Langenthal, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Langenthal is a municipality
in the district of Oberaargau in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Untersteckholz
merged into the Langenthal.
Langenthal is an educational, cultural, and economic center for the region of Oberaargau
.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 5.1% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 17.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 8.0%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 2.9%. 40.5% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 16.6% is used for growing crops and 6.2% is pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
Untersteckholz had an area, , of 2.83 km² (1.1 sq mi). Of this area, 2.09 km² (0.806953511458398 sq mi) or 73.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.59 km² (0.227800273569596 sq mi) or 20.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.16 km² (0.0617763453748056 sq mi) or 5.7% is settled (buildings or roads).
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.2%. 17.7% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.2% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 56.5% is used for growing crops and 14.1% is pastures, while 3.2% is used for orchards or vine crops.
The total area of the merged municipality is 17.2 km² (6.6 sq mi).
Langenthal’s location on the road from Bern to Zurich (completed in 1760) and on the Swiss Central Railway line (inaugurated in 1857) spurned industrial development, led by textiles and machines. Municipal water supply was introduced in 1894 and an electric utility began operating in 1896. In the 20th century, Langenthal became known for its porcelain manufacture. Despite its growth - population size reached 10’000 in 1957 – Langenthal did not consider itself a city before 1997.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 28.2% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(23.1%), the FDP
(22.2%) and the Green Party
(10.8%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.4% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.9% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.7%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Langenthal about 70.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Langenthal has an unemployment rate of 2.07%. , there were 121 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 3260 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 146 businesses in this sector. 6470 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 625 businesses in this sector.
Noted industries in Langenthal include the construction of vehicles and machine as well as textile manufacturing.
may be put to the test in the case of a pending project to build a minaret for a mosque in Langenthal.
The Islamic community of Langenthal has announced their intention of taking their case to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
and if necessary further to the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg
.
The attorney of the community has also announced doubts on whether the ban can be taken to affect the Langenthal project because the application for planning permission had been handed to the authorities in 2006, it may be argued that the ban cannot be taken to apply to this project ex post facto. On the other hand, Bernese officials and Rainer Schweizer, law professor at St. Gallen university, have expressed their opinion that the ban renders the Langenthal project obsolete.
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 district of Oberaargau 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....
. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Untersteckholz
Untersteckholz
Untersteckholz was a municipality in the district of Aarwangen in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 Untersteckholz merged into Langenthal.-Geography:...
merged into the Langenthal.
Langenthal is an educational, cultural, and economic center for the region of Oberaargau
Oberaargau
The Oberaargau is the region that encompasses the upper watershed of the Aar River in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On the north, lie the Jura Mountains, and on the south the hills leading to the Emmental...
.
Geography
Langenthal, Switzerland has an area, , of 14.43 km² (5.6 sq mi). Of this area, 3.43 km² (1.3 sq mi) or 23.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 6 km² (2.3 sq mi) or 41.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.96 km² (1.9 sq mi) or 34.4% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.04 km² (9.9 acre) or 0.3% is either rivers or lakes.Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 5.1% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 17.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 8.0%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 2.9%. 40.5% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 16.6% is used for growing crops and 6.2% is pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
Untersteckholz had an area, , of 2.83 km² (1.1 sq mi). Of this area, 2.09 km² (0.806953511458398 sq mi) or 73.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.59 km² (0.227800273569596 sq mi) or 20.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.16 km² (0.0617763453748056 sq mi) or 5.7% is settled (buildings or roads).
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.2%. 17.7% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.2% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 56.5% is used for growing crops and 14.1% is pastures, while 3.2% is used for orchards or vine crops.
The total area of the merged municipality is 17.2 km² (6.6 sq mi).
History
Archeological evidence suggests that early settlements existed around 4000 B.C. in the Langenthal area. Remnants of two Roman villae have also been identified. The first mention of the town name “Langatun” dates back to 861 A.D. The establishment of a Cistercian monastery at nearby St. Urban in 1194 brought agricultural improvements (e.g. introduction of an irrigation system) to the area. In 1415, Langenthal became incorporated into the territory of the Republic of Bern, but it remained under the landlordship of the monastery even after the reformation. The town then developed into a marketplace, notable for its textiles (made from linen). A small elite of merchants, lawyers, physicians and pharmacists emerged and turned Langenthal into a center of the liberal and nationalist movement in the early 19th century.Langenthal’s location on the road from Bern to Zurich (completed in 1760) and on the Swiss Central Railway line (inaugurated in 1857) spurned industrial development, led by textiles and machines. Municipal water supply was introduced in 1894 and an electric utility began operating in 1896. In the 20th century, Langenthal became known for its porcelain manufacture. Despite its growth - population size reached 10’000 in 1957 – Langenthal did not consider itself a city before 1997.
Demographics
Langenthal has a population (as of ) of . , 19.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.8%. Most of the population speaks German (85.2%), with Italian being second most common (3.4%) and Serbo-Croatian being third (2.1%).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 28.2% 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....
(23.1%), 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....
(22.2%) and the Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
(10.8%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.4% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.9% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.7%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Langenthal about 70.4% 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...
).
Langenthal has an unemployment rate of 2.07%. , there were 121 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 3260 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 146 businesses in this sector. 6470 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 625 businesses in this sector.
Noted industries in Langenthal include the construction of vehicles and machine as well as textile manufacturing.
Langenthal minaret
The 29 November 2009 ban on new minaretsMinaret controversy in Switzerland
The minaret controversy in Switzerland refers to construction of minarets, which has been subject to legal and political controversy in Switzerland during the 2000s and a Swiss referendum regarding this issue. In a November 2009 referendum, a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new...
may be put to the test in the case of a pending project to build a minaret for a mosque in Langenthal.
The Islamic community of Langenthal has announced their intention of taking their case to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland is the supreme court of Switzerland. It is located in Lausanne.According to the Constitution of Switzerland, the court has jurisdiction over violations of:*federal law;*public international law;*intercantonal law;...
and if necessary further to the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
The attorney of the community has also announced doubts on whether the ban can be taken to affect the Langenthal project because the application for planning permission had been handed to the authorities in 2006, it may be argued that the ban cannot be taken to apply to this project ex post facto. On the other hand, Bernese officials and Rainer Schweizer, law professor at St. Gallen university, have expressed their opinion that the ban renders the Langenthal project obsolete.