Muri bei Bern
Encyclopedia
Muri bei Bern is a municipality
in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district
in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
.
The municipality is clearly divided into two parts, each with about 6,000 people. The towns are known as Muri, which has been the name of the municipality for a long time, and Gümligen.
. The earliest documentary evidence for the name was in 1180, when a clergyman named Burkhard made transactions with wealthy residents.
At that time Muri belonged to the dominion of Geristein, which in 1298 was conquered by the city of Bern. The holdings consisted of the four so-called parishes Bolligen
, Muri, Stettlen
, and Vechigen
. As the emerging Bern conquered the territories, it left the municipalities untouched, beginning the long-standing tradition of municipal autonomy.
In the course of the centuries the residents of the municipality lived in relative stability, in which the major changes in European and Swiss history seemed to pass them by. Major structural and commercial changes began to take place in the beginning of the 20th century. It followed industrialization and the trains from the city to the countryside. In the decade between 1920 and 1930, the municipal population grew from 2435 to 3938, or 62%.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the FDP
which received 31.5% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
(23.6%), the SPS
(17.7%) and the Green Party
(12.9%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 18.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.3% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20.5%. In Muri about 84.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Muri has an unemployment rate of 1.46%. , there were 107 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 1638 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 116 businesses in this sector. 4642 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 545 businesses in this sector.
of the municipality. It has 40 members, elected every four years by proportional representation
.
The municipal council is the executive
. It has seven members. With the exception of the mayor, the other members keep other jobs. The council is chosen every four years at the same time and in the same manner as the greater council. The mayor is chosen by majority
.
-Seeland
region according to favorable economic practices. Muri led the list, followed by Lyss
and Belp
. Muri is known as a tax haven
within the canton.
Space for new enterprises is being made available with authorized construction plans. The areas designated Gümligen Station and Gümligen Field are currently centers of development within the canton.
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 Bern-Mittelland administrative district
Bern-Mittelland (administrative district)
Bern-Mittelland District in the Canton of Bern was created on 1 January 2010. It is part of the Bern-Mittelland administrative region, and is the only district in the region...
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 municipality is clearly divided into two parts, each with about 6,000 people. The towns are known as Muri, which has been the name of the municipality for a long time, and Gümligen.
History
Archaeological finds at Schlosshügel, unearthed in 1832, show that Muri was already settled in the era of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. The earliest documentary evidence for the name was in 1180, when a clergyman named Burkhard made transactions with wealthy residents.
At that time Muri belonged to the dominion of Geristein, which in 1298 was conquered by the city of Bern. The holdings consisted of the four so-called parishes Bolligen
Bolligen
Bolligen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district of the canton of Bern, Switzerland.In the historical center is a twelfth-century church, with a benefice barn and parsonage from the 16th century.-Geography:...
, Muri, Stettlen
Stettlen
Stettlen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Stettlen has an area of . Of this area, 52.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 25.1% is forested...
, and Vechigen
Vechigen
Vechigen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Vechigen has an area of . Of this area, 62% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 7.7% is settled and the remainder is...
. As the emerging Bern conquered the territories, it left the municipalities untouched, beginning the long-standing tradition of municipal autonomy.
In the course of the centuries the residents of the municipality lived in relative stability, in which the major changes in European and Swiss history seemed to pass them by. Major structural and commercial changes began to take place in the beginning of the 20th century. It followed industrialization and the trains from the city to the countryside. In the decade between 1920 and 1930, the municipal population grew from 2435 to 3938, or 62%.
Geography
The municipal area of 7.7 km² (3 sq mi). This consists of 1.5 km² (0.579153237888803 sq mi) or about 21.3% forest, 1.9 km² (0.733594101325817 sq mi) or about 28.9% agricultural land, and 3.39 km² (1.3 sq mi) or about 47.7% developed land. The remainder (2.1%) is non-productive (rivers or glaciers). The highest point is 727 m (2,385.2 ft) on the Dentenberg Mountain; the lowest point is 508 m (1,666.7 ft) at the Aare River.Notable sights and recreation
- Aarebad Muri, popular site for swimming
- Muri Castle (privately owned)
- Gümligen CastleGümligen CastleGümligen Castle is a castle in the municipality of Muri bei Bern of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.-References:...
(privately owned) - Villa MettlenVilla MettlenThe Villa Mettlen is a country estate in the municipality of Muri bei Bern in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland.The first documented evidence of Mettlengut is in 1650. The first Lord was Samuel Ougspurger, who was married to Jacqueline de Graffenried...
, country estate - Muri Church, a Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed ChurchThe Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
- AuguetbrückeAuguetbrückeThe Auguetbrücke is a bridge over the Aare between the municipalities of Muri bei Bern and Belp in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland.During the 18th and at the beginning of the 19th century, four ferries crossed the Aare river between Bern and Thun. Increasing freight traffic from local farms at...
, bridge across the Aare finished in 1836. - Natural Protected Area along the Aare
- Between Belp and Köniz there are still ferries between Bern and ThunThunThun is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland with about 42,136 inhabitants , as of 1 January 2006....
along the Aare
Demographics
Muri has a population (as of ) of . , 10.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1%. Most of the population speaks German (88.9%), with French being second most common ( 3.0%) and English being third ( 1.5%).In the 2007 election the most popular party was 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....
which received 31.5% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were 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...
(23.6%), the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(17.7%) 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:...
(12.9%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 18.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.3% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20.5%. In Muri about 84.4% 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...
).
Muri has an unemployment rate of 1.46%. , there were 107 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 1638 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 116 businesses in this sector. 4642 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 545 businesses in this sector.
Politics
The greater municipal council is the legislatureLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of the municipality. It has 40 members, elected every four years by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
The municipal council is the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
. It has seven members. With the exception of the mayor, the other members keep other jobs. The council is chosen every four years at the same time and in the same manner as the greater council. The mayor is chosen by majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
.
Economy
In January 2003 the trade and industry association of the canton of Bern ranked 51 major municipalities in the Bern metropolitan area and BielBiel/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...
-Seeland
Seeland (Switzerland)
Seeland is a region in Switzerland, at the foot of the first mountain range of the Jura Mountains containing the 3 lakes of Morat , Neuchâtel and Bienne . In previous aeras, it was the floodplain of the Aare and is thus swampy. After the huge hydrological works Jura water correction, the area...
region according to favorable economic practices. Muri led the list, followed by 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 Belp
Belp
Belp is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is close to Bern's Belp Airport.-Geography:...
. Muri is known as a tax haven
Tax haven
A tax haven is a state or a country or territory where certain taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all while offering due process, good governance and a low corruption rate....
within the canton.
Space for new enterprises is being made available with authorized construction plans. The areas designated Gümligen Station and Gümligen Field are currently centers of development within the canton.
Education
Within the municipality there are six primary schools. There are also two private schools, which conduct classes in English.Further reading
- Muri bei Bern: eine Gemeinde, zwei Dörfer, ed. by the municipality of Muri bei Bern, 1993