Urtenen-Schönbühl

Coat of arms

Urtenen-Schönbühl

Location of Urtenen-Schönbühl

Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°30′E / 47.033°N 7.500°ECoordinates: 47°2′N 7°30′E / 47.033°N 7.500°E

Country

Area

• Total

7.18 km² (2.77 sq mi)

Elevation

525 m (1,722 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

6,211

• Density

870/km² (2,200/sq mi)

Postal code

3322

SFOS number

0551

Localities

Urtenen, Schönbühl

Surrounded by

Ballmoos, Bolligen, Jegenstorf, Mattstetten, Moosseedorf, Wiggiswil

Twin towns

Binn (Switzerland), Dacice (Czech Republic)

Website

www.urtenen-schoenbuehl.ch
SFSO statistics

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

The oldest trace of a settlement in the area are some neolithic artifacts which were discovered at Längenrüpp and Schönbühl. Prehistoric Hallstatt era grave mounds were found at Sand, Junkerenholz, Rödelberg and Bubenloowald along with a prehistoric cemetery at near the Oberdorfstrasse-Lindholenweg roads. Roman era ruins were discovered at Moossee.

The village of Urtenen is first mentioned in 1249, as Urtinun; it was owned by the Counts of Kyburg. Between 1371 and 1374 the village was acquired by Bernese patrician families. Over the following centuries, the von Diesbach, von Bonstetten, Willading and von Erlach families owned part or all of the village along with the neighboring village of Mattstetten. The local low court met at the tavern in Urtenen.

The municipal coat of arms is first recorded in 1780. Its blazon is Argent on a pile enbowed Sable a Latin Cross pattee of the first. Following the 1798 French invasion, the old power structure was wiped away. Five years later, after the Act of Mediation, Urtenen became part of the district of Fraubrunnen. The village was damaged when the Urtenen river flooded in 1780, 1855 and 1917. An amelioration project in 1944-46, lowered the river's level and built flood walls to protect the village. During the 19th century many farmers shifted from raising food crops to raising dairy cattle and in response the first village dairy opened in 1842. Historically the main road from Bern to the Aargau bypassed the village. That all changed in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1845-48 the Bernstrasse was built through the village, connected Urtenen with Bern and the Aargau. Other roads followed, connecting the village with Solothurn and Biel. These were followed by a railroad to Olten in 1867 and another to Solothurn in 1916.

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Wikipedia