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Heimiswil

Heimiswil
Heimiswil village rectory and prebendary barn
Heimiswil village rectory and prebendary barn
Coat of arms of Heimiswil
Coat of arms
Heimiswil is located in Switzerland
Heimiswil
Heimiswil
Coordinates: 47°4′N 7°40′E / 47.067°N 7.667°E / 47.067; 7.667Coordinates: 47°4′N 7°40′E / 47.067°N 7.667°E / 47.067; 7.667
Country Switzerland
Canton Bern
District Emmental
Area
 • Total 23.35 km2 (9.02 sq mi)
Elevation 615 m (2,018 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
 • Total 1,607
 • Density 69/km2 (180/sq mi)
Postal code 3412
SFOS number 0407
Surrounded by Affoltern im Emmental, Burgdorf, Hasle bei Burgdorf, Rüegsau, Wynigen
Website www.heimiswil.ch
SFSO statistics

Heimiswil is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Heimiswil is first mentioned in 1250 as Heimoltswiler.

During the High Middle Ages there was an earthen fortification at Tschoggen. During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Counts of Kyburg owned land in Heimiswil. In 1402 they sold their right to the low court to the city of Burgdorf. Eventually the court was held at the Gasthof Löwen, which was first mentioned in 1668.

The Zähringen or Kyburg family built a family church in the village before 1275. In 1340-41 the town of Burgdorf inherited the position of patron over the church and the right to appoint the church's priest, which it used to support a hospital. From then on the hospital chapel was also the pastor over Heimiswil. In 1703-04, Bern allowed the villagers to build their own church and form a parish.

During the 18th century, Burgdorf actively encouraged Heimiswil to remain an agricultural village. For example, in 1705 they banned forges or metalworkers in the village. Even today the municipality remains agricultural and rural with only a few small businesses.

Heimiswil has an area of 23.35 km2 (9.02 sq mi). Of this area, 14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi) or 61.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 7.88 km2 (3.04 sq mi) or 33.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.18 km2 (0.46 sq mi) or 5.1% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.04 km2 (9.9 acres) or 0.2% is either rivers or lakes.

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 3.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.7%. Out of the forested land, 32.6% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.2% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 18.3% is used for growing crops and 40.7% is pastures, while 2.1% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.


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