Oberwil bei Büren

Oberwil bei Büren village church

Coat of arms

Oberwil bei Büren

Location of Oberwil bei Büren

Coordinates: 47°8′N 7°24′E / 47.133°N 7.400°ECoordinates: 47°8′N 7°24′E / 47.133°N 7.400°E

Country

Area

• Total

6.72 km² (2.59 sq mi)

Elevation

488 m (1,601 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

830

• Density

120/km² (320/sq mi)

Postal code

3298

SFOS number

0391

Surrounded by

Biezwil (SO), Büren an der Aare, Gossliwil (SO), Lüterswil-Gächliwil (SO), Rüti bei Büren, Schnottwil (SO)

Website

oberwil-bueren.ch
SFSO statistics

Oberwil bei Büren is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Oberwil bei Büren is first mentioned in 1236 as Oberwile.

Various neolithic, Bronze Age and Roman items have been found around the municipality. During the Middle Ages it was part of the Strassberg Herrschaft. Between 1388 and 1393, the entire Strassberg lands were acquired by Bern. Oberwil bei Büren became part of the newly created Bernese bailiwick of Büren.

The Church of St. Mauritius was first mentioned in 1275, but it stands on the foundations of earlier churches. The first was an early medieval wooden church from the 7th or 8th century. The first brick church was built on the site in the 9th or 10th century. Four further churches were built before the choir was completely rebuilt in 1506-07. The most recent renovation of the church was in the 17th century.

Throughout its history the village has remained a rural, agricultural place. Since there are very few jobs in the municipality about two-thirds of the working population commute. Many of which have very long commutes to Bern or Zurich.

Oberwil bei Büren has an area of 6.72 km² (2.59 sq mi). Of this area, 3.76 km² (1.45 sq mi) or 56.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.4 km² (0.93 sq mi) or 35.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.57 km² (0.22 sq mi) or 8.5% is settled (buildings or roads).

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.9% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.8%. Out of the forested land, all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 40.6% is used for growing crops and 14.6% is pastures.

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Wikipedia