{{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Oberwil im Simmental | municipality_type = municipality | image_photo = | image_caption = The Gasthof Alte Post in Oberwil im Simmental | imagepath_coa = CHE Oberwil im Simmental COA.svg | imagepath_flag = CHE Oberwil im Simmental Flag.svg | canton = Bern | iso-code-region = CH-BE | district = [[Frutigen-Niedersimmental (administrative district)|Frutigen-Niedersimmental]] |coordinates = {{coord|46|39|N|7|26|E|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 3765 | municipality_code = 0766 | area = 46.0 | elevation = 836|elevation_description= | population = 794 | populationof = Dec 2011 | popofyear = 2011 | website = www.oberwil-im-simmental.ch | mayor = |mayor_asof=|mayor_party= | mayor_title = |list_of_mayors = | places = | demonym = | neighboring_municipalities= [[Boltigen]], [[Därstetten]], [[Diemtigen]], [[Guggisberg]], [[Plaffeien]] (FR), [[Rüschegg]] | twintowns = |}}
'''Oberwil im Simmental''' is a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the [[Frutigen-Niedersimmental (administrative district)|Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district]] in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Bern (canton)|Bern]] in [[Switzerland]].
==History== Oberwil is first mentioned in 1278 as ''Oberwile''.<ref name=HDS/>
During the [[Paleolithic]] era (20,000-10,000 BC) humans lived in several caves above the valley floor during the summer. The caves, Schnurenloch, Mamilchloch, Zwergliloch and Chniechälebalm, contained about 5,000 bones from the now extinct [[cave bear]] which the inhabitants had butchered. While no human remains were discovered, a number of stone tools were found. Today the tools and bones are at the [[Historical Museum of Bern]], while the caves can be visited with tour groups.<ref>[http://www.oberwil-im-simmental.ch/Sehenswuerdigkeiten.118.0.html Official website - Sightseeing section] {{in lang|de}} accessed 7 November 2013</ref> These caves and other nearby [[rock shelter]]s continued to be used through the [[Neolithic]], the late [[Bronze Age]] and into the [[Middle Ages]]. After the [[collapse of the Western Roman Empire]], [[Alamanni]] tribes settled in the Simmen valley and established villages and alpine pastures.<ref>[http://www.oberwil-im-simmental.ch/Geschichte-Oberwil-i-S.113.0.html Official website - History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509065609/http://www.oberwil-im-simmental.ch/Geschichte-Oberwil-i-S.113.0.html |date=2017-05-09 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 7 November 2013</ref>
In 994, the royal estate at Wimmis and part of Oberwil was donated to [[Selz Abbey]] in [[Alsace]]. In 1276, Wimmis and Oberwil were given to the new [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] [[Därstetten]] [[priory]]. During the Middle Ages, two castles, Festi and Heidenmauer were built above the valley floor. However, no records of the castles are still in existence, and both have fallen into ruin. By the 12th century the remaining settlements and land were owned by the [[Freiherr]] von Weissenburg. In 1439, all the Weissenburg lands, including Oberwil and the surrounding settlements, were acquired by [[Bern]]. During the 16th century the entire Simmen valley converted from [[subsistence agriculture]] to raising cattle and producing cheese from milk. Today, while the municipality has some small businesses and tourism, the main industry is still agriculture.<ref name=HDS/>
The village church of St. Mauritius was built by the Freiherr von Weissenburg and is first mentioned in 1228. The original church was expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries.<ref name=HDS/>
==Geography== [[File:Märe Westhang Vlcsnap-2011-11-19-00h19m24s227.jpg|thumb|Märe peak on the border of Canton Bern and Canton Fribourg, in the municipality of Oberwil]] Oberwil im Simmental has an area of {{Swiss area|0766|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|0766|QUELLE}}<!--46.09 - 46 km2--> As of 2012, a total of {{convert|23.69|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 51.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|15.57|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 33.8% is forested. The rest of the municipality is {{convert|1.16|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 2.5% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.28|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 0.6% is either rivers or lakes and {{convert|5.3|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 11.5% is unproductive land.<ref name=BFS_land>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 25 March 2010</ref>
During the same year, housing and buildings made up 1.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.3%. A total of 27.6% of the total land area is heavily forested and 5.6% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 18.8% is pasturage and 32.5% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 7.3% is unproductive vegetation and 4.2% is too rocky for vegetation.<ref name=BFS_land/>
The large municipality spreads across much of the Simmental (Simmen valley) and the meadows and forests of the surrounding mountains. It consists of the [[Bäuerten]] (farming collectives) of Oberwil, Hintereggen, Pfaffenried, Bunschen and Waldried.
On 31 December 2009 Amtsbezirk Niedersimmental, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Frutigen-Niedersimmental.<ref name=Mutation>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113231755/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html |date=2015-11-13 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 April 2011</ref>
==Coat of arms== The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is ''Per fess Argent a Castle Gules and Vert.''<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-be281.html Flags of the World.com] accessed 7 November 2013</ref>
==Demographics== [[File:Oberwil en Simme-Valo 100.jpg|thumb|Houses in Oberwil]] Oberwil im Simmental has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-BE}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0766}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}} {{as of|2010}}, 3.6% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2001-2011) the population has changed at a rate of -1.4%. Migration accounted for -1.6%, while births and deaths accounted for 0%.<ref name=SFSO>[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=January 5, 2016 }} accessed 7 November 2013</ref>
Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[German language|German]] (796 or 99.1%) as their first language. There is one person who speaks [[French language|French]] and one that speaks [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2008}}, the population was 50.7% male and 49.3% female. The population was made up of 394 Swiss men (48.9% of the population) and 14 (1.7%) non-Swiss men. There were 382 Swiss women (47.5%) and 15 (1.9%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=BE_Stat>[http://www.fin.be.ch/de/index/finanzen/finanzen/publikationen/wohnbevoelkerung.html Statistical office of the Canton of Bern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215012157/http://www.fin.be.ch/de/index/finanzen/finanzen/publikationen/wohnbevoelkerung.html |date=2012-02-15 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 January 2012</ref> Of the population in the municipality, 514 or about 64.0% were born in Oberwil im Simmental and lived there in 2000. There were 222 or 27.6% who were born in the same canton, while 31 or 3.9% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 19 or 2.4% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2011}}, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 20.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 55.7% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 24.1%.<ref name=SFSO/>
{{as of|2000}}, there were 295 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 437 married individuals, 61 widows or widowers and 10 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[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/20140409212530/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=April 9, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011</ref>
{{as of|2010}}, there were 83 households that consist of only one person and 28 households with five or more people.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073036/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html |date=October 6, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2013</ref> {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 284 apartments (64.5% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 115 apartments (26.1%) were seasonally occupied and 41 apartments (9.3%) were empty.<ref name=Housing>[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=September 7, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref> {{as of|2010}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 1.2 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2012|alt=in 2012}}, was 2.38%. In 2011, single family homes made up 44.0% of the total housing in the municipality.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Anteil Einfamilienhäuser am gesamten Gebäudebestand, 2011] accessed 17 June 2013</ref>
The historical population is given in the following chart:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|463|Oberwil im Simmental}}</ref><ref>[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=September 30, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 29 January 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Ständige Wohnbevölkerung in Privathaushalten nach Gemeinde und Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718073109/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html |date=July 18, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 12 August 2013</ref> <timeline> Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) ImageSize = width: auto height:200 barincrement:45 PlotArea = top:20 left:35 bottom:20 right:35 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1500 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:300 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:60 start:0 PlotData= color:yellowgreen width: 35 mark:(line,white) align:center bar:1764 from:start till:855 text:"855" bar:1850 from:start till:1405 text:"1,405" bar:1860 from:start till:1359 text:"1,359" bar:1870 from:start till:1285 text:"1,285" bar:1880 from:start till:1291 text:"1,291" bar:1888 from:start till:1201 text:"1,201" bar:1900 from:start till:1225 text:"1,225" bar:1910 from:start till:1023 text:"1,023" bar:1920 from:start till:1101 text:"1,101" bar:1930 from:start till:987 text:"987" bar:1941 from:start till:1057 text:"1,057" bar:1950 from:start till:1076 text:"1,076" bar:1960 from:start till:990 text:"990" bar:1970 from:start till:909 text:"909" bar:1980 from:start till:922 text:"922" bar:1990 from:start till:929 text:"929" bar:2000 from:start till:803 text:"803" bar:2010 from:start till:788 text:"788" </timeline>
==Heritage sites of national significance== The ''Venner'' house is listed as a Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]]. The entire village of Oberwil im Simmental and the [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of Pfaffenried are part of the [[Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=de |access-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archive-date=28 June 2010 }}</ref>
==Politics== In the [[2011 Swiss federal election|2011 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Swiss People's Party|Swiss People's Party (SVP)]] which received 61.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland|Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU)]] (13.8%), the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|Conservative Democratic Party (BDP)]] (11.3%) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]] (5.3%). In the federal election, a total of 365 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 56.0%.<ref name=election_2011>[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=November 14, 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2012</ref>
==Economy== {{as of|2011|In 2011}}, Oberwil im Simmental had an unemployment rate of 0.73%. {{as of|2008}}, there were a total of 349 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 220 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 84 businesses involved in this sector. 65 people were employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there were 14 businesses in this sector. 64 people were employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 19 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 394 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 39.1% of the workforce.
{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} there were a total of 244 [[full-time equivalent]] jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 140, all of which were in agriculture. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 58 of which 16 or (27.6%) were in manufacturing and 41 (70.7%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 46. In the tertiary sector; 18 or 39.1% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 7 or 15.2% were in the movement and storage of goods, 12 or 26.1% were in a hotel or restaurant, 2 or 4.3% were the insurance or financial industry, and 1 was a technical professional or scientist.<ref>[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=December 25, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 29 workers who commuted into the municipality and 142 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 4.9 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering. A total of 252 workers (89.7% of the 281 total workers in the municipality) both lived and worked in Oberwil im Simmental.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 10.7% used public transportation to get to work, and 48% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>
In 2011 the average local and cantonal tax rate on a married resident, with two children, of Oberwil im Simmental making 150,000 [[Swiss franc|CHF]] was 12.7%, while an unmarried resident's rate was 18.7%.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Steuerbelastung, 2011 Politische Gemeinden] {{in lang|de}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref> For comparison, the average rate for the entire canton in the same year, was 14.2% and 22.0%, while the nationwide average was 12.3% and 21.1% respectively.<ref>[http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm Swiss Federal Tax Administration - Grafische Darstellung der Steuerbelastung 2011 in den Kantonen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062122/http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm |date=2013-10-16 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 17 June 2013</ref> In 2009 there were a total of 291 tax payers in the municipality. Of that total, 43 made over 75,000 CHF per year. There were 9 people who made between 15,000 and 20,000 per year. The greatest number of workers, 91, made between 50,000 and 75,000 CHF per year. The average income of the over 75,000 CHF group in Oberwil im Simmental was 106,435 CHF, while the average across all of Switzerland was 130,478 CHF.<ref>[http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de Federal Tax Administration Report Direkte Bundessteuer - Natürliche Personen - Gemeinden - Steuerjahr 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006202236/http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de |date=October 6, 2014 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref>
In 2011 a total of 1.1% of the population received direct financial assistance from the government.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Bezüger/-innen von Sozialhilfeleistungen (Sozialhilfeempfänger/-innen), 2011] accessed 18 June 2013</ref>
==Religion== [[File:OBERWIL im Simmental église exterieur.jpg|thumb|upright|Village church in Oberwil]] From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 692 or 86.2% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]], while 14 or 1.7% were [[Roman Catholic]]. Of the rest of the population, there were 2 [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|members of an Orthodox church]] (or about 0.25% of the population), and there were 64 individuals (or about 7.97% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There was 1 individual who was [[Islam]]ic. There were 2 individuals who belonged to another church. 12 (or about 1.49% of the population) belonged to no church, are [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 16 individuals (or about 1.99% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=STAT2000/>
==Transport== Oberwil im Simmental sits on the [[Spiez–Zweisimmen railway|Spiez–Zweisimmen line]] and is served by trains at the [[Oberwil im Simmental railway station|Oberwil im Simmental]] and [[Enge im Simmental railway station]]s.
==Education== In Oberwil im Simmental about 44.5% of the population have completed non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]], and 5.3% have completed additional higher education (either [[List of universities in Switzerland|university]] or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO/> Of the 24 who had completed some form of tertiary schooling listed in the census, 87.5% were Swiss men, 12.5% were Swiss women.<ref name=STAT2000/>
The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory [[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]].<ref>{{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 |access-date= 24 June 2010 }}</ref>
During the 2011-12 school year, there were a total of 63 students attending classes in Oberwil im Simmental. There was one kindergarten class with a total of 7 students in the municipality. The municipality had 2 primary classes and 47 students. During the same year, there was one lower secondary class with a total of 9 students.<ref name=School>[http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html Schuljahr 2011/12 pdf document] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602073606/http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html |date=2012-06-02 }}{{in lang|de}} accessed 9 May 2013</ref>
{{as of|2000|In 2000}}, there were a total of 18 students attending any school in the municipality. Of those, 17 both lived and attended school in the municipality, while one student came from another municipality. During the same year, 81 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *{{HDS|463|Oberwil}} *{{commons category-inline}}
{{Municipalities of the administrative district of Frutigen-Niedersimmental}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Municipalities of the canton of Bern]] [[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Bern]]