Sottens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sottens
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Sottens transmitter
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 Sottens
Location in Switzerland
Sottens
Location in Canton of Vaud
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Vaud | |
| District | Gros-de-Vaud | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.53 km2 (1.75 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 755 m (2,477 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 257 | |
| • Density | 56.73/km2 (146.9/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
1062
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| Surrounded by | Chapelle-sur-Moudon, Hermenches, Martherenges, Montaubion-Chardonney, Moudon, Peney-le-Jorat, Peyres-Possens, Villars-Mendraz | |
Sottens was once a municipality in the Gros-de-Vaud area of Vaud, a canton in Switzerland. It is famous for its radio transmitter, built in 1931, which broadcasts French-language Swiss radio.
On July 1, 2011, Sottens joined with several other towns. These were Villars-Tiercelin, Montaubion-Chardonney, Villars-Mendraz, and Peney-le-Jorat. Together, they formed a new municipality called Jorat-Menthue.
Contents
A Look at Sottens' Past
Sottens is a very old place. It was first written about in the year 1147. Back then, its name was spelled Sotens.
Exploring Sottens' Geography
Sottens covers an area of about 4.5 square kilometers (1.7 square miles). This information is from 2009.
Land Use in Sottens
Most of the land in Sottens is used for farming. About 65% of the area is farmland. Forests cover another 29% of the land. The remaining 6% is where buildings and roads are located.
Most of the forested land is covered with thick trees. For farming, nearly half the land is used for growing crops. The rest is used as pastures for animals.
Location and Districts
Sottens is located on a high flat area called a plateau. This plateau is part of the Jorat region, found between Echallens and Moudon.
Until 2006, Sottens was part of the Moudon District. After that, it became part of the newer Gros-de-Vaud district. The former municipality includes the main village of Sottens and a small hamlet called Bez.
Understanding Sottens' Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol for a town or family. Sottens has its own unique design.
The coat of arms for Sottens is split down the middle. One side is red, and the other side is green. Across the middle, there is a wavy silver stripe. Around this stripe are seven golden stars, with four stars above and three below.
Who Lives in Sottens?
In 2009, Sottens had a population of 257 people. About 9% of the people living there in 2008 were from other countries.
Population Changes Over Time
Over ten years, from 1999 to 2009, the number of people in Sottens grew by about 20%. This growth happened because more people moved into the town than moved out. Also, more babies were born than people who passed away.
Languages Spoken in Sottens
Most people in Sottens speak French. In 2000, about 85% of the population spoke French. German was the second most common language, spoken by about 7% of the people. Portuguese was third, spoken by nearly 6%.
Where People Were Born
In 2000, about 30% of the people living in Sottens were born there. Another 37% were born in the same canton (Vaud). About 15% were born elsewhere in Switzerland, and 16% were born outside of Switzerland.
Population History Chart
This chart shows how the population of Sottens has changed over many years:
Important Heritage Sites
The Sottens National Transmitter (Emetteur National De Sottens) is a very important building. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
This transmitter sends out radio signals for Radio Suisse Romande. This is the French-speaking radio station in Switzerland. At night, its signals can be heard all across Europe.
Sottens' Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Sottens was 4.1%. This means a small number of people who wanted jobs did not have one.
Types of Jobs
In 2008, there were 15 people working in the primary economic sector. This includes jobs like farming. There were 6 businesses in this sector.
The secondary sector had 50 workers, mainly in construction. There were 2 businesses in this sector.
The tertiary sector had 23 workers. This sector includes jobs like sales, hotels, and education. There were 6 businesses in this sector.
Commuting for Work
In 2000, 42 people traveled into Sottens for work. However, 81 people who lived in Sottens traveled to other towns for their jobs. This means more people left Sottens for work than came in.
Most people used a private car to get to work (65.5%). A smaller number (6.7%) used public transportation.
Religion in Sottens
Based on a census from 2000, people in Sottens followed different religions.
About 17% of the population were Roman Catholic. A larger group, about 57%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
Some people (about 17%) belonged to other Christian churches. A few people were Jewish or Hindu. About 14% of the population did not belong to any church.
Education in Sottens
Education is important in Sottens. Many people have completed higher levels of schooling.
Schooling Levels
About 38% of the population in Sottens finished upper secondary education. This is schooling after primary school.
Another 13% completed even higher education. This includes attending a university or a specialized college (a Fachhochschule).
Local Schools
In the 2009/2010 school year, 34 students were in the Sottens school district.
The local school system provides two years of optional pre-school. Primary school lasts for four years. There were 22 students in the primary school program.
After primary school, students attend lower secondary school for six years. There were 12 students in these schools.
In 2000, 5 students came to Sottens from other towns to attend school. At the same time, 28 students from Sottens went to schools outside the municipality.
