Utzenstorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Utzenstorf
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Gasthof Bären in Utzenstorf village
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 Utzenstorf
Location in Switzerland
Utzenstorf
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Emmental | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.94 km2 (6.54 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 476 m (1,562 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 4,430 | |
| • Density | 261.5/km2 (677.3/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3427
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| Surrounded by | Aefligen, Bätterkinden, Ersigen, Kirchberg, Koppigen, Niederösch, Obergerlafingen (SO), Oberösch, Rüdtligen-Alchenflüh, Wiler bei Utzenstorf, Zielebach | |
Utzenstorf is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Emmental area of the Bern region. Utzenstorf is well-known for its old castle, Landshut Castle.
Contents
History of Utzenstorf
Utzenstorf was first mentioned in old records in 1175. It was called Uzansdorf back then.
The oldest signs of people living here are from the Stone Age. These include an old hilltop settlement at Bürglenhubel. People found parts of an earth wall, old houses made of turf, and stone tools there. Other ancient sites have also been found in the area.
Landshut Castle was once the main center for the Utzenstorf area. It was owned by powerful families like the Dukes of Zähringen and later the Counts of Kyburg. In 1332, the castle was attacked and destroyed by soldiers from Bern and Solothurn. But it was quickly rebuilt.
Later, the city of Bern bought the castle and the surrounding land in 1514. Under Bern's rule, the castle became an important local government office.
The villages of Utzenstorf had a church built around the 11th or 12th century. A new church, named after St. Martin, was built in 1457. When Bern became Protestant, the church in Utzenstorf also became Protestant.
A famous writer, Albert Bitzius (known as Jeremias Gotthelf), lived in Utzenstorf as a boy. His father was the pastor there. Many of his stories are about people from the Emmental area, likely inspired by his time in Utzenstorf.
In the 16th century, Utzenstorf grew, which sometimes led to arguments with nearby towns about borders. The area also often flooded because of the Emme river. People tried to build walls to stop the floods in the 1600s, but the floods continued until the river was changed in 1884.
A school was built in the village in 1892. A train line and station opened in Utzenstorf in 1875. This helped connect the town to other parts of Switzerland. It also allowed factories to open, like a paper mill in 1892 and a biscuit factory in 1894.
The Swiss Central Airport Project
After World War II, there was a plan to build a very large international airport near Utzenstorf. It was called the "Swiss Central Airport Utzenstorf." This airport would have been about 23 kilometers north of Bern.
However, many local people, especially farmers, were against the idea. They worried that the airport would take up too much valuable farmland. Because of this strong opposition, the government decided to build the airport somewhere else. They chose a swampy area near Kloten in the canton of Zurich, which is now Zurich Airport. That land already belonged to the government.
Looking back, some people think Utzenstorf would have been a better place for a big airport. It would have had good connections to highways and high-speed trains. Also, its location would not have been affected by borders with other countries, unlike Zurich Airport.
Growth in the 1970s and 1980s
In the 1970s and 1980s, Utzenstorf grew a lot. Many new neighborhoods were built to house the increasing number of people moving to the town.
Geography of Utzenstorf
Utzenstorf is located along the Emme river. The town includes the villages of Ober-Utzenstorf and Unter-Utzenstorf. It also has smaller areas like Schachen, Ei, Altwiden, and Landshut Castle.
A large part of Utzenstorf's land is used for farming, about 59.5%. Forests cover about 26.9% of the area. Buildings and roads make up about 12.7% of the land.
Utzenstorf's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Utzenstorf is green and silver. It shows four linden leaves joined together in a cross shape. The colors of the leaves are swapped depending on the background color.
People of Utzenstorf
Utzenstorf has a population of about 4,106 people (as of December 2011). Most people in Utzenstorf speak German as their main language. A smaller number of people speak Albanian or Italian.
In 2010, about 21.3% of the population were children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) made up 62% of the population. People over 64 years old made up 16.7%.
The population of Utzenstorf has grown over time, as shown in this chart:
Important Heritage Sites
Some places in Utzenstorf are very important to Switzerland's history and culture. These include the ancient Stone Age settlement at Bürglenhubel, the Gasthof Bären (an old inn), and Landshut Castle. The entire area around Landshut Castle is also protected as a heritage site.
Economy and Jobs
In 2011, Utzenstorf had a low unemployment rate of 2.66%. Many people work in Utzenstorf. In 2008, there were about 1,871 jobs in the town.
Jobs are divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming.
- Secondary sector: This includes jobs in factories and construction.
- Tertiary sector: This includes jobs in services, like shops, transportation, hotels, and healthcare.
Many people who live in Utzenstorf travel to other towns for work. Also, many people from other towns come to Utzenstorf to work. About 15.3% of workers use public transportation, and 48.5% use a private car to get to work.
Religion in Utzenstorf
Most people in Utzenstorf belong to the Swiss Reformed Church, which is a Protestant church. A smaller number of people are Roman Catholic. There are also people who follow other Christian faiths, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Some people do not belong to any church.
Education in Utzenstorf
In Utzenstorf, many people have completed higher education. About 41.7% of the population has finished high school, and 10.9% have gone on to university or other higher education.
The school system in Bern starts with one year of kindergarten. Then, students go to primary school for six years. After that, they attend lower secondary school for three years. Students are grouped by their abilities in secondary school. After lower secondary, students can choose to continue their education or start an apprenticeship (learning a trade on the job).
In the 2010-2011 school year, there were 481 students in Utzenstorf. This included 70 kindergarten students, 285 primary school students, and 126 lower secondary school students.
Famous People from Utzenstorf
- Jeremias Gotthelf (Albert Bitzius) (1797-1854): A famous Swiss novelist who lived in Utzenstorf as a boy.
- Jakob Steiner (1796-1863): A well-known Swiss mathematician who was born in Utzenstorf.
Images for kids
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Landshut Castle
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Another view of Gasthof Bären
See also
In Spanish: Utzenstorf para niños
