Wald, Bern

Wald
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Bern-Mittelland 46°53′N 7°28′E / 46.883°N 7.467°E / 46.883; 7.467Coordinates: 46°53′N 7°28′E / 46.883°N 7.467°E / 46.883; 7.467
Population	1,184 (Dec 2012)[1]
- Density	89 /km2 (231 /sq mi)
Area	13.28 km2 (5.13 sq mi)[2]
Elevation	840 m (2,756 ft) Zimmerwald
Postal code	3086
SFOS number	0888
Localities	Englisberg (with Kühlewil and Unterer Wald), Zimmerwald (with Willishalten, "Bei der Kirche", Niederhäusern, Winzenried, Oberer Wald, Waldhof, Obermuhlern, Egg, Bumishus)
Surrounded by	Belp, Kehrsatz, Köniz, Niedermuhlern, Oberbalm, Toffen
Website	Wald.ch SFSO statistics
Wald
Location of Wald

Wald is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

village entrance of Zimmerwald

Hotel und Pension de Beau Séjour, Zimmerwald, dated 1865

church of Zimmerwald, view towards Belpberg and Alps

church of Zimmerwald with adjoining municipal cemetery

the "Leuen", the local tavern and inn of Zimmerwald, built in 1840

hamlet of Brönni, Obermuhlern, village of Zimmerwald

History

On January 2004 it incorporated the two independent municipalities of Zimmerwald and Englisberg.

• Englisberg, population: 201
• Zimmerwald, population: 870

Englisberg is first mentioned in 1166 as Endlisperc.^[3]

Geography

Wald has an area of 13.3 km² (5.1 sq mi). Of this area, 74% is used for agricultural purposes, while 19.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.2%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[4]

Demographics

Wald has a population (as of 31 December 2012) of 1,184.^[1] As of 2007, 4.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.1%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (97.7%), with French being second most common ( 0.6%) and Italian being third ( 0.5%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 50.3% of the vote. The next two most popular parties were the SPS (11.7%) and the FDP (10.9%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 19.9% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 52.1% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 28.1%. In Wald about 84.6% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Wald has an unemployment rate of 1.18%. As of 2005, there were 191 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 65 businesses involved in this sector. 25 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 9 businesses in this sector. 242 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 21 businesses in this sector.^[4]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wald BE.

• Englisberg in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

v t e Municipalities in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district, Switzerland Allmendingen Arni Bäriswil Belp Bern Biglen Bolligen Bowil Bremgarten bei Bern Brenzikofen Clavaleyres Deisswil bei Münchenbuchsee Diemerswil Ferenbalm Fraubrunnen Frauenkappelen Freimettigen Gelterfingen Gerzensee Golaten Grosshöchstetten Guggisberg Gurbrü Häutligen Herbligen Iffwil Ittigen Jaberg Jegenstorf Kaufdorf Kehrsatz Kiesen Kirchdorf Kirchenthurnen Kirchlindach Köniz Konolfingen Kriechenwil Landiswil Laupen Linden Lohnstorf Mattstetten Meikirch Mirchel Moosseedorf Mühleberg Mühledorf Mühlethurnen Münchenbuchsee Münchenwiler Münsingen Muri bei Bern Neuenegg Niederhünigen Niedermuhlern Noflen Oberbalm Oberdiessbach Oberhünigen Oberthal Oppligen Ostermundigen Riggisberg Rubigen Rüeggisberg Rümligen Rüschegg Schlosswil Schwarzenburg Stettlen Tägertschi Toffen Urtenen-Schönbühl Vechigen Wald Walkringen Wichtrach Wiggiswil Wileroltigen Wohlen bei Bern Worb Zäziwil Zollikofen Zuzwil Canton of Bern Districts of Canton Bern Municipalities of the canton of Bern