Langenthal, Switzerland
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| Langenthal | ||||||||||
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| Population | 14,547 (2007[update]) | |||||||||
| - Density | 1,010 /km2 (2,616 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 14.40 km2 (5.56 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 481 m (1,578 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 4900-4902 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0329 | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Aarwangen, Bleienbach, Lotzwil, Obersteckholz, Roggwil, Thunstetten, Untersteckholz | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Brig-Glis (Switzerland), Neviano (Italy) | |||||||||
| Website | www.langenthal.ch SFSO statistics |
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  Langenthal
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Langenthal is a municipality in the district of Aarwangen in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Langenthal is an educational, cultural, and economic center for the region of Oberaargau.
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[edit] Geography
Langenthal has an area of 14.4 square kilometers (5.6 sq mi). Of this area, 26.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 41.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 31.7% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.3%) is non-productive (rivers or glaciers).[1]
[edit] Demographics
Langenthal has a population (as of 2007[update]) of 14,547, of which 19.0% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.8%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (85.2%), with Italian being second most common ( 3.4%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 2.1%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 28.2% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (23.1%), the FDP (22.2%) and the Green Party (10.8%).
The age distribution of the population (as of 2000[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.4% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.9% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.7%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Langenthal about 70.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).
Langenthal has an unemployment rate of 2.07%. As of 2005[update], there were 121 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 17 businesses involved in this sector. 3260 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 146 businesses in this sector. 6470 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 625 businesses in this sector.[1]
Noted industries in Langenthal include the construction of vehicles and machine as well as textile manufacturing.
[edit] Langenthal minaret
The 29 November 2009 ban on new minarets may be put to the test in the case of a pending project of building minaret for a mosque in Langenthal.
The Islamic community of Langenthal has announced their intention of taking their case to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland and if necessary further to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The attorney of the community has also announced doubts on whether the ban can be taken to affect the Langenthal project because the application for planning permission had been handed to the authorities in 2006, it may be argued that the ban cannot be taken to apply to this project ex post facto. On the other hand, Bernese officials and Rainer Schweizer, law professor at St. Gallen University, have expressed their opinion that the ban renders the Langenthal project obsolete.[2]
[edit] External links
- Official city website
- Website of the higher schools in Langenthal
- Website of the local 2nd division ice hockey team
[edit] References
- ^ a b Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 29-May-2009
- ^ NZZ, 30 November 2009
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