Niedermuhlern

Niedermuhlern
The historic water mill in Niedermuhlern village
Coat of arms
Niedermuhlern Show map of Switzerland Niedermuhlern Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Niedermuhlern
Coordinates: 46°52′N 7°28′E / 46.867°N 7.467°E / 46.867; 7.467Coordinates: 46°52′N 7°28′E / 46.867°N 7.467°E / 46.867; 7.467
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Bern-Mittelland
Government
• Mayor	Daniel Müller
Area
• Total	7.25 km2 (2.80 sq mi)
Elevation	829 m (2,720 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	463
• Density	64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Postal code	3087
SFOS number	0877
Surrounded by	Oberbalm, Rüeggisberg, Toffen, Wald
Website	www.niedermuhlern.ch SFSO statistics

Niedermuhlern is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Niedermuhlern is first mentioned in 1241 as Muolerrun.

The oldest trace of a settlement in the area is a prehistoric bronze ax which was discovered in Niederblacken. The remains of what appears to be a Roman era wall were discovered at Sidenberg and a early medieval grave was found on the Sandackerhubel. By the 13th century the portions of the village and surrounding farm land were owned by various citizens of Bern as well as the Münchenbuchsee Commandery and Frienisberg and Köniz Abbeys. The rights to hold the low court over the village passed through several owners until 1600 when Bern acquired them. Under Bernese rule the village was administered by a Schultheiss or mayor. Until 1699 it was part of the parish of Belp. In that year it was assigned to the Zimmerwald parish.

Throughout its history the village was a rural, agricultural settlement. Today the Bern-Riggisberg PostAuto line connects it to nearby cities. In 1951 the engineer and businessman Willy Schaerer built the Sternwarte Uecht (Uecht Observatory) in Niedermuhlern. For twenty years, between 1968 until 1988, the University of Bern ran a solar observation lab in the village.

Niedermuhlern has an area of 7.25 km² (2.80 sq mi). As of 2012, a total of 5.46 km² (2.11 sq mi) or 75.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 1.3 km² (0.50 sq mi) or 17.9% is forested. The rest of the municipality is 0.44 km² (0.17 sq mi) or 6.1% is settled (buildings or roads).