| Burgdorf | ||||||||||
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| Population | 15,374 (Dec 2010)[1] | |||||||||
| - Density | 985 /km2 (2,551 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 15.6 km2 (6.0 sq mi)[2] | |||||||||
| Elevation | 533 m (1,749 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 3400 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0404 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Elisabeth Zäch (as of 2009) SPS/PSS | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Hasle bei Burgdorf, Heimiswil, Kirchberg, Krauchtal, Lyssach, Mötschwil, Oberburg, Rüti bei Lyssach, Wynigen | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Epesses (Switzerland), Burgdorf (Germany), San Pellegrino Terme (Italy) | |||||||||
| Website | www.burgdorf.ch SFSO statistics |
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Burgdorf
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Map of Burgdorf
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Burgdorf (French: Berthoud) is the largest city in the Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland and is the capital of the district of the same name.
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In 1175 the town was first known as "Burtorf" from Burg Bertolfs (Berchtold's) in connection with a deed of Duke Berchtold IV of Zähringer. Burgdorf passed to the House of Kyburg in the 13th century, and after the siege of Burgdorf of 1384, it was purchased by the city of Bern.
Burgdorf has an area, as of 2009[update], of 15.6 km2 (6.0 sq mi). Of this area, 3.91 km2 (1.51 sq mi) or 25.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 6.35 km2 (2.45 sq mi) or 40.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.89 km2 (1.89 sq mi) or 31.3% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.37 km2 (0.14 sq mi) or 2.4% is either rivers or lakes and 0.05 km2 (12 acres) or 0.3% is unproductive land.[3]
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 6.3% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 14.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 8.0%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 2.2%. 39.8% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 18.1% is used for growing crops and 6.1% is pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams.[3]
Burgdorf has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 15,374.[1] As of 2007[update], 13.4% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 4.7%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (88.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 2.7%) and Albanian being third ( 1.5%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SPS which received 25% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (23%), the FDP (16.5%) and the Green Party (15.5%).
The age distribution of the population (as of 2000[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 21.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.7% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.2%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Burgdorf about 72.7% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).
| Historical population[4] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Population | ||||||||
| 1764 | 1,225 | ||||||||
| 1798 | 1,295 | ||||||||
| Year | 1850 | 1880 | 1910 | 1930 | 1950 | 1970 | 1990 | 2000 | |
| Population | 3,636 | 6,581 | 9,367 | 9,772 | 11,586 | 15,888 | 15,373 | 14,714 | |
| Language | German | 6,443 | 9,131 | 9,535 | 11,188 | 13,856 | 13,494 | 13,088 | |
| French | 65 | 122 | 146 | 215 | 175 | 131 | 116 | ||
| Italian | 62 | 91 | 59 | 130 | 1,394 | 662 | 402 | ||
| Other | 11 | 23 | 32 | 130 | 463 | 1,086 | 1,100 | ||
| Religion | Protestant | 6,256 | 8,765 | 9,087 | 10,628 | 12,882 | 11,328 | 9,934 | |
| Catholic | 289 | 521 | 621 | 880 | 2,809 | 2,241 | 1,993 | ||
| Other/None | 36 | 81 | 64 | 78 | 197 | 1,804 | 2,787 | ||
| None | 533 | 986 | |||||||
| Nationality | Swiss | 3,485 | 6,226 | 8,899 | 9,489 | 11,309 | 13,813 | 13,305 | 12,404 |
| Foreign | 151 | 355 | 468 | 283 | 277 | 2,075 | 2,068 | 2,310 | |
Burgdorf has an unemployment rate of 2.39%. As of 2005[update], there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 20 businesses involved in this sector. 3743 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 142 businesses in this sector. 7533 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 702 businesses in this sector.[5]
Burgdorf has several engine works and some departments of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (e.g. Architecture and Civil Engineering). Burgdorf has a growing economy, several small companies called KMU (small and middle companies) are located and have their headquarters in Burgdorf, such as Ypsomed (former Disetronic), Aebi, Typon, Iverslee and Seewer.
Burgdorf is also known for its local beer. In 1871 Burgdorf had one of the most modern breweries is Switzerland.[6] However, these local, small breweries closed during the 20th Century. In 1999, a brewery was opened, which brewed a local Burgdorf beer. This beer has won a number of awards at Beerdays in Solothurn.[7]