Erstfeld

Erstfeld is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.

Erstfeld
Municipality in Switzerland
Coat of arms
Location of Erstfeld
Erstfeld
Erstfeld
Coordinates: 46°49′N 8°39′E
CountrySwitzerland
CantonUri
Districtn.a.
Area
 • Total59.09 km2 (22.81 sq mi)
Elevation
475 m (1,558 ft)
Population
 (2018-12-31)[2]
 • Total3,787
 • Density64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)
6472
SFOS number1206
Surrounded byAttinghausen, Gurtnellen, Schattdorf, Silenen, Wassen
Websitewww.erstfeld.ch
SFSO statistics

History
A hoard of torques found in Erstfeld can be seen in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich

In 1962 a collection of four gold torques and three gold arm rings were discovered near Erstfeld. While the exact origin date is unknown, they are likely from the 4th century BC. The nearly pure gold rings were discovered under 9 meters (30 ft) of land slide debris. The rings show celtic motifs and designs and display a high level of skill. While their purpose is unknown, one theory is that they were offerings made to celebrate safely crossing the Alps.[3]

Erstfeld is first mentioned in 1258 as Ourzcvelt. In 1638, it was listed under the Latin name in Protocampis. In 1831, it was known as Hirschfelden.[3]

Geography

Erstfeld has an area, as of 2006, of 59.2 km2 (22.9 sq mi). Of this area, 11.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 29.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (56.2%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[4] In the 1993/97 land survey, 19.8% of the total land area was heavily forested, while 7.9% is covered in small trees and shrubbery. Of the agricultural land, 0.2% is used for farming or pastures, while 5.3% is used for orchards or vine crops and 6.3% is used for alpine pastures. Of the settled areas, 1.2% is covered with buildings, 0.3% is industrial, 0.1% is listed as parks and greenbelts and 1.2% is transportation infrastructure. Of the unproductive areas, 0.1% is unproductive standing water (ponds or lakes), 0.9% is unproductive flowing water (rivers), 41.8% is too rocky for vegetation, and 13.3% is other unproductive land.[5]

The municipality consists of the linear village of Erstfeld and scattered farm houses along the valley floor and up the mountain sides.

Erstfeld is at the base of the northern ramp of the Gotthard railway and houses all the rolling stock needed for the rail line.

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1743614—    
1799700+14.0%
1850916+30.9%
18801,184+29.3%
19002,416+104.1%
19103,149+30.3%
19503,747+19.0%
19704,516+20.5%
20003,933−12.9%
20053,778−3.9%
20073,715−1.7%

Erstfeld has a population (as of 31 December 2019) of 3,845.[6] As of 2007, 13.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years, the population has decreased at a rate of -10.8%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (88.7%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common (3.7%), and Italian being third (2.4%).[4] As of 2007, the gender distribution of the population was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.[7]

In Erstfeld, about 60.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).[4]

Erstfeld has an unemployment rate of 1.94%. As of 2005, there were 119 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 47 businesses involved in this sector. About 643 people are employed in the secondary sector, and there are 38 businesses in this sector. About 870 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 86 businesses in this sector.[4]

Transport

Erstfeld is served by the Erstfeld station, situated within the municipality and on the Gotthard railway.

Notable residents

References
  1. "Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeinden nach 4 Hauptbereichen". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. "Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeitskategorie Geschlecht und Gemeinde; Provisorische Jahresergebnisse; 2018". Federal Statistical Office. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  3. Erstfeld in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  4. Swiss Federal Statistical Office Archived January 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine accessed 09-Sep-2009
  5. Canton Uri - Ground use statistics Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine (in German) accessed 8 September 2009
  6. "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  7. Uri Population statistics Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine (in German) accessed 8 September 2009
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