Sornetan Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Sornetan

Former municipality of Switzerland

Sornetan village church

Coat of arms

Sornetan

Location in Switzerland

Sornetan

Location in Canton of Bern

Switzerland

Area

• Total

5.62 km² (2.17 sq mi)

Elevation

843 m (2,766 ft)

Population

(Dec 2011)

• Total

129

• Density

22.95/km² (59.45/sq mi)

Postal code

2716

Surrounded by

Monible, Châtelat, Saicourt, Saules, Souboz, Undervelier

Sornetan was once a small town, or municipality, in the Jura bernois area of Bern canton in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, known as the Bernese Jura. On January 1, 2015, Sornetan joined with three other towns – Châtelat, Monible, and Souboz – to form a new, larger municipality called Petit-Val.

Sornetan's Past: A Look at Its History

Sornetan was first mentioned in old records in 1179. Back then, it was called Sornetan. It also used to have a German name, Sornetal, but that name is not used anymore.

Early Settlers and Rulers

People have lived in the Sornetan area for a very long time. Some of the oldest things found here are from the Celtic tribes. After them came the Romans, and then the Burgundians.

A noble family named Sornetan lived here from the 1100s to the 1300s. Later, a religious group from Moutier-Grandval Abbey took over the village. When the Protestant Reformation happened in the 1500s, the Abbey was closed. Sornetan then came under the leader of Moutier-Grandval, who was under the Prince-Bishop of Basel.

Changes in Control

In 1797, France won a war, and Sornetan became part of a French region called Mont-Terrible. Three years later, in 1800, it became part of another French region, Haut-Rhin. After Napoleon was defeated, and a big meeting called the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Sornetan was given to the Canton of Bern.

Religious Life and the Church

Before 1528, Sornetan was part of the Sapran church area. When the town became Protestant, it joined different church areas over time. Finally, in 1746, Sornetan became its own independent church area.

The main church in Sornetan was built in 1708-09. It is now considered a very important heritage site in Switzerland. It was updated between 1964 and 1967.

Modern Changes in Sornetan

For a long time, Sornetan was mostly a farming community. But in the 1970s, other types of jobs, like services, started to become more important. This change happened partly because a Swiss Reformed Church meeting and training center was built in the town in 1971.

Sornetan's Geography and Landscape

Sornetan village and surrounding fields

Before it merged, Sornetan covered about 5.7 square kilometers (2.2 square miles). A large part of this land, about 45.9%, was used for farming. Forests covered about 50.5% of the area.

Only a small part, about 3.2%, had buildings or roads. A tiny bit, 0.4%, was rivers or lakes. The rest, also 0.4%, was land that couldn't be used for anything.

The former town is located in the hills, close to where the Sorne river begins.

Sornetan's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Sornetan is red. It has a gold V-shape (called a chevron). Above the V-shape are three gold stars. At the bottom, there is a wavy blue line.

People of Sornetan: Demographics

Sornetan village

In 2013, Sornetan had a population of 139 people. In 2010, about 4% of the people living there were from other countries. Over ten years (2001-2011), the population grew by 2.4%. This growth was mostly due to people moving into the town.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Sornetan speak French. In 2000, about 87.6% of the population spoke French as their main language. German was the second most common language, spoken by 9.7% of the people. A small number, 0.9%, spoke Spanish.

Where People Were Born

In 2000, about 46.9% of the people living in Sornetan were also born there. Another 27.4% were born in the same canton (Bern). About 16.8% were born elsewhere in Switzerland, and 8% were born outside of Switzerland.

Age Groups

In 2011, children and teenagers (0-19 years old) made up 23.3% of the population. Adults (20-64 years old) were the largest group at 67.4%. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 9.3%.

Family Life

In 2000, 51 people in Sornetan were single and had never been married. There were 55 married people, 5 widows or widowers, and 2 divorced individuals.

Housing in Sornetan

In 2010, there were 11 homes where only one person lived. There were also homes with five or more people. In 2000, most apartments (65.5%) were lived in all the time. Some (23.6%) were used only during certain seasons, and 10.9% were empty. In 2011, single-family homes made up 43.8% of all housing in the town.

Population Changes Over Time

The chart below shows how Sornetan's population has changed through the years:

Important Heritage Sites

Interior of the Reformed village church

The Reformed church in Sornetan is very important. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means it's a special place that is protected and valued for its history and culture.

Economy and Jobs in Sornetan

In 2011, the unemployment rate in Sornetan was low, at 1.93%. In 2008, 64 people worked in the town.

Types of Jobs

Primary sector: 27 people worked in farming and related businesses.
Secondary sector: 21 people worked in manufacturing and construction.
Tertiary sector: 16 people worked in services, like hotels or restaurants.

Most workers (69.4%) lived and worked in Sornetan. About 8.8% of workers used public transportation, and 32.4% used a private car to get to work.

Religion in Sornetan

Church of Sornetan

According to the 2000 census:

64 people (56.6%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
19 people (16.8%) were Roman Catholic.
18 people (15.93%) belonged to other Christian churches.
9 people (7.96%) did not belong to any church, or were agnostic or atheist.
3 people (2.65%) did not answer the question about their religion.

Education in Sornetan

About 68.6% of the people in Sornetan have finished high school (non-mandatory upper secondary education). About 12.9% have gone on to higher education, like university.

In 2000, 9 students went to school in Sornetan. Six of these students lived and went to school in the town. Three students came from other towns to attend school in Sornetan. During the same year, 14 residents of Sornetan went to schools outside the town.