Saicourt

Saicourt
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Jura bernois 47°15′N 7°12′E / 47.25°N 7.2°E / 47.25; 7.2Coordinates: 47°15′N 7°12′E / 47.25°N 7.2°E / 47.25; 7.2
Population	593 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	43 /km2 (112 /sq mi)
Area	13.78 km2 (5.32 sq mi)[2]
Elevation	749 m (2,457 ft)
Postal code	2732
SFOS number	0706
Localities	2712 Le Fuet, 2713 Bellelay, La Bottiere, Montbautier
Surrounded by	Tramelan, Mont-Tramelan, Tavannes, Reconvilier, Saules, Sornetan, Châtelat, Lajoux, Les Genevez
Website	www.saicourt.ch SFSO statistics
Saicourt
Map of Saicourt

Saicourt is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It comprises the localities of Le Fuet, Bellelay, La Bottiere and Montbautier. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura (Jura Bernois).

History

Saicourt is first mentioned in 1262 as Zacurt.^[3]

Geography

Saicourt has an area of 13.8 km² (5.3 sq mi). Of this area, 45.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 50.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.7%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[4]

Demographics

Saicourt has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 593.^[1] As of 2007^[update], 4.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -8.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks French (84.0%), with German being second most common (12.6%) and Italian being third ( 1.5%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 35.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (17.4%), the SPS (16.3%) and the local small left-wing parties (10.4%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 25.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 57.4% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.4%. In Saicourt about 67% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Saicourt has an unemployment rate of 1.52%. As of 2005^[update], there were 38 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 18 businesses involved in this sector. 17 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 4 businesses in this sector. 399 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 15 businesses in this sector.^[4] The historical population is given in the following table:^[3]

year	population
1818	311
1880	540
1950	1140
1990	780

Monuments

The abbey of Bellelay is the second largest church of the canton. The monks of the abbey invented the famous cheese “Tête de Moine”^[5]

Hospital

The psychiatric clinic of Bellelay is located in Saicourt. It was founded in 1891 when the Canton of Bern acquired Bellelay Abbey and converted it into a clinic.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB, online database – Datenwürfel für Thema 01.2 - Bevölkerungsstand und -bewegung (German) accessed 29 September
2. ^ Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
3. ^ ^{a b} Saicourt in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
4. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 08-Jul-2009
5. ^ Internet site of the Tête de Moine

External links

• Saicourt in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• official Site of the tourist bureau of the Bernese Jura
• official Site of the economic promotion of the Canton of Bern
• official Site of the economic room of the Bernese Jura
• official Site of the commune of Saicourt