Valangin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valangin
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Valangin old city
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 Valangin
Location in Switzerland
Valangin
Location in Canton of Neuchâtel
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Neuchâtel | |
| District | Val-de-Ruz | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.77 km2 (1.46 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 651 m (2,136 ft) | |
| Population
(December 2019)
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| • Total | 507 | |
| • Density | 134.48/km2 (348.3/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2042
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| Surrounded by | Boudevilliers, Coffrane, Engollon, Fenin-Vilars-Saules, Fontaines, Neuchâtel, Peseux | |
Valangin is a place in Switzerland. It used to be its own town, called a municipality. Valangin was located in the Val-de-Ruz area, within the Neuchâtel canton. On January 1, 2021, Valangin joined with other nearby towns like Corcelles-Cormondrèche and Peseux. They all became part of the larger city of Neuchâtel.
Contents
History of Valangin
Valangin is a very old place. It was first written about in documents way back in the year 1241. At that time, it was known as de Valengiz.
Geography and Landscape
Valangin covers an area of about 3.8 square kilometers (about 1.5 square miles). A large part of this land, almost 40%, is used for farming. This means people grow crops or raise animals there. Even more of the land, nearly 50%, is covered by forests.
About 9% of Valangin's land is developed. This includes buildings like houses and roads. A very small part, less than 1%, is made up of rivers or lakes. Most of the water in the area is flowing water, like streams.
The former town is found at the northern entrance of the Seyon canyon. This is a deep valley carved by a river. Valangin includes the main village, a small settlement called La Borcaderie, and farming areas known as Bussy and Sorgereux.
You might hear the word "Valanginian" in science class! This is a name for a period in Earth's history, part of the Cretaceous Period. It was named after Valangin because important rocks from that time were first studied here.
Coat of Arms
Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. Valangin's coat of arms is red. It has a vertical yellow stripe in the middle. On this yellow stripe, there are three black V-shapes, called chevrons.
People and Population
In 2019, Valangin had a population of 507 people. Some people living in Valangin are from other countries. In 2008, about 22% of the population were foreign nationals. Over the years, the population has changed a bit. Between 2000 and 2010, it grew slightly by 1.7%. This was because more babies were born than people died, even though some people moved away.
Most people in Valangin speak French. In 2000, about 87% of the population spoke French as their main language. The next most common language was Portuguese, spoken by about 5.5% of the people. About 3.5% spoke German. A few people also spoke Italian.
In 2008, a little more than half of the population (52%) were male, and 48% were female. Many people living in Valangin were born there or in the same canton (region). In 2000, about 26% of the people were born in Valangin itself. About 35% were born in the Neuchâtel canton. The rest were born elsewhere in Switzerland or outside of Switzerland.
In 2000, young people (ages 0-19) made up about 21.5% of the population. Adults (ages 20-64) were the largest group, at 62.3%. Older adults (over 64) made up 16.3%.
Most households in Valangin in 2000 had about 2.3 people living in them. Some households had only one person, while a few had five or more. Most apartments were lived in all the time.
The chart below shows how Valangin's population has changed over many years:
Famous People from Valangin
Valangin has been home to several notable individuals:
- Rosa Ramseyer (1841–1906): She was the wife of a missionary who worked in Ghana.
- Robert Comtesse (1847–1922): He was an important Swiss politician. He served as a member of the Swiss Federal Council, which is like the country's government, from 1899 to 1912.
- Edmond Bille (1878–1959): He was a talented Swiss artist. He worked as a painter, engraver, and even created beautiful stained glass art. He was also a journalist, writer, and politician.
- Jean-François Balmer (born 1946): He is a Swiss actor who has appeared in many French movies, TV shows, and plays.
Important Heritage Sites
Valangin Castle and the Collégiale (which is a type of church) are very important historical places in Switzerland. They are listed as national heritage sites. This means they are protected because of their historical and cultural value.
The small town of Valangin itself, along with the Bussy/Le Sorgereux and La Borcarderie areas, are also recognized as important Swiss heritage sites.
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Valangin Castle
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The Collegiate church
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, Valangin had an unemployment rate of 5.1%. This means about 5 out of every 100 people looking for a job couldn't find one.
In 2008, people in Valangin worked in different types of jobs:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming. About 14 people worked in this area.
- Secondary Sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing, where things are made. About 12 people worked here.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs that provide services, like shops, restaurants, or healthcare. About 49 people worked in this sector.
Overall, 204 people living in Valangin had jobs. About 41.7% of these workers were women. Many people who lived in Valangin actually traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, 139 residents left Valangin for their jobs, while only 51 people came into Valangin to work. This means more people left for work than came in.
To get to work, about 12.7% of the working population used public transportation, like buses or trains. Most people, about 59.8%, used a private car.
Religion
In 2000, a survey showed the religious beliefs of the people in Valangin:
- About 27% were Roman Catholic.
- About 41% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- About 6.25% belonged to other Christian churches.
- A very small number (1 person) was Islamic.
- About 23.25% of the population did not belong to any church. They might have been agnostic (not sure if God exists) or atheist (do not believe in God).
- About 5% of the people did not answer the question about their religion.
Education
Education is important in Valangin. In 2000, about 39.5% of the population had finished high school (called upper secondary education in Switzerland). Also, about 15.3% had gone on to higher education, like a university or a special college called a Fachhochschule.
In the canton of Neuchâtel, where Valangin is located, most towns offer two years of optional kindergarten. After that, children have five years of required primary school. Then, they go to secondary school for four more years. Many students travel to larger schools outside their home town for secondary education.
During the 2010-2011 school year, Valangin had one kindergarten class with 15 students. It also had two primary school classes with a total of 37 students.
In 2000, 26 students came to Valangin to attend school from other towns. At the same time, 49 students from Valangin went to schools outside the town.
See also
In Spanish: Valangin para niños
