Wildhaus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wildhaus
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 Wildhaus
Location in Switzerland
Wildhaus
Location in Canton of St. Gallen
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | St. Gallen | |
| District | Wahlkreis Toggenburg | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 34.43 km2 (13.29 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,095 m (3,593 ft) | |
| Population
(December 2008)
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| • Total | 1,209 | |
| • Density | 35.115/km2 (90.95/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
9658
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| Surrounded by | Alt Sankt Johann, Gams, Grabs, Hundwil (AR), Nesslau-Krummenau, Rüte (AI), Schwende (AI), Sennwald | |
Wildhaus is a lovely village in the Toggenburg region of Switzerland. It's part of the St. Gallen canton. Since 2010, Wildhaus has joined with Alt St. Johann to form the new municipality of Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann.
A very famous person, Huldrych Zwingli, was born here in 1484. He was an important leader during the Reformation. You can still visit his old home in Wildhaus today!
Contents
Exploring Wildhaus: Geography and Location
Wildhaus covers an area of about 34.4 square kilometers (13.3 square miles). A large part of this land, about 50%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 22% of the area. Buildings and roads take up about 4%, and the rest is made up of rivers or lakes.
The village is located on the Wildhaus Pass, which is about 1,090 meters (3,576 feet) high. This pass connects the Rhine valley to the Toggenburg region. Wildhaus sits between the impressive Churfirsten peaks and the Säntis mountain. The ski slopes above Wildhaus can reach up to 2,262 meters (7,421 feet) high.
Wildhaus: What the Coat of Arms Means
The official symbol, or coat of arms, for Wildhaus is quite interesting. It shows a black Ibex (a type of wild goat) standing on a rock. This is placed between two green pine trees. The background of the shield is silver. This design likely represents the local wildlife and nature of the area.
People of Wildhaus: Population and Languages
In 2008, Wildhaus had a population of 1,209 people. About 11% of these residents were from other countries. Most people in Wildhaus speak German, which is about 91.8% of the population. Other languages spoken include Albanian and Serbo-Croatian.
The village has a good mix of age groups. In 2000, about 11% of the population were children aged 0-9. Teenagers (10-19 years old) made up about 16%. Adults aged 20-59 made up a larger portion, and about 22% of the population were seniors (60 years and older).
Most people in Wildhaus live in families. In 2000, about 51% of households were couples with children. About 20% were couples without children, and 16% of people lived alone.
Education in Wildhaus
People in Wildhaus are generally well-educated. About 69% of adults (aged 25-64) have completed high school or gone on to higher education, like university. In 2000, about 35% of the population had finished secondary education. About 10% had attended a university or similar school.
Important Places: Heritage Sites
Wildhaus is home to some important historical sites. The birthplace of the famous reformer Huldrych Zwingli is one of them. This house is recognized as a very important national heritage site in Switzerland.
There are also the ruins of the Wildenburg castle. This castle was built around 1200. Sadly, it was struck by lightning and burned down in 1660. The good news is that the ruins were restored in 2010, and it's now a great place to visit and learn about history.
Working in Wildhaus: Economy
The economy of Wildhaus involves different types of jobs. In 2005, many people worked in the primary sector, which includes farming. There were 133 people working in this area. The secondary sector, which involves manufacturing, employed 60 people. The largest number of jobs, 403, were in the tertiary sector. This sector includes services like tourism, shops, and healthcare.
Many residents of Wildhaus also work within the municipality itself. In 2000, about 466 people worked in Wildhaus. Some people also travel into Wildhaus for work from other places.
Religious Life in Wildhaus
In 2000, the population of Wildhaus followed different religions. About 45% of the people belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Around 37% were Roman Catholic. There were also smaller groups of people who belonged to other Christian churches or were Islamic. Some people did not belong to any church.
Weather in Wildhaus
Wildhaus experiences a good amount of rain or snow each year. On average, there are about 157 days with precipitation. The village receives about 1,640 millimeters (64.6 inches) of rain or snow annually.
The wettest month is usually August, with about 202 millimeters (8 inches) of precipitation. June has the most days with rain or snow, averaging about 15.8 days. The driest month is typically October, with about 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of precipitation.
Images for kids
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A view of Wildhaus
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The coat of arms of Wildhaus
