Ramsen
Encyclopedia
Ramsen is a municipality
in the canton
of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland
.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Azure three Ears of Wheat leaved Or issuant from a Mount of the same.
The municipality is located in the Stein district which is in the eastern exclave of the canton of Schaffhausen. It consists of the farming village of Ramsen and several hamlets
including Bibermühle.
, 1.3% are from Italy
, 0.4% are from Croatia
, 8.5% are from Serbia
, 12% are from Macedonia
, 0.4% are from Turkey
, and 17.9% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 6.4%. Most of the population speaks German (95.6%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.9%) and French being third ( 0.4%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 21.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.4% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.4%.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 55.1% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were the FDP
(24.3%), and the SP
(20.6%) .
In Ramsen about 76.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). In Ramsen, , 1.78% of the population attend kindergarten
or another pre-school, 8.06% attend a Primary School, 4.11% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.56% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 45.5% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church
and 38.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church
.
The historical population is given in the following table:
the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.4%. There were 89 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 16.7% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 83.3% were involved in the third. At the same time, 66.8% of the working population was employed full-time, and 33.2% was employed part-time. There were 743 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 47.5% of the workforce. there were 295 residents who worked in the municipality, while 283 residents worked outside Ramsen and 220 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 4 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 36 beds. The hospitality industry in Ramsen employs 12 people.
.
Bibernhofgut is an old manor house along the Rhine River. The late-Gothic
main building was finished in 1529. The fresco
on the south facade
, featuring the coat of arms of Stein am Rhein
, is from the early 17th Century. The estate ground also include a water mill. While the house was owned by the city of Stein am Rhein for centuries, it is currently privately owned.
Ramsen has some fame as the preferred border crossing point for British and Dutch prisoners of war escaping from Germany during the second World War.
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 northern 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....
.
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 three Ears of Wheat leaved Or issuant from a Mount of the same.
Geography
Ramsen has an area, , of 13.5 km² (5.2 sq mi). Of this area, 62.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 7.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (1.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).The municipality is located in the Stein district which is in the eastern exclave of the canton of Schaffhausen. It consists of the farming village of Ramsen and several 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...
including Bibermühle.
Demographics
Ramsen has a population of 1,299, of which 17.4% are foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 59.4% are from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 1.3% are from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 0.4% are from Croatia
Croatia
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 ...
, 8.5% 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...
, 12% 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...
, 0.4% 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 17.9% are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 6.4%. Most of the population speaks German (95.6%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.9%) and French being third ( 0.4%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 21.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.4% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.4%.
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 55.1% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were 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....
(24.3%), and the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(20.6%) .
In Ramsen about 76.4% 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...
). In Ramsen, , 1.78% 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, 8.06% attend a Primary School, 4.11% attend a lower level Secondary School, and 3.56% attend a higher level Secondary School.
, 45.5% 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 38.6% 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 |
|---|---|
| 1653 | 273 |
| 1798 | 494 |
| 1850 | 1,022 |
| 1900 | 1,209 |
| 1950 | 1,103 |
| 2000 | 1,283 |
Economy
Ramsen has an unemployment rate ( of 1.63%. , there were 113 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 37 businesses involved in this sector. 111 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 20 businesses in this sector. 597 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 69 businesses in this sector.the mid year average unemployment rate was 1.4%. There were 89 non-agrarian businesses in the municipality and 16.7% of the (non-agrarian) population was involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 83.3% were involved in the third. At the same time, 66.8% of the working population was employed full-time, and 33.2% was employed part-time. There were 743 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 47.5% of the workforce. there were 295 residents who worked in the municipality, while 283 residents worked outside Ramsen and 220 people commuted into the municipality for work.
, there are 4 restaurants, and 1 hotel with 36 beds. The hospitality industry in Ramsen employs 12 people.
Heritage sites of national significance
The manor house Bibernhofgut in the village of Bibermühle is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significanceSwiss 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...
.
Bibernhofgut is an old manor house along the Rhine River. The late-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
main building was finished in 1529. The fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
on the south facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, featuring the coat of arms of Stein am Rhein
Stein am Rhein
Stein am Rhein is a municipality in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland.The town has a well-preserved medieval centre, retaining the ancient street plan. The site of the city wall, and the city gates are preserved, though the former city wall now consists of houses...
, is from the early 17th Century. The estate ground also include a water mill. While the house was owned by the city of Stein am Rhein for centuries, it is currently privately owned.
Ramsen has some fame as the preferred border crossing point for British and Dutch prisoners of war escaping from Germany during the second World War.