Oberhof, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Oberhof is a municipality
in the district of Laufenburg
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
. From 1408 until 1797 they were part of the Habsburg
District of Rheinfelden. In 1797, Oberhof became part of the French protectorate of Fricktal. Then in 1802 it joined the Canton of Fricktal, which became part of the new Canton of Aargau in 1803. When Oberhof joined Aargau, it was separated from Wölflinswil and joined as a separate municipality.
Ecclesiastically, Oberhof has remained part of the parish
of Wöflinswil. In 1818, the chapel of St. Joseph (with a late baroque
altar) was built. The chapel was renovated in 1975.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.3%. Out of the forested land, 39.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 17.7% is used for growing crops and 30.2% is pastures, while 4.3% is used for orchards or vine crops.
The municipality is located in the Laufenburg district, in the upper Fricktal
(Frick river valley) and is on the Benkerjoch Pass
road. It consists of the haufendorf village (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) of Oberhof and the hamlets
of Benken (joined the municipality in 1827) as well as several scattered farm houses.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Azure on a Base invected Vert a House Argent roofed windowed and doored Sable between two Pine Trees of the second trunked proper.
The age distribution, , in Oberhof is; 73 children or 13.0% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 77 teenagers or 13.8% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 57 people or 10.2% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 83 people or 14.8% are between 30 and 39, 94 people or 16.8% are between 40 and 49, and 63 people or 11.3% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 51 people or 9.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 40 people or 7.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 19 people or 3.4% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 3 people or 0.5% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.56 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 69.3% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
or a rent-to-own agreement).
, there were 14 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 70 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 92 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. , there were 184 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.7 persons per household. there were 104 single family homes (or 50.5% of the total) out of a total of 206 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 0.5% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 1.7 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 45.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP
(17.1%), the CVP
(15.8%) and the Green Party
(7.7%).
In Oberhof about 74.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). Of the school age population , there are 50 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
there were 246 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 190 or about 77.2% of the residents worked outside Oberhof while 26 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 82 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 10.9% used public transportation to get to work, and 53.9% used a private car.
. Of the rest of the population, there were 4 individuals (or about 0.81% of the population) who belonged to the Christian Catholic
faith.
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 Laufenburg
Laufenburg (district)
Laufenburg District is a district of the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, essentially consisting of the upper Fricktal valley in the Aargau Jura south of the Rhine. Its capital is the town of Laufenburg. It has a population of .-Geography:...
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 Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
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
Oberhof is first mentioned in 1630 as Oberhoff. Oberhof was initially part of the municipality of WölflinswilWölflinswil
Wölflinswil is a municipality in the district of Laufenburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Wölflinswil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 62.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 31.0% is forested...
. From 1408 until 1797 they were part of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
District of Rheinfelden. In 1797, Oberhof became part of the French protectorate of Fricktal. Then in 1802 it joined the Canton of Fricktal, which became part of the new Canton of Aargau in 1803. When Oberhof joined Aargau, it was separated from Wölflinswil and joined as a separate municipality.
Ecclesiastically, Oberhof has remained part of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Wöflinswil. In 1818, the chapel of St. Joseph (with a late baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
altar) was built. The chapel was renovated in 1975.
Geography
Oberhof has an area, , of 8.21 square kilometres (3.2 sq mi). Of this area, 4.28 km² (1.7 sq mi) or 52.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 3.4 km² (1.3 sq mi) or 41.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.48 km² (0.185329036124417 sq mi) or 5.8% is settled (buildings or roads).Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.3%. Out of the forested land, 39.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 17.7% is used for growing crops and 30.2% is pastures, while 4.3% is used for orchards or vine crops.
The municipality is located in the Laufenburg district, in the upper Fricktal
Fricktal
The Fricktal region is the northwest finger extending from the Swiss canton of Aargau. It is situated in Northwestern Switzerland east of Basel, between the High Rhine forming the border with Germany in the north and the Jura Mountains in the south. The Fricktal contains the districts of...
(Frick river valley) and is on the Benkerjoch Pass
Benkerjoch Pass
Benkerjoch Pass is a mountain pass in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.It connects Küttigen and Oberhof. Until 1801, the pass was the boundary between Austria and Switzerland. The current pass road was built in 1977....
road. It consists of the haufendorf village (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) of Oberhof and the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Benken (joined the municipality in 1827) as well as several scattered farm houses.
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 on a Base invected Vert a House Argent roofed windowed and doored Sable between two Pine Trees of the second trunked proper.
Demographics
Oberhof has a population of , 4.1% of the population are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of 11.9%. Most of the population speaks German (98.2%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.0%) and French being third ( 0.6%).The age distribution, , in Oberhof is; 73 children or 13.0% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 77 teenagers or 13.8% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 57 people or 10.2% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 83 people or 14.8% are between 30 and 39, 94 people or 16.8% are between 40 and 49, and 63 people or 11.3% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 51 people or 9.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 40 people or 7.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 19 people or 3.4% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 3 people or 0.5% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.56 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 69.3% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
or a rent-to-own agreement).
, there were 14 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 70 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 92 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. , there were 184 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.7 persons per household. there were 104 single family homes (or 50.5% of the total) out of a total of 206 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 0.5% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 1.7 new units per 1000 residents.
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 45.3% of the vote. The next three 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....
(17.1%), the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(15.8%) 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:...
(7.7%).
In Oberhof about 74.9% 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...
). Of the school age population , there are 50 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1768 | 295 |
| 1850 | 626 |
| 1900 | 487 |
| 1950 | 424 |
| 2000 | 496 |
Economy
, Oberhof had an unemployment rate of 2.14%. , there were 89 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 27 businesses involved in this sector. 34 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 24 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 7 businesses in this sector.there were 246 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 190 or about 77.2% of the residents worked outside Oberhof while 26 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 82 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 10.9% used public transportation to get to work, and 53.9% used a private car.
Religion
From the , 334 or 67.3% were Roman Catholic, while 105 or 21.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss 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...
. Of the rest of the population, there were 4 individuals (or about 0.81% of the population) who belonged to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith.