Obersteckholz

Obersteckholz
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Oberaargau 47°12′N 7°49′E / 47.2°N 7.817°E / 47.2; 7.817Coordinates: 47°12′N 7°49′E / 47.2°N 7.817°E / 47.2; 7.817
Population	407 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	104 /km2 (270 /sq mi)
Area	3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Elevation	525 m (1,722 ft)
Postal code	4924
SFOS number	0334
Surrounded by	Busswil bei Melchnau, Langenthal, Lotzwil, Untersteckholz
Website	Obersteckholz.ch SFSO statistics
Obersteckholz
View map of Obersteckholz

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

Geography

Obersteckholz has an area, as of 2009^[update], of 3.9 square kilometers (1.5 sq mi). Of this area, 2.6 km² (1.0 sq mi) or 66.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 1.09 km² (0.42 sq mi) or 27.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.22 km² (0.085 sq mi) or 5.6% is settled (buildings or roads).^[2]

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.3%. Out of the forested land, all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 44.4% is used for growing crops and 17.9% is pastures, while 4.4% is used for orchards or vine crops.^[2]

Demographics

Obersteckholz has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 407.^[1] As of 2007^[update], 0.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -9.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (98.5%), with English being second most common ( 0.5%) and Czech being third ( 0.3%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 62.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CSP (9.4%), the FDP (7.3%) and the SPS (6.6%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 19.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 58.5% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 22.1%. In Obersteckholz about 74.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).

Obersteckholz has an unemployment rate of 1.11%. As of 2005^[update], there were 63 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 23 businesses involved in this sector. 12 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 4 businesses in this sector. 15 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 5 businesses in this sector.^[3]

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} Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics 2009 data (German) accessed 25 March 2010
3. ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 29-May-2009