Ursenbach

Ursenbach
Coat of arms
Ursenbach
Location of Ursenbach
Coordinates: 47°8′N 7°46′E / 47.133°N 7.767°E / 47.133; 7.767Coordinates: 47°8′N 7°46′E / 47.133°N 7.767°E / 47.133; 7.767
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Oberaargau
Area
• Total	9.14 km2 (3.53 sq mi)
Elevation	582 m (1,909 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	911
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Postal code	4937
SFOS number	0344
Surrounded by	Kleindietwil, Leimiswil, Ochlenberg, Oeschenbach, Rohrbachgraben, Walterswil
Website	www.ursenbach.ch SFSO statistics

Ursenbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Ursenbach is first mentioned in 1201 as Ursibach.

During the Middle Ages the major landholders in Ursenbach were the Lords of Aarwangen and Rüegsau Priory. The low court, known as the Amt of Ursenbach, was held by the Kyburg counts. In the 14th century, the Amt went to the Grünenberg counts. Between 1407 and 1414, Bern acquired the entire Amt from the Counts. They incorporated it into the Wangen bailiwick. Following the 1798 French invasion, under the Helvetic Republic, it was part of the district of Langenthal. After the collapse of the Republic, in 1803, it went to Wangen district again. In 1884, the village became part of the district of Aarwangen.

The first village church was built during the 8th century, though no records of this first building exist. The next church was first mentioned in 1201 and the current church dates from 1515. The Heiligkreuz chapel in Lünisberg was first mentioned in 1479. During the Protestant Reformation, the chapel was completely demolished.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, cottage industry linen weaving and straw plaiting began to supplement agriculture in the local economy. A savings bank opened in the village in 1854. During the early 20th century agriculture became increasingly mechanized, requiring fewer farm workers. This was partly offset by more jobs in construction and tourism, but many residents had to emigrate for jobs.