Saint-Imier
Country Switzerland Canton Berne District Courtelary 47°9′N 7°0′E / 47.15°N 7°E / 47.15; 7Coordinates: 47°9′N 7°0′E / 47.15°N 7°E / 47.15; 7
Population	4,740 (December 2007[update])
- Density	226 /km2 (586 /sq mi)
Area	20.96 km2 (8.09 sq mi)
Elevation	820 m (2,690 ft)
Postal code	2610
SFOS number	0443
Surrounded by	Sonvilier, Villeret, Muriaux, Le Noirmont, Les Bois, Le Pâquier(NE), Villiers(NE)
Website	www.saint-imier.ch SFSO statistics
Saint-Imier

Saint-Imier is a municipality in the district of Courtelary in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura (Jura Bernois).

Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil is located above the village.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Industry 5 Personalities 6 External links 7 References

[edit] History

Its name refers to Imerius of Immertal, a 7th century saint.

[edit] Geography

Saint-Imier has an area of 20.9 square kilometers (8.1 sq mi). Of this area, 47.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 42.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 9% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.6%) is non-productive (rivers or glaciers).^[1]

[edit] Demographics

Saint-Imier has a population (as of 2007^[update]) of 4,740, of which 22.3% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 3.1%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks French (84.2%), with German being second most common ( 6.6%) and Italian being third ( 3.8%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SPS which received 28.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (28.2%), the SVP (25.7%) and the Green Party (10%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0-19 years old) make up 21.2% of the population, while adults (20-64 years old) make up 54.5% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 24.4%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Saint-Imier about 64.7% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).^[1]

[edit] Industry

Saint-Imier is the hometown of the Longines watchmaking company. The Breitling watchmaking company was founded in Saint-Imier, but moved to Grenchen, Canton of Solothurn.

Saint-Imier has an unemployment rate of 2.94%. As of 2005^[update], there were 68 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 25 businesses involved in this sector. 1109 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 64 businesses in this sector. 1513 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 172 businesses in this sector.^[1]

[edit] Personalities

• Alain Auderset, author of comic books

[edit] External links

• Webpage of the municipality of Saint-Imier

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saint-Imier

[edit] References

v • d • e Municipalities in the district of Courtelary, Switzerland Corgémont | Cormoret | Cortébert | Courtelary | La Ferrière | La Heutte | Mont-Tramelan | Orvin | Péry | Plagne | Renan | Romont | Saint-Imier | Sonceboz-Sombeval | Sonvilier | Tramelan | Vauffelin | Villeret Canton of Bern | Districts of Canton Bern | Municipalities of the canton of Bern