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Guggisberg

Guggisberg
Guggisberg Kirche 1.jpg
Coat of arms of Guggisberg
Coat of arms
Guggisberg is located in Switzerland
Guggisberg
Guggisberg
Coordinates: 46°46′N 7°20′E / 46.767°N 7.333°E / 46.767; 7.333Coordinates: 46°46′N 7°20′E / 46.767°N 7.333°E / 46.767; 7.333
Country Switzerland
Canton Bern
District Bern-Mittelland
Government
 • Mayor Jakob Schmied
Area
 • Total 54.91 km2 (21.20 sq mi)
Elevation 1,115 m (3,658 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
 • Total 1,550
 • Density 28/km2 (73/sq mi)
Postal code 3158
SFOS number 0852
Surrounded by Alterswil (FR), Oberwil im Simmental, Plaffeien (FR), Rüschegg, Wahlern, Zumholz (FR)
Website www.gemeinde-guggisberg.ch
SFSO statistics

Guggisberg (Bernese German Guggishbärg [ˈgʊkisbærg]) is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern.

Guggisberg is first mentioned in 1076 as Mons Guchani. The next earliest reference to the community dates from 1148, when Guggisberg (spelled Cucansperc) was mentioned in a document of Pope Eugene III. In 1423 the territory was divided in two and sold by Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy to Bern and Fribourg. It would remain as two separate entitites until reunified by Napoleon's Act of Mediation in 1803.

In the early 19th century the village of Guggisberg was known as destination for tourists due to the view of the Guggershorn and other surrounding mountains. However, in 1819 the canton began moving many landless poor (Allmendsiedler literally: Common land settler) into the municipality. The large, poor population and famines in 1816-1818 and the 1840s overwhelmed the community. Many farmers had to sell their grazing rights (Alprechte) while others moved to America to escape the poverty. By 1850 Guggisberg was the poorest municipality in Canton Bern. To try to stabilize the economy, in 1860 the municipality was split into two, Guggisberg and Rüschegg.

Guggisberg has an area of 54.91 km2 (21.20 sq mi). As of 2012, a total of 28.83 km2 (11.13 sq mi) or 52.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 21.68 km2 (8.37 sq mi) or 39.5% is forested. The rest of the municipality is 1.64 km2 (0.63 sq mi) or 3.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.9 km2 (0.35 sq mi) or 1.6% is either rivers or lakes and 1.82 km2 (0.70 sq mi) or 3.3% is unproductive land.

During the same year, housing and buildings made up 1.6% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.3%. A total of 35.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 4.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 2.0% is used for growing crops and 31.0% is pasturage and 19.1% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 1.9% is unproductive vegetation and 1.5% is too rocky for vegetation.


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