Melchnau
Encyclopedia
Melchnau is a municipality
in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
.
In the last century, Melchnau has developed from a farming town to a municipality with a diversified economy. As well as small businesses, light industry (for example Lanten Textiles) has emerged. In 1917 a narrow-gauge railway was opened between Langenthal
and Melchnau, which was superseded by buses in 1982 . The railway and the station remain and are now used occasionally for special events.
Melchnau has an area of 10.3 square kilometres (4 sq mi). Of this area, 5.92 km² (2.3 sq mi) or 57.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 3.63 km² (1.4 sq mi) or 35.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.8 km² (0.308881726874028 sq mi) or 7.8% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.01 km² (2.5 acre) or 0.1% is either rivers or lakes and 0.01 km² (2.5 acre) or 0.1% is unproductive land.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 5.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.8%. Out of the forested land, 33.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.8% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 27.5% is used for growing crops and 28.2% is pastures, while 1.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 45.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(15%), the CSP
(13.8%) and the FDP
(12.5%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 26.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 53.9% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20%. In Melchnau 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
).
Melchnau has an unemployment rate of 1.21%. , there were 131 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 45 businesses involved in this sector. 247 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 19 businesses in this sector. 312 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 44 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 Oberaargau administrative district 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....
.
History
Melchnau celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2000. The earliest written evidence for the town dates from about 1100.In the last century, Melchnau has developed from a farming town to a municipality with a diversified economy. As well as small businesses, light industry (for example Lanten Textiles) has emerged. In 1917 a narrow-gauge railway was opened between Langenthal
Langenthal, Switzerland
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....
and Melchnau, which was superseded by buses in 1982 . The railway and the station remain and are now used occasionally for special events.
Geography
Melchnau lies in a small valley near the border with the canton of Luzern. It is about equidistant from Bern (40 km) to the southwest and Luzern (35 km) to the southeast.Melchnau has an area of 10.3 square kilometres (4 sq mi). Of this area, 5.92 km² (2.3 sq mi) or 57.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 3.63 km² (1.4 sq mi) or 35.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.8 km² (0.308881726874028 sq mi) or 7.8% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.01 km² (2.5 acre) or 0.1% is either rivers or lakes and 0.01 km² (2.5 acre) or 0.1% is unproductive land.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 5.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.8%. Out of the forested land, 33.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.8% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 27.5% is used for growing crops and 28.2% is pastures, while 1.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
Demographics
Melchnau has a population (as of ) of . , 11.5% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -6.3%. Most of the population speaks German (90.7%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 3.5%) and Turkish being third ( 1.8%).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 45.3% 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....
(15%), the CSP
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
(13.8%) 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....
(12.5%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 26.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 53.9% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20%. In Melchnau 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...
).
Melchnau has an unemployment rate of 1.21%. , there were 131 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 45 businesses involved in this sector. 247 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 19 businesses in this sector. 312 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 44 businesses in this sector.