Münsingen

For the municipality in Germany, see Münsingen, Germany.

Münsingen
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Bern-Mittelland 46°52′N 7°34′E / 46.867°N 7.567°E / 46.867; 7.567Coordinates: 46°52′N 7°34′E / 46.867°N 7.567°E / 46.867; 7.567
Population	10,845 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	1,276 /km2 (3,305 /sq mi)
Area	8.48 km2 (3.27 sq mi)[2]
Elevation	541 m (1,775 ft)
Postal code	3110
SFOS number	0616
Surrounded by	Belp, Gerzensee, Konolfingen, Rubigen, Tägertschi, Trimstein, Wichtrach
Twin towns	Münsingen (Germany), Humpolec (Czech Republic)
Website	www.muensingen.ch SFSO statistics
Münsingen
Map of Münsingen

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

The village lies on the River Aar between the cities of Bern and Thun.

Geography

Münsingen has an area of 8.5 km² (3.3 sq mi). Of this area, 49.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 32.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (1.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[3]

The municipality is located in the Aare valley and includes the village of Münsingen, and the canton's psychiatric clinic.

History

Münsingen developed from a Celtic village first settled in around 400 BC. The origin of the name is unclear, though attributed to the Alamanni. Münsingen is first mentioned between 993 and 1010 as Munisingam.^[4] When it belonged to the royal court of Upper Burgundy. In the 13th and 14th centuries Münsingen came under the lordship of the Senn knights from whom the present arms of the municipality are derived. As an important gathering-place during the Peasants' War, and in the ensuing process of democratization, Münsingen played a major part in the history of the canton of Bern.

Main sights

• Schloss Münsingen (Castle)
• Landwirtschaftliche Schule Schwand (the former Schwand Agricultural School)

Administration

Münsingen is administered by a seven-member council and a 30-seat municipal assembly.

Demographics

Münsingen has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 10,845.^[1] As of 2007^[update], 8.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 9.7%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (92.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 1.5%) and French being third ( 1.1%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 26.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (19.7%), the Green Party (17.5%) and the FDP (15.7%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.9% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.7% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 15.4%. In Münsingen about 79% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Münsingen has an unemployment rate of 1.6%. As of 2005^[update], there were 94 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 25 businesses involved in this sector. 1246 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 84 businesses in this sector. 4220 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 385 businesses in this sector.^[3] The historical population is given in the following table:^[4]

year	population
1764	555
1850	1,202
1900	2,306
1950	5,250
1970	8,350
2000	10,937

Economy

USM factory in Münsingen

Münsingen's most important enterprise is the firm of USM (Ulrich Schaerer Münsingen), internationally known producers of office furniture.

Education

Educational provision in Münsingen covers all levels from primary school, through middle and secondary schools (Realschule and Sekundarschule), up to senior-level education (Vorgymnasium).

Twinned municipalities

• Münsingen, Germany
• Humpolec, Czech Republic

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} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 06-Jul-2009
4. ^ ^{a b} Münsingen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

External links

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