Ursenbach facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ursenbach
Coat of arms
Ursenbach Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Ursenbach Location in Canton of Bern Show map of Canton of Bern
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Oberaargau
Area
• Total	9.17 km2 (3.54 sq mi)
Elevation	582 m (1,909 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	881
• Density	96.07/km2 (248.83/sq mi)
Postal code	4937
Surrounded by	Kleindietwil, Leimiswil, Ochlenberg, Oeschenbach, Rohrbachgraben, Walterswil

Ursenbach is a small town, also called a municipality, located in Switzerland. It's part of the Oberaargau region in the Canton of Bern.

History of Ursenbach

Ursenbach was first written about in the year 1201. Back then, its name was Ursibach.

Early Rulers and Changes

During the Middle Ages, important landowners in Ursenbach included the Lords of Aarwangen. The local court, called the Amt of Ursenbach, was controlled by the Kyburg counts. Later, in the 1300s, the Grünenberg counts took over.

Between 1407 and 1414, the city of Bern gained control of the entire Amt. They made it part of the Wangen area, known as a bailiwick. After the French invaded Switzerland in 1798, Ursenbach became part of the Langenthal district. In 1803, it returned to the Wangen district. In 1884, the village joined the Aarwangen district.

Churches and Chapels

The first church in Ursenbach was built around the 700s, but we don't have many records from that time. A later church was mentioned in 1201. The church building you see today was built in 1515. There was also a chapel called Heiligkreuz in Lünisberg, first mentioned in 1479. This chapel was completely taken down during the Protestant Reformation.

Economy and Education Changes

In the 1700s and 1800s, people in Ursenbach started making linen and weaving straw at home. This helped them earn money in addition to farming. A savings bank opened in the village in 1854.

In the early 1900s, farming became more modern, meaning fewer people were needed for farm work. More jobs appeared in construction and tourism. However, many people still had to move away to find work.

Ursenbach has its own primary school for younger students. Older students attend secondary school in Kleindietwil.

Geography of Ursenbach

Village entrance and countryside around Ursenbach

Ursenbach covers an area of about 9.2 square kilometers (3.5 square miles). A large part of this land, about 62.8%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 31.1% of the area.

Buildings and roads make up about 5.8% of the land. A very small part, 0.2%, is covered by rivers or lakes. Most of the forested land is dense forest. For farming, people grow crops and use pastures for animals.

Parts of the Municipality

Ursenbach is located in the Oberaargau region. It includes the main village of Ursenbach with its old church. It also has smaller areas called hamlets, such as Hirseren, Richisberg, Lünisberg, and Hofen. You can also find scattered farmhouses across the hilly countryside.

In the late 1800s, Ursenbach's borders changed a bit. It gave some land to nearby towns but also gained some land from others.

Ursenbach Coat of Arms

The blazon (description) of Ursenbach's coat of arms is: "Red with a wavy silver stripe over three green hills." The wavy silver line on the coat of arms represents a stream or brook. In German, "Bach" means brook, which is part of the town's name.

Population and People

A house with attached barn

Houses in Ursenbach

Ursenbach has a population of about 900 people. A small number of people, about 3.5%, are foreign nationals. Over the last ten years, the population has changed slightly.

Languages and Backgrounds

Most people in Ursenbach speak German as their main language, about 98.6%. A few people also speak Serbo-Croatian, French, or Italian.

In 2008, about 48.1% of the population were male and 51.9% were female. Most residents were born in Switzerland. About 46.1% were born right in Ursenbach.

Age Groups

Children and teenagers (ages 0–19) make up about 24.8% of the population. Adults (ages 20–64) are the largest group at 57%. Seniors (over 64 years old) make up 18.2% of the population.

Population Over Time

The chart below shows how the population of Ursenbach has changed over many years:

Economy and Jobs

In 2011, Ursenbach had a very low unemployment rate of 0.71%. In 2008, there were 355 people working in the municipality.

Types of Jobs

Jobs in Ursenbach fall into three main groups:

• Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming. About 123 people worked in this area.
• Secondary sector: These are jobs in manufacturing (making things) and construction (building things). About 164 people worked here.
• Tertiary sector: This includes jobs in services, like sales, transportation, hotels, and restaurants. About 68 people worked in this sector.

Commuting to Work

Many people who live in Ursenbach travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 260 workers left the municipality for their jobs. About 221 workers came into Ursenbach for work. Most people, about 49.6%, used a private car to get to work. A smaller number, 6.9%, used public transportation.

Religion in Ursenbach

Village church

Based on the 2000 census, most people in Ursenbach, about 86.7%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. About 4.8% were Roman Catholic. Some people belonged to other Christian churches. A small number of people did not belong to any church.

Education in Ursenbach

In Ursenbach, about 40.3% of the population have finished upper secondary education. This is schooling after middle school. About 9.8% have gone on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college.

School System

The Canton of Bern has a specific school system. It starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. After that, students attend six years of primary school. Then, they go to three years of lower secondary school. In secondary school, students are grouped based on their abilities. After lower secondary, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).

Student Numbers

During the 2009-2010 school year, 105 students attended classes in Ursenbach. There was one kindergarten class with 18 students. The primary school had 4 classes and 74 students. The lower secondary school had one class with 13 students.

Many students from Ursenbach also attend schools outside the municipality. In 2000, 107 students from Ursenbach went to schools in other towns.

See also

In Spanish: Ursenbach para niños