Wetzikon Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Wetzikon

Coat of arms

Wetzikon

Location in Switzerland

Wetzikon

Location in Canton of Zurich

Switzerland

Area

• Total

16.81 km² (6.49 sq mi)

Elevation

535 m (1,755 ft)

Population

(Dec 2020 )

• Total

25,056

• Density

1,490.5/km² (3,860.5/sq mi)

Postal code

8620, 8623

Localities

Ettenhausen, Kempten, Medikon, Oberwetzikon, Robank, Robenhausen, Unterwetzikon

Surrounded by

Bäretswil, Gossau, Hinwil, Mönchaltorf, Pfäffikon, Seegräben

Twin towns

Melnik (Czech Republic), Badolato (Italy)

Wetzikon is a town in the Zurich Highlands, a beautiful area in Switzerland. It's located in the Hinwil district, within the canton of Zurich.

Exploring Wetzikon's Geography
Who Lives in Wetzikon?
- Different Nationalities in Wetzikon
- Age and Religion in Wetzikon
Economy and Education in Wetzikon
Wetzikon's World Heritage Site
Getting Around Wetzikon
Wetzikon's History
Places to See in Wetzikon
Famous People from Wetzikon
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Wetzikon's Geography

Wetzikon is a municipality that covers about 16.7 square kilometers (6.4 square miles). A big part of this land, around 42%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 17% of the area. The town itself, with its buildings and roads, makes up about 28% of the land. The rest is natural areas like streams and lakes.

The Reformed Church in Wetzikon.

Wetzikon seen from Bachtel Tower. Pfäffikersee is in the middle, and Greifensee is on the left.

Wetzikon is located close to Lake Pfäffikon in the Zürcher Oberland region. It sits between the towns of Uster and Rapperswil-Jona.

A special natural area called the Robenhauser Ried wetland is also here. It's a very important nature reserve, covering about 2 square kilometers (0.77 square miles). You can find it between Seegräben, Kempten, and Irgenhausen.

Who Lives in Wetzikon?

Wetzikon is home to many people. As of 2023, its population is 25,056. About 22% of the people living here are from other countries. The population has been growing steadily over the past ten years.

Most people in Wetzikon speak German, which is about 84% of the population. Italian is the second most common language, spoken by about 6% of the people. Albanian is the third most common language.

Different Nationalities in Wetzikon

Many different nationalities live in Wetzikon. Here's a look at the main groups:

Nationalities in Wetzikon	End of 2010	End of 2011
Switzerland	76,8 %	76,5 %
Italy	5,5 %	5,2 %
Germany	3,9 %	3,9 %
Portugal	2,4 %	2,6 %
Turkey	1,7 %	1,7 %
Serbia	1,8 %	1,7 %
Kosovo	1,2 %	1,4 %
Macedonia	1,1 %	1,1 %

Age and Religion in Wetzikon

In Wetzikon, about 23% of the population are children and teenagers (under 19 years old). Adults (20-64 years old) make up 62%, and seniors (over 64 years old) are about 15%. There are over 7,900 households in the town.

The Protestant Church of Wetzikon.

When it comes to religion, many people in Wetzikon are Christian. About 45% are Protestant, with most belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church. Around 31% of the population are Catholic. There are also people who follow other religions, like Islam, and some who do not have a religion.

Economy and Education in Wetzikon

Wetzikon is an important center for education and business in the Zurich Oberland region.

The Kantonschule Zürcher Oberland (KZO), often called the "Kanti," is a high school (gymnasium) located in Wetzikon. It's a central place for learning in the area. The local newspaper, Zürcher Oberländer, and the yearly ZOM trade fair are also based here.

The regional hospital, Gesundheitsversorgung Zürcher Oberland, is also in Wetzikon.

Many people in Wetzikon have good jobs. About 69% of adults (aged 25-64) have finished higher education, like university or a specialized college. This shows that education is very important in the town.

Wetzikon's World Heritage Site

Wetzikon is home to a very special historical site: the prehistoric settlement of Wetzikon–Robenhausen. This ancient village was built on stilts in the Robenhausen wetland. It was discovered and studied by a famous archaeologist named Jakob Messikommer.

This site is part of the "Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps" which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place for understanding human history around the world.

Getting Around Wetzikon

Wetzikon has good transportation links, especially by train. There are two train stations in the municipality: Wetzikon railway station and Kempten railway station.

Wetzikon station is a key stop for the Zürich S-Bahn train lines, including S3, S14, S15, and S5. Kempten station is served by the S3 line. You can get to Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the main train station in Zurich, in about 20 minutes on the S5 line.

There's also a special heritage railway, the Dampfbahn-Verein Zürcher Oberland, which offers fun train rides during certain seasons from Ettenhausen-Emmetschloo.

Wetzikon's History

Aerial view of Wetzikon by Walter Mittelholzer (1931).

The earliest mention of the name Wetzikon dates back to the year 1044. At that time, three important people from "Wezzinchova" were mentioned. Before that, the village and a castle were known as Ratpoldskilch.

Even older history has been found through archaeological digs. These digs have uncovered prehistoric pile dwellings in Robenhausen and the remains of a Roman farm (called a villa rustica) in Kempten. These discoveries show that people have lived in this area for a very long time!

Places to See in Wetzikon

The local museum (Ortsmuseum) tells the story of Wetzikon's culture from ancient times until today.
The Robenhauser Riet is a beautiful wetland nature reserve.
Kemptner Tobel is a scenic gorge with a stream.

Famous People from Wetzikon

Hans Georg Nägeli, a composer and music publisher.

Dorothee Elmiger, a writer.

Many interesting people have come from Wetzikon, including:

Elisabeth of Wetzikon (1235-1298) – An important leader of the Fraumünster abbey.
Johannes Schmidlin (1722-1772) – A pastor and composer.
Hans Georg Nägeli (1773-1836) – A famous composer and music publisher.
Heinrich Leuthold (1827-1879) – A poet and translator.
Jakob Messikommer (1828-1917) – An archaeologist who studied the ancient settlements in Robenhausen.
Jakob Heusser (1862–1941) – A successful businessman and generous helper.
Hedi Lang (1931-2004) – A politician who was the second woman to lead the Swiss National Council.
Jörg Schneider (1935-2015) – A well-known actor.
Walter Andreas Müller (born 1945) – An actor, radio host, and comedian.
Ueli Maurer (born 1950) – A politician who was a member of the Swiss Federal Council.
Eric Franklin (born 1957) – A dancer, movement teacher, and writer.
Patrick Mohr (born 1971) – A former professional tennis player.
Andreas Schweizer (born 1979) – A gymnast.
Dorothee Elmiger (born 1985) – A talented writer.
Steven Deana (born 1990) – A football goalkeeper.
Natalie Kanyapak Phoksomboon (born 1991) – A Thai-Swiss beauty queen who won Miss Thailand World in 2013.