| Gsteigwiler | ||||||||||
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| Population | 425 (Dec 2010)[1] | |||||||||
| - Density | 61 /km2 (157 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 7.02 km2 (2.71 sq mi)[2] | |||||||||
| Elevation | 645 m (2,116 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 3814 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0577 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Bernhard Seiler | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Matten bei Interlaken, Bönigen, Gündlischwand and Wilderswil | |||||||||
| Website | www.gsteigwiler.ch SFSO statistics |
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Gsteigwiler
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Map of Gsteigwiler
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Gsteigwiler is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
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Gsteigwiler is first mentioned in 1333 as Wiler.[3]
Gsteigwiler lies in the Bernese Oberland at the foot of the Schynige Platte in the valley of the Lütschine River.
Gsteigwiler has an area, as of 2009[update], of 7.02 km2 (2.71 sq mi). Of this area, 1.58 km2 (0.61 sq mi) or 22.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 4.57 km2 (1.76 sq mi) or 65.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.31 km2 (0.12 sq mi) or 4.4% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.1 km2 (25 acres) or 1.4% is either rivers or lakes and 0.47 km2 (0.18 sq mi) or 6.7% is unproductive land.[4]
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 2.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.0%. 59.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 5.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 10.3% is pastures and 11.7% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 2.4% is unproductive vegetation and 4.3% is too rocky for vegetation.[4]
The original name of the town was "Wiler," which goes back to the Old High German wilari (small town). The prefix Gsteig- was added to distinguish it from the many other Wilers, and means "abrupt mountain slope that one cannot drive a wagon on."
The municipality contains the church Gsteig bei Interlaken, which is the center of the parish for this and eight nearby municipalities, one of the largest parishes in the canton. The church is noted for its murals.
Gsteigwiler has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 425.[1] As of 2007[update], 6.4% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -8.3%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (96.9%), with Portugu`ese being second most common ( 0.8%) and French being third ( 0.6%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 30.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the Green Party (16.8%), the SPS (13.4%) and the FDP (12.2%).
The age distribution of the population (as of 2000[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 34.6% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 50.9% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 14.5%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Gsteigwiler about 78.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).
Gsteigwiler has an unemployment rate of 1.82%. As of 2005[update], there were 37 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 13 businesses involved in this sector. 8 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 4 businesses in this sector. 118 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 14 businesses in this sector.[5] The historical population is given in the following table:[3]
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1764 | 129 |
| 1850 | 425 |
| 1900 | 451 |
| 1930 | 328 |
| 1950 | 359 |
| 2000 | 477 |
The Interlaken-Zweilütschinen railway line goes along the valley, but the nearest station is in Wilderswil. In Gsteigwiler there is an interstation for the tourist road of the Schynige Platte.