Ederswiler
Encyclopedia
Ederswiler is a municipality
in the district of Delémont
in the canton
of Jura in Switzerland
. It is the only German-speaking municipality in the canton, where all others are French-speaking.
, the capital city of the canton of Jura
. The village is situated in the northern Jura Mountains
, close to the border with France
, in a hollow of a stream called the Bösen.
The total area of the municipality is 3.3 km². It encompasses the valley of the Bösen, which drains northwards into the river Lützel (French: Lucelle). To the south and south-east, the municipality's boundary extends to a small mountain range containing Berg (858 m) and Hasenschell (870 m). The northern boundary consists of a rocky projection called Lobberg (771 m), and in the north the limestone cliffs of the Hallen tower over the village. In 1997, 4% of the area of the municipality consisted of residential space, 42% consisted of woodland and 54% was used for agriculture.
There are numerous individual farmsteads across the municipality of Ederswiler. Its neighbouring communities are Pleigne
and Movelier
in the canton of Jura and Roggenburg in the canton of Basel-Country.
(German: Pfirt) in Alsace
, in France. The village is linked by Postauto on the Delémont-Roggenburg and Laufen-Roggenburg routes. The village is also the only one in Jura to be integrated into the Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (North-Western Switzerland Transport Nework).
and was initially in the département of Mont-Terrible
, but was merged with the département of Haut-Rhin
in 1800. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna
established that the municipality would become part of the canton of Bern.
In the 1974 Plebiscite of Jura, Ederswiler objected to the creation of the French-speaking canton of Jura. However, the community had no border with the district of Laufen, so unlike all other border communities, it was not able to decide for itself which canton it would belong to. On 1 January 1979, Ederswiler was handed over from Bern to the new canton of Jura. For a long time, it was debated that Ederswiler should be returned to the canton of Bern, while the municipality of Vellerat
, which had refused to join Jura for similar reasons, would finally become part of that canton. In 1990, when the population of Laufen voted to transfer to the canton of Basel-Country, Ederswiler was left with no common border with the canton of Bern. Since then, there has been no new discussion regarding Ederswiler switching cantons.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the district of Delémont
Delémont (district)
Delémont District is one of the three districts of the canton of Jura, Switzerland. Its capital, and that of the canton, is the city of Delémont...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Jura in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is the only German-speaking municipality in the canton, where all others are French-speaking.
Geography
Ederswiler is a farming village. It lies at an altitude of 553 m, 7 km north of DelémontDelémont
Delémont is the capital of the Swiss canton of Jura. The city has approximately 11,000 inhabitants as of 2007.-Geography:Delémont lies southwest of Basel, about halfway between Basel and Bienne...
, the capital city of the canton of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...
. The village is situated in the northern Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
, close to the border with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in a hollow of a stream called the Bösen.
The total area of the municipality is 3.3 km². It encompasses the valley of the Bösen, which drains northwards into the river Lützel (French: Lucelle). To the south and south-east, the municipality's boundary extends to a small mountain range containing Berg (858 m) and Hasenschell (870 m). The northern boundary consists of a rocky projection called Lobberg (771 m), and in the north the limestone cliffs of the Hallen tower over the village. In 1997, 4% of the area of the municipality consisted of residential space, 42% consisted of woodland and 54% was used for agriculture.
There are numerous individual farmsteads across the municipality of Ederswiler. Its neighbouring communities are Pleigne
Pleigne
Pleigne is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
and Movelier
Movelier
Movelier is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-References:...
in the canton of Jura and Roggenburg in the canton of Basel-Country.
Population
With 122 inhabitants, Ederswiler is one of the least populated municipalities in Jura canton. It is the only German-speaking community in the canton. In 2000, 84.5% of the inhabitants were German-speaking, 10.1% were French-speaking and 2.3% were Spanish-speaking. Until the 17th century, French was the dominant language in the community. Because of its remoteness, Ederswiler has witnessed a decrease in its population over the last few decades. In 1850, the population of Ederswiler village was 219, and in 1900 it was 124. During the course of the 20th century, the population ranged between 110 and 170.Economy
Ederswiler's economy relies upon, and is dominated by, agriculture. More than 50% of the local workforce is employed in agriculture. The remaining working people in the municipality commute to other areas. An international motorcross race takes place in the community every year.Transport
Ederswiler lies some distance away from any major roads. The road running through the village connects Delémont (German: Delsberg) with FerretteFerrette
Ferrette is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is situated close to the Swiss border. Its main attraction is the Château de Ferrette.-County of Ferrette:...
(German: Pfirt) in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, in France. The village is linked by Postauto on the Delémont-Roggenburg and Laufen-Roggenburg routes. The village is also the only one in Jura to be integrated into the Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (North-Western Switzerland Transport Nework).
History
The first mention of Ederswiler is in a document from 1323, where it is referred to as Ernswilre. The village was part of the parish of Roggenburg, which fell under the control of the Bishop of Basel. Between 1389 and 1454, the parish was handed over as a fiefdom to the Count of Thierstein. Between 1793 and 1815, Ederswiler was part of FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was initially in the département of Mont-Terrible
Mont-Terrible
Mont-Terrible was one of the 130 départements of Napoleonic France, with its capital at Porrentruy.The Mont Terrible for which the département was named is now known as mont Terri, a peak of 804 m near Courgenay, now in the canton of Jura, Switzerland.The département was created in 1793 with the...
, but was merged with the département of Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
in 1800. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
established that the municipality would become part of the canton of Bern.
In the 1974 Plebiscite of Jura, Ederswiler objected to the creation of the French-speaking canton of Jura. However, the community had no border with the district of Laufen, so unlike all other border communities, it was not able to decide for itself which canton it would belong to. On 1 January 1979, Ederswiler was handed over from Bern to the new canton of Jura. For a long time, it was debated that Ederswiler should be returned to the canton of Bern, while the municipality of Vellerat
Vellerat
Vellerat is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
, which had refused to join Jura for similar reasons, would finally become part of that canton. In 1990, when the population of Laufen voted to transfer to the canton of Basel-Country, Ederswiler was left with no common border with the canton of Bern. Since then, there has been no new discussion regarding Ederswiler switching cantons.