Stocken-Höfen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stocken-Höfen
|
||
|---|---|---|
Oberstocken village from the peak of the Stockhorn
|
||
|
||
 Stocken-Höfen
Location in Switzerland
Stocken-Höfen
Location in Canton of Bern
|
||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Thun | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.22 km2 (5.49 sq mi) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
|
||
| • Total | 1,041 | |
| • Density | 73.21/km2 (189.60/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3631-32
|
|
| Surrounded by | Erlenbach im Simmental, Reutigen, Zwieselberg, Amsoldingen, Übeschi, Pohlern | |
Stocken-Höfen is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Bern. This town is part of the Thun area.
On January 1, 2014, three smaller towns joined together. These were Niederstocken, Oberstocken, and Höfen. They all became one new municipality called Stocken-Höfen.
Contents
History of Stocken-Höfen
Höfen: A Look Back in Time
The oldest sign of people living here is a tool from the Neolithic period. This was found in an area called Hofallmend. The Neolithic period was a very long time ago, when people first started farming.
During the Middle Ages, a small hunting estate was built. It was known as the Turm zu Stocken. This means "Tower at Stocken." It was also called Friedberg.
In 1308, the Duke of Austria gave this estate to the Amsoldingen family. They were knights. The village of Höfen grew up around this estate. It was part of the Amsoldingen lands. It was also part of their local church area, called a parish.
By the 1400s, arguments over farmland helped set the village borders. The Amsoldingen family owned the estate for almost 200 years. They gave it up in 1492. It then had several other owners. In 1642, it became part of the Blumenstein Herrschaft. A Herrschaft was like a small territory ruled by a lord. Later, the estate was left empty and fell apart.
For a long time, people in Höfen raised farm animals. They would take their animals to Thun to sell them. In the 1900s, many people started traveling to Thun for work. They also went to other nearby cities. In the 1980s, more people moved to Höfen. A new neighborhood called Schindlern-Kistlern was built.
Niederstocken: Its Past
Niederstocken was first mentioned in records in 1351. It was called Stogken back then.
The oldest sign of people here is a Stone Age tool-making site. This was found on Stockenfluh mountain. In the Middle Ages, the village was part of the Amsoldingen area. It was also part of their church parish.
In 1485, the church office of canon was ended. The lands of Amsoldingen were then taken over by Bern. In 1505, Niederstocken became part of Bern's Thun district. It stayed there until 1803. Then, it joined the Niedersimmental District.
Between 1898 and 1926, a company tried to build a railroad. It was called the Stockentalbahn. They wanted the railroad to go through the Stockental valley. This included Niederstocken, but they were not successful. In 1921, a road was built to the town.
There were several tries to combine Oberstocken and Niederstocken. The most recent try was in 1988. Today, the town is still quite quiet. It has kept its farming way of life.
Niederstocken was part of the Amsoldingen church area until 1485. Then, it joined the Reutigen church area. In 1481, a man named Hans Schütz built a chapel in the village. By 1556, Niederstocken accepted the new Protestant Reformation faith. The village chapel was then taken down.
Oberstocken: Early Days
Oberstocken was also first mentioned in 1351. It was also called Stogken.
Like Niederstocken, Oberstocken was part of the Amsoldingen lands. This was during the Middle Ages. It was also part of their church parish. In 1485, Bern took over the Amsoldingen lands.
In 1505, Oberstocken became part of Bern's Thun district. It stayed there until 1803. Then, it joined the Niedersimmental District. The Stockentalbahn railroad company also tried to build a railroad to Oberstocken. This was between 1898 and 1926, but it did not happen. There were also tries to combine Oberstocken and Niederstocken. The last try was in 1988.
Geography
The towns that now form Stocken-Höfen cover a total area of 14.22 km2 (5.49 sq mi). This is about 14.21 square kilometers.
Population
The total number of people living in Stocken-Höfen is 1,041. This number was last updated in December 2012.
How the Population Changed Over Time
This chart shows how the number of people living in Höfen, Niederstocken, and Oberstocken changed over many years.
Civil Defense in Oberstocken
Oberstocken has a special role in civil defense. It is set up as a place where people can go if they need to leave their homes. There are over 350 small bunkers there. The main civil defense building is currently used as a garage. It holds 16 vehicles.
Images for kids
-
Oberstocken village from the peak of the Stockhorn
