Wittnau, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Wittnau is a municipality
in the district of Laufenburg
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.7% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.3%. Out of the forested land, 52.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 21.6% is used for growing crops and 13.4% is pastures, while 4.3% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Azure two Eagles in pale displayed Argent langued beaked and membered Gules.
The age distribution, , in Wittnau is; 99 children or 8.8% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 191 teenagers or 17.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 122 people or 10.9% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 137 people or 12.2% are between 30 and 39, 230 people or 20.5% are between 40 and 49, and 158 people or 14.1% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 94 people or 8.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 48 people or 4.3% are between 70 and 79, there are 35 people or 3.1% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 9 people or 0.8% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.57 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 67.7% 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 33 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 171 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 202 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. , there were 429 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.6 persons per household. there were 216 single family homes (or 45.4% of the total) out of a total of 476 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 0.2% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 3.6 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 37.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(18.9%), the SP
(15.6%) and the FDP
(9.6%).
In Wittnau about 76.7% 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 94 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
settlement and a Early Middle Ages
fortification) are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance
. The entire village of Wittnau is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
.
there were 566 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 436 or about 77.0% of the residents worked outside Wittnau while 168 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 298 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 17.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 54.8% used a private car.
. Of the rest of the population, there were 4 individuals (or about 0.35% 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....
.
Geography
Wittnau has an area, , of 11.25 square kilometres (4.3 sq mi). Of this area, 4.42 km² (1.7 sq mi) or 39.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 6.05 km² (2.3 sq mi) or 53.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.75 km² (0.289576618944401 sq mi) or 6.7% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.03 km² (7.4 acre) or 0.3% is either rivers or lakes.Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.7% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.3%. Out of the forested land, 52.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 21.6% is used for growing crops and 13.4% is pastures, while 4.3% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.
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 two Eagles in pale displayed Argent langued beaked and membered Gules.
Demographics
Wittnau has a population of , 8.7% of the population are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of 2.4%. Most of the population speaks German (92.8%), with Albanian being second most common ( 2.7%) and Italian being third ( 1.1%).The age distribution, , in Wittnau is; 99 children or 8.8% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 191 teenagers or 17.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 122 people or 10.9% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 137 people or 12.2% are between 30 and 39, 230 people or 20.5% are between 40 and 49, and 158 people or 14.1% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 94 people or 8.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 48 people or 4.3% are between 70 and 79, there are 35 people or 3.1% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 9 people or 0.8% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.57 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 67.7% 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 33 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 171 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 202 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. , there were 429 private households (homes and apartments) in the municipality, and an average of 2.6 persons per household. there were 216 single family homes (or 45.4% of the total) out of a total of 476 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 0.2% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 3.6 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 37.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were 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...
(18.9%), the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(15.6%) 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....
(9.6%).
In Wittnau about 76.7% 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 94 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 791 |
| 1980 | 790 |
| 1990 | 928 |
| 2000 | 1,139 |
Heritage sites of national significance
The Alt Homberg castle ruin and the Wittnauer Horn (site of a prehistoric hill settlement, a Roman eraSwitzerland in the Roman era
The history of Switzerland in the Roman era encompasses the roughly six centuries during which the territory of modern Switzerland was a part of the Roman Republic and Empire...
settlement and a Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
fortification) 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 entire village of Wittnau is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
The Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites is part of a 1981 Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council implementing the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage.-Sites of national importance:-Types:...
.
Economy
, Wittnau had an unemployment rate of 1.06%. , there were 52 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 18 businesses involved in this sector. 106 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 16 businesses in this sector. 63 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 22 businesses in this sector.there were 566 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 436 or about 77.0% of the residents worked outside Wittnau while 168 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 298 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 17.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 54.8% used a private car.
Religion
From the , 715 or 63.2% were Roman Catholic, while 205 or 18.1% 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 0.35% 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.