Gadmen
Encyclopedia
Gadmen is a municipality
in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district
in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
.
The name Gadmen comes from the Old High German
"gadum," meaning barn or small house, and was first mentioned in 1382.
The municipality is in a municipal partnership
with Volketswil
in the Canton of Zürich
.
Gadmen has a population (as of ) of . , 2.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -15.5%. Most of the population speaks German (98.5%), with French being second most common ( 0.4%) and Spanish being third ( 0.4%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 52.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(22.1%), the FDP
(13.6%) and the local small left-wing parties (4.6%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 21.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 53.7% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 25%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gadmen about 51.1% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Gadmen has an unemployment rate of 1.12%. , there were 52 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 21 businesses involved in this sector. 13 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 3 businesses in this sector. 43 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 13 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 0.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.4%. 10.9% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 1.7% is pastures and 6.5% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 13.3% is unproductive vegetation, 33.0% is too rocky for vegetation and 26.8% of the land is covered by glaciers.
Gadmen lies in the Bernese Oberland
, and the Susten Pass lies on the eastern border of the municipality. It lies in the Gadmer watershed. The neighboring municipalities are Engelberg
, Wassen
, Göschenen
, Guttannen
, Innertkirchen
and Kerns
.
There are three glaciers in Gadmen, the Stein Glacier
, the Trift Glacier
and the Wenden Glacier. Beneath the Stein Glacier is Lake Stein. The most famous mountain in Gadmen is the Titlis
.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district
Interlaken-Oberhasli (administrative district)
Interlaken-Oberhasli District in the Canton of Bern was created on 1 January 2010. It is part of the Oberland administrative region. It contains 29 municipalities with an area of and a population of 48,763....
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Bern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
The name Gadmen comes from the Old High German
Old High German
The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of...
"gadum," meaning barn or small house, and was first mentioned in 1382.
The municipality is in a municipal partnership
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Volketswil
Volketswil
Volketswil is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Volketswil has an area of . Of this area, 42.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 24.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 32.1% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
in the Canton of Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
.
Demographics
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 52.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(22.1%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(13.6%) and the local small left-wing parties (4.6%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 21.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 53.7% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 25%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gadmen about 51.1% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
Gadmen has an unemployment rate of 1.12%. , there were 52 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 21 businesses involved in this sector. 13 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 3 businesses in this sector. 43 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 13 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1764 | 354 |
| 1850 | 739 |
| 1900 | 672 |
| 1950 | 485 |
| 1960 | 510 |
| 2000 | 272 |
Geography
Gadmen has an area, , of 116.49 km² (45 sq mi). Of this area, 9.62 km² (3.7 sq mi) or 8.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 19.48 km² (7.5 sq mi) or 16.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.75 km² (0.289576618944401 sq mi) or 0.6% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.52 km² (0.586875281060653 sq mi) or 1.3% is either rivers or lakes and 85.19 km² (32.9 sq mi) or 73.1% is unproductive land.Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 0.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.4%. 10.9% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 1.7% is pastures and 6.5% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 13.3% is unproductive vegetation, 33.0% is too rocky for vegetation and 26.8% of the land is covered by glaciers.
Gadmen lies in the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
, and the Susten Pass lies on the eastern border of the municipality. It lies in the Gadmer watershed. The neighboring municipalities are Engelberg
Engelberg
Engelberg is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Engelberg has a population of . , 21.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.It is the leading mountain resort in central Switzerland...
, Wassen
Wassen
Wassen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-Geography:Wassen has an area, , of . Of this area, 12.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.1% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, Göschenen
Göschenen
Göschenen a village in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Göschenen is first mentioned in 1280 as Geschenden. In 1290 it was mentioned as Gescheldun, then in 1294 as Geschenen and in 1429 as ze Gestinen.-Geography:...
, Guttannen
Guttannen
Guttannen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.- Geography :Guttannen lies in the Bernese Oberland near Grimsel Pass. It is the highest settlement in the Haslital...
, Innertkirchen
Innertkirchen
Innertkirchen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.Its coat of arms depicts an eagle wearing an imperial crown.-History:...
and Kerns
Kerns
Kerns is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.-History:Kerns is first mentioned in 1036 as Chernz though this mention is from a 14th Century copy of the original document. After 1101 it was normally mentioned as Chernes.-Geography:...
.
There are three glaciers in Gadmen, the Stein Glacier
Stein Glacier
The Stein Glacier is a 4 km long glacier situated in the Urner Alps in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of 6.06 km².-External links:**...
, the Trift Glacier
Trift Glacier
The Trift Glacier is a long glacier situated in the Urner Alps in the canton of Berne in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of .-See also:*Trift Bridge*Triftsee*List of glaciers in Switzerland*Swiss Alps-External links:*...
and the Wenden Glacier. Beneath the Stein Glacier is Lake Stein. The most famous mountain in Gadmen is the Titlis
Titlis
The Titlis is a mountain in the Urner Alps of Switzerland. It is located on the border between the cantons of Obwalden and Berne in Switzerland, overlooking Engelberg and is famous as the site of the world's first revolving cable car...
.