Gelterfingen
| Gelterfingen | ||
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 Gelterfingen
Gelterfingen
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Location of Gelterfingen
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| Coordinates: 46°50′N 7°31′E / 46.833°N 7.517°ECoordinates: 46°50′N 7°31′E / 46.833°N 7.517°E | ||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Bern-Mittelland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.49 km2 (1.35 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 552 m (1,811 ft) | |
| Population (Dec 2015) | ||
| • Total | 269 | |
| • Density | 77/km2 (200/sq mi) | |
| Postal code | 3126 | |
| SFOS number | 0865 | |
| Surrounded by | Belpberg, Gerzensee, Kaufdorf, Kirchenthurnen, Mühledorf, Rümligen, Toffen | |
| Website |
www SFSO statistics |
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Gelterfingen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Gelterfingen is first mentioned in 1345 as Geltolfingen.
The oldest trace of a settlement in the area are several Hallstatt graves which were discovered at Hole. During the Middle Ages Gelterfingen was owned by the Freiherr von Kramburg. In 1373 it was acquired by the Knights Hospitaller at Münchenbuchsee Commandery. In 1528, Bern adopted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation, secularized the Commandery and acquired all its lands including Gelterfingen. Under Bernese control it was combined into a court with Kramburg and placed into the Seftigen district.
The swampy valley floor of the Gürbetal forced the village farmers to raise their crops on the surrounding hills. The valley floor was only used as a pasture. The Gürbe and Müsche river correction projects (1855–1911) and a drainage project in (1942–51) opened up rich farm land on the valley floor. The construction of a station on the Gürbetal Railroad in the village helped open up the village. Today the about half of the working residents commute to jobs outside the municipality. The main industry in the municipality is cabbage cultivation and other farming.
Gelterfingen has an area of 3.49 km2 (1.35 sq mi). As of 2012, a total of 2.42 km2 (0.93 sq mi) or 69.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.84 km2 (0.32 sq mi) or 24.1% is forested. The rest of the municipality is 0.19 km2 (0.073 sq mi) or 5.4% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.02 km2 (4.9 acres) or 0.6% is either rivers or lakes.
During the same year, housing and buildings made up 2.9% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.0%. A total of 22.1% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 39.8% is used for growing crops and 27.8% is pasturage, while 1.7% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.
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Wikipedia