Kirchberg, St. Gallen
Encyclopedia
Kirchberg is a municipality
in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of Toggenburg in the canton
of St. Gallen in Switzerland
.
The municipality is located in the Toggenburg Wahlkreis. It is the most north-western municipality in the Wahlkreis and in bordered in the west by canton Thurgau
and in the east by the Thur river. It consists of the village of Kirchberg on a high plateau in the center of the municipality, the village of Gähwil south of Kirchberg and the linear village
of Bazenheid on a terrace above the Thur. Additionally, scattered around the municipality, there are the hamlets
of Müselbach, Dietschwil, Ötwil, Nuetenwil, Rupperswil, Bräägg, Schalkhusen, Wolfikon, Lütenriet, Buomberg, Bäbikon and Husen.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Per pall Or a Lion rampant Gules crowned Argent and Or a Semi Eagle displayed issuant Azure langued Gules and crowned Argent.
, 187 are from Italy
, 1,002 are from ex-Yugoslavia
, 34 are from Austria
, 284 are from Turkey
, and 211 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 2.3%. Most of the population speaks German (86.4%), with Albanian being second most common ( 4.7%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 2.4%). Of the Swiss national languages , 6,829 speak German
, 15 people speak French
, 134 people speak Italian
, and 7 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Kirchberg is; 1,148 children or 14.5% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,235 teenagers or 15.6% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 901 people or 11.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 1,286 people or 16.3% are between 30 and 39, 1,170 people or 14.8% are between 40 and 49, and 792 people or 10.0% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 577 people or 7.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 483 people or 6.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 250 people or 3.2% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 61 people or 0.8% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.
there were 709 persons (or 9.0% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,447 (or 18.3%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 5,004 (or 63.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 353 (or 4.5%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 68 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 37 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 39 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 247 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 37.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(31.1%), the SP
(11.5%) and the FDP
(9.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Kirchberg about 63.1% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). Out of the total population in Kirchberg, , the highest education level completed by 1,911 people (24.2% of the population) was Primary, while 2,614 (33.1%) have completed Secondary, 565 (7.1%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 420 (5.3%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
The historical population is given in the following table:
parish
and pilgrimage
church of St. Peter and Paul is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
. The hamlet of Bäbikon is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
.
the average unemployment rate was 4.1%. There were 543 businesses in the municipality of which 132 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 232 were involved in the third.
there were 2,107 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,789 residents worked outside Kirchberg and 1,561 people commuted into the municipality for work.
. Of the rest of the population, there are 13 individuals (or about 0.16% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
faith, there are 243 individuals (or about 3.07% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 87 individuals (or about 1.10% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 2 individuals (or about 0.03% of the population) who are Jewish
, and 802 (or about 10.15% of the population) who are Islam
ic. There are 31 individuals (or about 0.39% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 304 (or about 3.85% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
or atheist
, and 232 individuals (or about 2.94% of the population) did not answer the question.
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 Wahlkreis (constituency) of Toggenburg 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 St. Gallen 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....
.
Geography
Kirchberg has an area, , of 42.6 km² (16.4 sq mi). Of this area, 59.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 9% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).The municipality is located in the Toggenburg Wahlkreis. It is the most north-western municipality in the Wahlkreis and in bordered in the west by canton Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
and in the east by the Thur river. It consists of the village of Kirchberg on a high plateau in the center of the municipality, the village of Gähwil south of Kirchberg and the linear village
Linear village
In geography, a linear village, or linear settlement, is a small to medium-sized settlement that is formed around a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal. Wraysbury, a village in Berkshire, is one of the longest villages in England....
of Bazenheid on a terrace above the Thur. Additionally, scattered around the municipality, there are the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Müselbach, Dietschwil, Ötwil, Nuetenwil, Rupperswil, Bräägg, Schalkhusen, Wolfikon, Lütenriet, Buomberg, Bäbikon and Husen.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Per pall Or a Lion rampant Gules crowned Argent and Or a Semi Eagle displayed issuant Azure langued Gules and crowned Argent.
Demographics
Kirchberg has a population (as of ) of . , about 22.9% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 102 are from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 187 are from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 1,002 are from ex-Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, 34 are from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, 284 are from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and 211 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 2.3%. Most of the population speaks German (86.4%), with Albanian being second most common ( 4.7%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 2.4%). Of the Swiss national languages , 6,829 speak German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, 15 people speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, 134 people speak Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and 7 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Kirchberg is; 1,148 children or 14.5% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,235 teenagers or 15.6% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 901 people or 11.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 1,286 people or 16.3% are between 30 and 39, 1,170 people or 14.8% are between 40 and 49, and 792 people or 10.0% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 577 people or 7.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 483 people or 6.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 250 people or 3.2% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 61 people or 0.8% who are between 90 and 99, and 1 person who is 100 or more.
there were 709 persons (or 9.0% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,447 (or 18.3%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 5,004 (or 63.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 353 (or 4.5%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 68 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 37 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 39 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 247 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
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 37.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(31.1%), the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(11.5%) and 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....
(9.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Kirchberg about 63.1% 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...
). Out of the total population in Kirchberg, , the highest education level completed by 1,911 people (24.2% of the population) was Primary, while 2,614 (33.1%) have completed Secondary, 565 (7.1%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 420 (5.3%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1827 | 2,550 |
| 1850 | 4,194 |
| 1900 | 5,025 |
| 1950 | 5,619 |
| 2000 | 7,904 |
Heritage sites of national significance
The catholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
parish
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
church of St. Peter and Paul is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
. The hamlet of Bäbikon is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
The Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites is part of a 1981 Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council implementing the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage.-Sites of national importance:-Types:...
.
Economy
, Kirchberg had an unemployment rate of 1.79%. , there were 467 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 186 businesses involved in this sector. 1,962 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 120 businesses in this sector. 1,705 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 232 businesses in this sector.the average unemployment rate was 4.1%. There were 543 businesses in the municipality of which 132 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 232 were involved in the third.
there were 2,107 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,789 residents worked outside Kirchberg and 1,561 people commuted into the municipality for work.
Religion
From the , 4,820 or 61.0% are Roman Catholic, while 1,370 or 17.3% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
. Of the rest of the population, there are 13 individuals (or about 0.16% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith, there are 243 individuals (or about 3.07% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 87 individuals (or about 1.10% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 2 individuals (or about 0.03% of the population) who are Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, and 802 (or about 10.15% of the population) who are Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic. There are 31 individuals (or about 0.39% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 304 (or about 3.85% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
or atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, and 232 individuals (or about 2.94% of the population) did not answer the question.