# Meikirch > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meikirch > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meikirch.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikirch > Source revision: 1356362093 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Meikirch | image_skyline ={{multiple image | total_width = 280 | border = infobox | caption_align = center | perrow = 1/1 | image1 = Meikirch 003.jpg | caption1 = Meikirch village | image2 = Meikirch.jpg | caption2 = Meikirch village }} | municipality_type = municipality | imagepath_coa = CHE Meikirch COA.svg | imagepath_flag = CHE Meikirch Flag.svg | canton = Bern | iso-code-region = CH-BE | district = [Bern-Mittelland administrative district](/source/Bern-Mittelland_(administrative_district)) |coordinates = {{coord|47|0|N|7|22|E|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 3045 | municipality_code = 0307 | area = 10.30 | elevation = 654|elevation_description= | population = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-BE|0307}} | populationof={{Swiss populations YM|CH-BE}} | website = meikirch.ch | mayor = Hans Peter Salvisberg[https://www.meikirch.ch/gemeinderat/28463 Gemeinderat] 2025 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 21 may 2026|mayor_asof=2026|mayor_party=SVP/UDC | executive_name = Gemeinderat | executive_number_of_members = 7 | mayor_title = Gemeindepräsident(in) |list_of_mayors = | places = | demonym = | neighboring_municipalities= [Kirchlindach](/source/Kirchlindach), [Schüpfen](/source/Sch%C3%BCpfen), [Seedorf](/source/Seedorf%2C_Bern), [Wohlen bei Bern](/source/Wohlen_bei_Bern) | twintowns = }} '''Meikirch''' is a [municipality](/source/Municipalities_of_Switzerland) in the administrative district of [Bern-Mittelland](/source/Bern-Mittelland_(administrative_district)) in the [canton](/source/Cantons_of_Switzerland) of [Bern](/source/Bern_(canton)) in [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland). ==History== Meikirch is first mentioned in 1208 as ''Mönchilcha''. Evidence of prehistoric settlements in Meikirch include rich [Hallstatt](/source/Hallstatt_culture) sites in Grächwil and a [Roman](/source/Switzerland_in_the_Roman_era) estate with wall paintings in Meikirch. The modern village was first settled and owned by the Monastery of Frienisberg. During the 13th and 14th centuries, the village was owned by the Bernburg family of [Bolligen](/source/Bolligen). During the 16th century, it was owned by the hereditary [Schultheiss](/source/Schultheiss) family of [Aarberg](/source/Aarberg), the Aebischers. In 1555 the Aebischer family sold the village to the city of [Bern](/source/Bern). The village church was first mentioned in 1275, but was built in the 7th and 8th century on top of the ruins of a Roman villa. Portions of the [early medieval](/source/Early_Middle_Ages) and medieval churches have been preserved in spite of later alterations. The church tower is from the 12th century. In 1528, after the Protestant [Reformation](/source/Reformation), the church came under the authority of Bern. After the [1798 French invasion](/source/French_invasion_of_Switzerland), it became part of the District of [Zollikofen](/source/Zollikofen). Five years later, after the collapse of the [Helvetic Republic](/source/Helvetic_Republic), it was placed in the District of Aarberg. The municipality was on the old Bern-Frienisberg-Aarberg road and during the 18th and 19th centuries was part of the postal route between those towns. In 1851-52 a new road was built between Wohlen and Frieswil which bypassed Meikirch. The population began to decline after 1850 and the rate increased after World War I. During this time, the local farms changed from grain farming to cattle and dairy farming, which required fewer people and drove villagers away from Meikirch. The decline stopped with improved transport infrastructure, including the 1948 [Postauto](/source/Postauto) route to Bern. The population began to increase when, in 1960, a new road to Bern was completed. The old village houses were rebuilt and the new developments of Schützenrain, Weissenstein and Neu-Grächwil were built to provide housing for new residents. The Meikirch secondary school was founded in 1974. ==Geography== thumb|left|Wahlendorf village Meikirch has an area, {{as of|2013-2014|lc=on}}, of {{Swiss area|0307|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|0307|QUELLE}} Of this area, {{convert|6.53|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 63.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|2.69|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 26.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|1.02|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 9.4% is settled (buildings or roads).[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/raum-umwelt/bodennutzung-bedeckung/gesamtspektrum-regionalen-stufen/gemeinden.assetdetail.11007176.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2018 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 26 July 2020 Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 6.2% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.3%. Out of the forested land, nearly all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 47.5% is used for growing crops and 14.6% is pastures, while 1.8% is used for orchards or vine crops. The municipality is a distant part of the [agglomeration](/source/urban_agglomeration) of Bern on the south-eastern edge of the Frienisberg plateau. It consists of the villages of Meikirch, Ortschwaben (first mentioned in 1185 as ''Nortsuaben'') and Wahlendorf, the [hamlets](/source/hamlet_(place)) of Grächwil, Weissenstein and Äzikofen as well as scattered farms. ==Coat of arms== The [blazon](/source/blazon) of the municipal [coat of arms](/source/coat_of_arms) is ''Azure a Church Argent roofed Gules in chief sinister a Mullet of the second.'' The church ({{langx|de|Kirche}}) makes this an example of [canting arms](/source/canting_arms).[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-be007.html Flags of the World.com] accessed 8 May 2012 ==Demographics== Meikirch has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-BE}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0307}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}} {{as of|2010}}, 5.8% of the population are resident foreign nationals.[http://www.fin.be.ch/de/index/finanzen/finanzen/publikationen/wohnbevoelkerung.html Statistical office of the Canton of Bern] {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 January 2012 Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of -5.1%. Migration accounted for -4.9%, while births and deaths accounted for 0.9%.[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=5 January 2016 }} accessed 8 May 2012 Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [German](/source/German_language) (2,368 or 95.4%) as their first language, [French](/source/French_language) is the second most common (24 or 1.0%) and [Italian](/source/Italian_language) is the third (19 or 0.8%). {{as of|2008}}, the population was 48.0% male and 52.0% female. The population was made up of 1,047 Swiss men (44.6% of the population) and 79 (3.4%) non-Swiss men. There were 1,162 Swiss women (49.6%) and 57 (2.4%) non-Swiss women. Of the population in the municipality, 631 or about 25.4% were born in Meikirch and lived there in 2000. There were 1,153 or 46.5% who were born in the same canton, while 445 or 17.9% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 196 or 7.9% were born outside of Switzerland. {{as of|2010}}, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 18.6% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.2% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 20.3%. {{as of|2000}}, there were 999 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 1,297 married individuals, 103 widows or widowers and 83 individuals who are divorced.[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 – 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809142611/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=9 August 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011 {{as of|2000}}, there were 239 households that consist of only one person and 91 households with five or more people. {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 958 apartments (94.7% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 33 apartments (3.3%) were seasonally occupied and 21 apartments (2.1%) were empty.[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB – Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 – Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907111534/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=7 September 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011 {{as of|2010}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 1.3 new units per 1000 residents. The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2011|alt=in 2011}}, was 4.48%. The historical population is given in the following chart:{{HDS|178|Meikirch}}[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930162751/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true |date=30 September 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 29 January 2011 Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) ImageSize = width:1020 height:210 PlotArea = top:10 left:100 bottom:50 right:100 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:2500 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:500 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:100 start:0 PlotData= color:yellowgreen width:40 mark:(line,white) align:center bar:1764 from:start till:398 text:"398" bar:1850 from:start till:1059 text:"1,059" bar:1860 from:start till:1001 text:"1,001" bar:1870 from:start till:971 text:"971" bar:1880 from:start till:941 text:"941" bar:1888 from:start till:979 text:"979" bar:1900 from:start till:997 text:"997" bar:1910 from:start till:959 text:"959" bar:1920 from:start till:858 text:"858" bar:1930 from:start till:849 text:"849" bar:1941 from:start till:823 text:"823" bar:1950 from:start till:949 text:"949" bar:1960 from:start till:1031 text:"1,031" bar:1970 from:start till:1405 text:"1,405" bar:1980 from:start till:1911 text:"1,911" bar:1990 from:start till:2178 text:"2,178" bar:2000 from:start till:2482 text:"2,482" ==Politics== In the [2011 federal election](/source/2011_Swiss_federal_election) the most popular party was the [SVP](/source/Swiss_People's_Party) which received 24.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [SPS](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland) (17.7%), the [BDP Party](/source/Swiss_Party_of_Labour) (16.5%) and the [Green Party](/source/Green_Party_of_Switzerland) (12.4%). In the federal election, a total of 1,173 votes were cast, and the [voter turnout](/source/voter_turnout) was 62.0%.[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office 2011 Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114214422/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html |date=14 November 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2012 ==Economy== {{as of|2011|In 2011}}, Meikirch had an unemployment rate of 1.47%. {{as of|2008}}, there were a total of 492 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 87 people employed in the [primary economic sector](/source/Primary_sector_of_the_economy) and about 29 businesses involved in this sector. 155 people were employed in the [secondary sector](/source/Secondary_sector_of_the_economy) and there were 26 businesses in this sector. 250 people were employed in the [tertiary sector](/source/Tertiary_sector_of_the_economy), with 53 businesses in this sector. {{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} the total number of [full-time equivalent](/source/full-time_equivalent) jobs was 376. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 58, all of which were in agriculture. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 135 of which 20 or (14.8%) were in manufacturing and 116 (85.9%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 183. In the tertiary sector; 24 or 13.1% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 45 or 24.6% were in the movement and storage of goods, 19 or 10.4% were in a hotel or restaurant, 22 or 12.0% were in the information industry, 12 or 6.6% were technical professionals or scientists, 28 or 15.3% were in education and 9 or 4.9% were in health care.[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1-3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=25 December 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011 {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 202 workers who commuted into the municipality and 1,031 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 5.1 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering.[http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Statweb]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010 Of the working population, 31.6% used public transportation to get to work, and 47.9% used a private car. ==Religion== From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 314 or 12.7% were [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic), while 1,749 or 70.5% belonged to the [Swiss Reformed Church](/source/Swiss_Reformed_Church). Of the rest of the population, there were 9 [members of an Orthodox church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) (or about 0.36% of the population), there was 1 individual who belongs to the [Christian Catholic Church](/source/Christian_Catholic_Church_of_Switzerland), and there were 155 individuals (or about 6.24% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There was 1 individual who was [Jewish](/source/Judaism), and 32 (or about 1.29% of the population) who were [Islam](/source/Islam)ic. There were 3 individuals who were [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) and 3 individuals who were [Hindu](/source/Hinduism). 217 (or about 8.74% of the population) belonged to no church, are [agnostic](/source/Agnosticism) or [atheist](/source/Atheism), and 73 individuals (or about 2.94% of the population) did not answer the question. ==Education== In Meikirch about 979 or (39.4%) of the population have completed non-mandatory [upper secondary education](/source/Education_in_Switzerland), and 514 or (20.7%) have completed additional higher education (either [university](/source/List_of_universities_in_Switzerland) or a ''[Fachhochschule](/source/Fachhochschule)''). Of the 514 who completed tertiary schooling, 66.7% were Swiss men, 27.4% were Swiss women, 3.7% were non-Swiss men and 2.1% were non-Swiss women. The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory [Kindergarten](/source/Kindergarten), followed by six years of Primary school. This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an [apprenticeship](/source/apprenticeship).{{Cite report |title=Kantonale Schulstrukturen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein / Structures Scolaires Cantonales en Suisse et Dans la Principauté du Liechtenstein |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author= EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |accessdate= 24 June 2010 }} During the 2009–10 school year, there were a total of 214 students attending classes in Meikirch. There were 2 kindergarten classes with a total of 35 students in the municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 11.4% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 11.4% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The municipality had 6 primary classes and 93 students. Of the primary students, 7.5% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 5.4% have a different mother language than the classroom language. During the same year, there were 4 lower secondary classes with a total of 81 students. There were 8.6% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 4.9% have a different mother language than the classroom language.[http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html Schuljahr 2009/10 pdf document]{{in lang|de}} accessed 4 January 2012 {{as of|2000}}, there were 4 students in Meikirch who came from another municipality, while 149 residents attended schools outside the municipality. ==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category}} {{Municipalities of the administrative district of Bern-Mittelland}} {{Authority control}} Category:Municipalities of the canton of Bern --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Meikirch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikirch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikirch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.