Leuzigen
Encyclopedia
Leuzigen is a municipality
in the Seeland administrative district
in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
. The village is situated between the cities Biel/Bienne
and Solothurn
and borders on the river Aare. Population is steadily at 1100 and has been remarkably stable in the past. The coat of arms of Leuzigen shows two opposing yellow lions on blue background and dates back to at least 1833. Opposed to popular belief, the name "Leuzigen" was not derived from the word "Löwen" (German for 'lion'), but is thought to have been derived from a Germanic last name. The name underwent a chain of change until it assumed its modern spelling. In old documents, the village was referred to as Loichfingen (1224), Loenzingen (1522) und Leutzigen (1661) and Leuzingen.
more than 2000 years ago. In Roman times, the strategically important road connecting Avanches and Solothurn crossed present-day Leuzigen close to the old railway line.
In the Middle Ages
, Monks founded a priory where the church of the village was erected. In 1662, a school building made of stone was constructed in the middle of the village. The building is still preserved today as one of the oldest buildings of Leuzigen. However, it has ceased to function as a school a long time ago and is nowadays usually referred to as "the tower".
Before its integration with the canton of Bern, Leuzigen's fate was repeatedly troubled and fell under different souvereigns a few times because of struggles for territory among dukedomes and principalities.
In 1876, the railway line between Lyss
and Solothurn opened and provided Leuzigen with its own train station. In the late 1990s, the service between Büren a. A.
and Solothurn was shut down due to insufficient profitability and replaced by a bus line.
Before 1900, Leuzigen was one of the largest villages in the area. But as opposed to many surrounding villages, which have been growing considerably since the 1960s, population size has largely been stable for more than a century now. In the economic boom period in the 60s and 70s, growing industries in the region, as for example watch manufacturers in Grenchen
, attracted many workers. However, it only had little impact on Leuzigen, which predominantely remained rural.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 4.8%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.3% of the area 39.5% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 34.0% is used for growing crops and 9.6% is pastures, while 1.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
The historical population is given in the following table:
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 46.1% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(20.7%), the FDP
(14.8%) and the Green Party
(5.1%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 24.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 58.7% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.2%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Leuzigen about 77% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Leuzigen has an unemployment rate of 0.77%. , there were 115 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 34 businesses involved in this sector. 82 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 21 businesses in this sector. 102 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 25 businesses in this sector.
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 Seeland administrative district
Seeland (administrative district)
Seeland District in the Canton of Bern was created on 1 January 2010. It is part of the Seeland administrative region. It contains 46 municipalities with an area of and a population of 67,209....
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 village is situated between the cities Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne is a city in the district of the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located on the language boundary and is throughout bilingual. Biel is the German name for the town, Bienne its French counterpart. The town is often referred to in both...
and Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
and borders on the river Aare. Population is steadily at 1100 and has been remarkably stable in the past. The coat of arms of Leuzigen shows two opposing yellow lions on blue background and dates back to at least 1833. Opposed to popular belief, the name "Leuzigen" was not derived from the word "Löwen" (German for 'lion'), but is thought to have been derived from a Germanic last name. The name underwent a chain of change until it assumed its modern spelling. In old documents, the village was referred to as Loichfingen (1224), Loenzingen (1522) und Leutzigen (1661) and Leuzingen.
History
Many findings which were excavated in the late 19th and early 20th century suggest that the area in and around Leuzigen was already populated by Celts and RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
more than 2000 years ago. In Roman times, the strategically important road connecting Avanches and Solothurn crossed present-day Leuzigen close to the old railway line.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Monks founded a priory where the church of the village was erected. In 1662, a school building made of stone was constructed in the middle of the village. The building is still preserved today as one of the oldest buildings of Leuzigen. However, it has ceased to function as a school a long time ago and is nowadays usually referred to as "the tower".
Before its integration with the canton of Bern, Leuzigen's fate was repeatedly troubled and fell under different souvereigns a few times because of struggles for territory among dukedomes and principalities.
In 1876, the railway line between Lyss
Lyss
Lyss is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On 1 January 2011, the former municipality of Busswil bei Büren was merged with Lyss.-Geography:...
and Solothurn opened and provided Leuzigen with its own train station. In the late 1990s, the service between Büren a. A.
Büren an der Aare
Büren an der Aare is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:...
and Solothurn was shut down due to insufficient profitability and replaced by a bus line.
Before 1900, Leuzigen was one of the largest villages in the area. But as opposed to many surrounding villages, which have been growing considerably since the 1960s, population size has largely been stable for more than a century now. In the economic boom period in the 60s and 70s, growing industries in the region, as for example watch manufacturers in Grenchen
Grenchen
Grenchen is a municipality in the district of Lebern in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.It is located at the foot of the Jura mountains between Solothurn and Biel. With over 16,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger towns of the canton of Solothurn...
, attracted many workers. However, it only had little impact on Leuzigen, which predominantely remained rural.
Geography
Leuzigen has an area, , of 10.31 km² (4 sq mi). Of this area, 4.69 km² (1.8 sq mi) or 45.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 4.1 km² (1.6 sq mi) or 39.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.16 km² (0.447878503967341 sq mi) or 11.3% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.34 km² (0.131274733921462 sq mi) or 3.3% is either rivers or lakes.Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 4.8%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.3% of the area 39.5% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 34.0% is used for growing crops and 9.6% is pastures, while 1.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
Demographics
Leuzigen has a population (as of ) of . , 3.5% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 2.9%. Most of the population speaks German (96.8%), with French being second most common ( 0.9%) and Italian being third ( 0.6%).The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1764 | 518 |
| 1850 | 1107 |
| 1900 | 947 |
| 1950 | 1145 |
| 2000 | 1157 |
| 2005 | 1172 |
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 46.1% 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....
(20.7%), 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....
(14.8%) 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:...
(5.1%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 24.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 58.7% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.2%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Leuzigen about 77% 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...
).
Leuzigen has an unemployment rate of 0.77%. , there were 115 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 34 businesses involved in this sector. 82 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 21 businesses in this sector. 102 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 25 businesses in this sector.