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Biel-Benken

Biel-Benken
Biel-Benken, Pfarrkirche St. Antonius.jpg
Coat of arms of Biel-Benken
Coat of arms
Biel-Benken is located in Switzerland
Biel-Benken
Biel-Benken
Coordinates: 47°30′N 7°31′E / 47.500°N 7.517°E / 47.500; 7.517Coordinates: 47°30′N 7°31′E / 47.500°N 7.517°E / 47.500; 7.517
Country Switzerland
Canton Basel-Landschaft
District Arlesheim
Area
 • Total 4.12 km2 (1.59 sq mi)
Elevation 317 m (1,040 ft)
Population (Mar 2016)
 • Total 3,412
 • Density 830/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Postal code 4105
SFOS number 2764
Surrounded by Bättwil (SO), Leymen (FR-68), Neuwiller (FR-68), Oberwil, Therwil, Witterswil (SO)
Website www.biel-benken.ch
SFSO statistics

Biel-Benken (Swiss German: Biel-Bängge) is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.

Benken is first mentioned in 1259 as Beinkon. It was also known as Benken maior to distinguish it from Biel which was known as Benken minor, Buelbenken or Benken inferior.

Biel-Benken has an area, as of 2009, of 4.12 square kilometers (1.59 sq mi). Of this area, 2.22 km2 (0.86 sq mi) or 53.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.82 km2 (0.32 sq mi) or 19.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.04 km2 (0.40 sq mi) or 25.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and 0.01 km2 (2.5 acres) or 0.2% is unproductive land.

Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.2% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 17.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 4.4%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 1.9%. Out of the forested land, 18.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.5% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 40.0% is used for growing crops and 6.1% is pastures, while 7.8% is used for orchards or vine crops.

The municipality is located in the Arlesheim district, in the Leimen valley. It consists of the two villages of Biel and Benken, which are separated by the Birsig river. The two villages merged in 1972.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules, a bend lozengy Argent

Biel-Benken has a population (as of March 2016) of 3,412. As of 2008, 11.4% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of 25.5%.


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Wikipedia

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