Orvin

For other uses, see Orvin (disambiguation).

Orvin
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Jura bernois 47°10′N 7°13′E / 47.167°N 7.217°E / 47.167; 7.217Coordinates: 47°10′N 7°13′E / 47.167°N 7.217°E / 47.167; 7.217
Population	1,192 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	56 /km2 (144 /sq mi)
Area	21.43 km2 (8.27 sq mi)
Elevation	669 m (2,195 ft)
Postal code	2534
SFOS number	0438
Mayor	Arlette Delémont
Demonym	Orvinois
Localities	Jorat, Les Prés-d'Orvin
Surrounded by	Corgémont, Sonceboz-Sombeval, La Heutte, Péry, Vauffelin, Biel/Bienne, Evilard, Lamboing, Nods
Website	www.orvin.ch SFSO statistics
Orvin
View map of Orvin

Orvin is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura (Jura Bernois). Above it, there is a small year round resort, called les "Prés-d'Orvin".

History

Orvin is first mentioned in 866 as Ulvinc.^[2]

Geography

Orvin has an area, as of 2009^[update], of 21.6 square kilometers (8.3 sq mi). Of this area, 8.12 km² (3.14 sq mi) or 37.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 12.36 km² (4.77 sq mi) or 57.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.04 km² (0.40 sq mi) or 4.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and 0.12 km² (30 acres) or 0.6% is unproductive land.^[3]

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 3.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.5%. Out of the forested land, 52.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 5.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 7.3% is used for growing crops and 11.5% is pastures and 18.2% is used for alpine pastures.^[3]

It is located north of Biel/Bienne in a side valley of the Suze river.

Demographics

Orvin has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 1,192.^[1] As of 2007^[update], 9.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1.4%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks French (82.5%), with German being second most common (14.2%) and Albanian being third ( 1.2%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 35.4% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (21.6%), the FDP (19.4%) and the Green Party (13.4%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 24.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 54.5% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 21.4%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Orvin about 71.2% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Orvin has an unemployment rate of 1.09%. As of 2005^[update], there were 58 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 24 businesses involved in this sector. 355 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 21 businesses in this sector. 166 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 25 businesses in this sector.^[4] The historical population is given in the following table:^[2]

year	population
1850	659
1900	766
1950	780
1970	1,034
2000	1,235

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB, online database – Datenwürfel für Thema 01.2 - Bevölkerungsstand und -bewegung (German) accessed 29 September
2. ^ ^{a b} Orvin in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
3. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics 2009 data (German) accessed 25 March 2010
4. ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 04-Jun-2009

External links

• Website of the municipality of Orvin
• Orvin in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.