Neunkirch
Encyclopedia
Neunkirch is a municipality
in the canton
of Schaffhausen in Switzerland. It is set in the south of the mountains called Randen.
The name was finally fixed as Neunkirch because it belonged to the Bishopric of Constance
, whose diocese
already included a town called Niuchilchun or Neukirch
. To avoid confusion with this town, the names were made different.
on a Sunday 21 September in the reign of Louis the German
. An exact year is not mentioned. Researches show, that 21 September was a Sunday only in 850, 861, 867 and 872. A commission decided in 1901, that the first year, 850, should officially be taken as the first date Neunkirch was mentioned in.
The document itself doesn't exist anymore, but there is a copy in the public record office of Zürich
.
We know from 1150 that the bishop of Konstanz
owned the church and a house. In 1260 the bishop bought the majority of land in Neunkirch as well as the low and high justice
.
At the end of this century Neunkirch was destroyed; perhaps by war or fire. Afterwards the bishop reconstructed Neunkirch with a plan which had, and still has, a geometrical form. It is a rectangle with four straight streets. The houses are protected by two walls with an open space between. In front of the wall was a ditch partially filled with water.
For 250 years Neunkirch had belonged to the Bishopric of Constance till in 1525 the bishop sold his rights of the low and high justice to Schaffhausen
for 8500 guilder.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Azure a Church Argent roofed Gules. The church on the coat of arms refers to the municipal name of Neunkirch which means New Church.
The municipality is the capital of the Oberklettgau district.
, 2.3% are from Serbia
, 16.7% are from Macedonia
, 2.3% are from Turkey
, and 19.8% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.1%. Most of the population speaks German (94.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 2.1%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 0.5%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 25% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.6% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 13.4%.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 42.1% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were the SP
(32.8%), and the FDP
(25.1%) .
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Neunkirch about 79.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). In Neunkirch, , 2.25% of the population attend kindergarten
or another pre-school, 7.58% attend a Primary School, 4.34% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.9% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 20.3% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
and 63.4% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church
.
The historical population is given in the following table:
the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.7%. There were 83 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 54.1% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 45.9% were involved in the third. At the same time, 76.8% of the working population was employed full-time, and 23.2% was employed part-time. 682 residents were employed in some capacity; females made up 31.5% of the workforce. there were 252 residents who worked in the municipality, while 538 residents worked outside Neunkirch and 306 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 2 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 14 beds. The hospitality industry in Neunkirch employs 9 people.
/Early modern period
old city and the city walls are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance
.
The town was founded in the later third of the 13th century by the Bishop of Constance according to a unified plan. The old city is a rectangle with a main east-west street and four parallel small streets. Much of the original character remains, though some renaissance
elements were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. Only portions of the old city wall remain, though this includes the large Obertor tower.
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 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 Schaffhausen in Switzerland. It is set in the south of the mountains called Randen.
The name
The first documentary record of Neunkirch is in 850; the town is called Niuchilchun. It is Old High German and means new church. This name varies several times during the ages. Versions are known such as Nuinchilchen, Niuchilchen and Nüwenkilch. Some 17th century documents mention Nükilch or Nünkilch.The name was finally fixed as Neunkirch because it belonged to the Bishopric of Constance
Bishopric of Constance
The Bishopric of Constance was a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church and ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire that existed from about 585 until 1821. Its seat was Konstanz at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany...
, whose diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
already included a town called Niuchilchun or Neukirch
Neukirch an der Thur
Neukirch an der Thur is a village and former municipality in the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland.In 1996 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Buhwil, Kradolf and Schönenberg an der Thur to form a new and larger municipality Kradolf-Schönenberg.Neukirch an der Thur...
. To avoid confusion with this town, the names were made different.
History
Neunkirch was mentioned first in a deed of gift to the Rheinau AbbeyRheinau Abbey
Rheinau Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Rheinau in the Canton of Zürich, Switzerland, founded in about 778 and suppressed in 1862.-History:...
on a Sunday 21 September in the reign of Louis the German
Louis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
. An exact year is not mentioned. Researches show, that 21 September was a Sunday only in 850, 861, 867 and 872. A commission decided in 1901, that the first year, 850, should officially be taken as the first date Neunkirch was mentioned in.
The document itself doesn't exist anymore, but there is a copy in the public record office of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
.
We know from 1150 that the bishop of Konstanz
Konstanz
Konstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
owned the church and a house. In 1260 the bishop bought the majority of land in Neunkirch as well as the low and high justice
High, middle and low justice
High, middle and low justices are notions dating from Western feudalism to indicate descending degrees of judiciary power to administer justice by the maximal punishment the holders could inflict upon their subjects and other dependents....
.
At the end of this century Neunkirch was destroyed; perhaps by war or fire. Afterwards the bishop reconstructed Neunkirch with a plan which had, and still has, a geometrical form. It is a rectangle with four straight streets. The houses are protected by two walls with an open space between. In front of the wall was a ditch partially filled with water.
For 250 years Neunkirch had belonged to the Bishopric of Constance till in 1525 the bishop sold his rights of the low and high justice to Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
for 8500 guilder.
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 Azure a Church Argent roofed Gules. The church on the coat of arms refers to the municipal name of Neunkirch which means New Church.
Geography
Neunkirch has an area, , of 17.9 km² (6.9 sq mi). Of this area, 47.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 45% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).The municipality is the capital of the Oberklettgau district.
Demographics
Neunkirch has a population of 1,861, of which 14.3% are foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 37.6% are from Germany, 17.4% are from Italy, 3.9% are from CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, 2.3% are from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, 16.7% are from Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, 2.3% 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 19.8% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.1%. Most of the population speaks German (94.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 2.1%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 0.5%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 25% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.6% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 13.4%.
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 42.1% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(32.8%), 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....
(25.1%) .
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Neunkirch about 79.8% 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...
). In Neunkirch, , 2.25% of the population attend kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
or another pre-school, 7.58% attend a Primary School, 4.34% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.9% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 20.3% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman 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...
and 63.4% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church
Swiss 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...
.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| about 1300 | ca 170 |
| 1530 | 460 (92 houses) |
| 1798/99 | 1,087 (140 houses) |
| 1850 | 1,640 |
| 1900 | 1,206 |
| 1950 | 1,217 |
| 2000 | 1,722 |
Economy
Neunkirch has an unemployment rate, , of 1.6%. , there were 51 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 19 businesses involved in this sector. 321 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 30 businesses in this sector. 313 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 56 businesses in this sector.the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.7%. There were 83 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 54.1% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 45.9% were involved in the third. At the same time, 76.8% of the working population was employed full-time, and 23.2% was employed part-time. 682 residents were employed in some capacity; females made up 31.5% of the workforce. there were 252 residents who worked in the municipality, while 538 residents worked outside Neunkirch and 306 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 2 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 14 beds. The hospitality industry in Neunkirch employs 9 people.
Heritage sites of national significance
The mediaevalMiddle 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...
/Early modern period
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
old city and the city walls are listed as Swiss heritage sites 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 town was founded in the later third of the 13th century by the Bishop of Constance according to a unified plan. The old city is a rectangle with a main east-west street and four parallel small streets. Much of the original character remains, though some renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
elements were added in the 16th and 17th centuries. Only portions of the old city wall remain, though this includes the large Obertor tower.