even today, farming is still a big part of the town's economy.
Schools in Signau
Signau has several primary schools. They are located in places like Höhe, Häleschwand, Mutten, and Schüpbach. The secondary school in Signau is where students from Signau and nearby towns like Röthenbach, Eggiwil, and Bowil go.
Signau's Landscape and Location
Signau covers an area of about 22.1 square kilometers. More than half of this land (55.3%) is used for farming. About 35.8% of the area is covered by forests. The rest of the land is used for buildings, roads, or rivers.
Signau is located in the upper part of the Emmental region. It's close to where the Emme river starts. The municipality includes the main village of Signau, part of the small village of Steinen, and the Schüpbach settlement. You can also find scattered farmhouses in the surrounding mountains. These farms are at heights between 700 and 1100 meters (about 2,300 to 3,600 feet).
In 2010, Signau became part of a new administrative district called Verwaltungskreis Emmental.
Signau's Coat of Arms
The official symbol, or coat of arms, for Signau looks like this: It has six vertical stripes of silver and blue. On top of these stripes, there are two red horizontal bars.
People of Signau
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Signau has a population of about 2,700 people. Most people in Signau speak German as their first language. A smaller number of people speak Albanian or French.
In 2012, about 22% of the population were children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) made up about 59% of the population. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up about 19%.
Many people who live in Signau were also born there. Others were born in the same canton (Bern) or in other parts of Switzerland. Some residents were born outside of Switzerland.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Signau has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from 1764 to 2010:
Signau's Economy and Jobs
In 2011, Signau had a low unemployment rate of 1.47%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs.
Many people in Signau work in three main types of jobs:
- Primary sector: These jobs are about getting raw materials. In Signau, this mostly means farming.
- Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things. This includes manufacturing and construction.
- Tertiary sector: These jobs provide services. This includes sales, transportation, hotels, education, and healthcare.
In 2008, there were 739 full-time jobs in Signau. About 208 of these were in farming. About 306 jobs were in manufacturing and construction. The remaining 225 jobs were in service industries.
Many people who live in Signau also work there. However, more people travel out of Signau for work than come into Signau for work. Most people use a private car to get to work, while some use public transportation.
Taxes in Signau
The tax rates in Signau are among the lowest in the canton of Bern. For example, in 2012, a married couple with two children earning 150,000 Swiss francs paid about 12.3% in local and canton taxes. An unmarried person paid about 18.5%. These rates are lower than the average for the whole canton.
Places to See in Signau
The entire village of Signau is considered an important Swiss heritage site. This means it has special historical and cultural value.
Religion in Signau
Most people in Signau belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number of people are Roman Catholic or belong to other Christian churches. There are also people who are Muslim, Hindu, or have no religious affiliation.
Education in Signau
In Signau, many adults have completed high school. Some have also gone on to higher education at a university or a specialized college.
The school system in Bern canton works like this:
- One year of optional Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of required lower Secondary school. Students are grouped by their abilities.
After secondary school, students can choose to continue their education or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).
In the 2012-2013 school year, 393 students attended schools in Signau. This included students in kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. Some students were from other countries or spoke a different language at home.
Signau also has a library called Bibliothek Signau. In 2008, it had over 10,000 books and other media. It loaned out more than 26,000 items that year!
Images for kids
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Signau village
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Coat of arms of Signau
See also
In Spanish: Signau para niños
