Hilfikon
Encyclopedia
Hilfikon was a municipality
in the district of Bremgarten
in the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
. In January 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen
.
in Hilfikon. The area ruled by the Hilfikon family is first documented in 1415. Though, by 1472 it was owned by the Meiss family of Zurich
, then in 1498 it became a fief of Hans von Seengen, and in 1506-10 it was owned by Melchior von Gilgen of Lucerne
. He also purchased the Bailiwick
of Sarmenstorf
in 1514, and in 1510 donated a chapel. In 1628 the property was purchased by John Lussi Landamman for Unterwalden
, then in 1644 it went to the Zwyer family of Evibach in Silenen
. In 1743 the village transferred by marriage to the Tschudi family of Glarus
, which were desposed in 1749 by Augustin Victor Franz Roll from Solothurn
. He had the late gothic
chapel demolished and a new chapel built. The new chapel's choir
is a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
. Religiously, Hilfikon has always belonged to the Villmergen parish
. So, in 1743 a part of the village came under the power of Villmergen's courts, while the other part remained under the nobles' courts. In 1798 Augustine von Roll eliminated this division of judicial authority.
During the second Toggenburg War
, in 1712, the castle was the seat of the catholic General Staff. In 1832 the castle was sold along with other properties and has since had several owners.
Into the 20th Century the small town was dominated by agriculture and a few small businesses. In 1916, the Wohlen-Meisterschwanden Railway was built, to which Hilfikon was a station. The village has a comprehensive school for primary education.
In 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen
.
The village is located in the Bremgarten district along the old Villmergen-Sarmenstorf
road on the northern edge of the Lindenberg.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Argent an Elephant Sable defendu and harnessed Or carrying a Tower embattled Gules doored and windowed of the second.
The age distribution, , in Hilfikon is; 24 children or 9.6% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 32 teenagers or 12.7% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 29 people or 11.6% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 29 people or 11.6% are between 30 and 39, 56 people or 22.3% are between 40 and 49, and 42 people or 16.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 9 people or 3.6% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 15 people or 6.0% are between 70 and 79, there are 12 people or 4.8% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 3 people or 1.2% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.57 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 73.1% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
or a rent-to-own agreement). , there were 3 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 29 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 46 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.73 individuals. there were 63 single family homes (or 62.4% of the total) out of a total of 101 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 1.0% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 4.1 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 41% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(19.7%), the FDP
(14%) and the SP
(13.1%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Hilfikon about 83.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
). Of the school age population , there are 13 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
.
there were 114 total workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 84 or about 73.7% of the residents worked outside Hilfikon while 19 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 49 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 8.5% used public transportation to get to work, and 51.7% used a private car.
.
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 Bremgarten
Bremgarten (district)
Bremgarten District is a Swiss district in the Canton of Aargau, corresponding to the valleys of the Reuss and Bünz rivers in the area known as the Freiamt.-Geography:...
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 Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
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....
. In January 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen
Villmergen
Villmergen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.Two famous battles took place at Villmergen.In 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen.-History:...
.
History
Hilfikon is first mentioned in 924 as Hilfiniswilare. In 1250 it was mentioned as Hilfinchon. In 1290 Markwart and Arnold von Hilfikon built a tower houseTower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
in Hilfikon. The area ruled by the Hilfikon family is first documented in 1415. Though, by 1472 it was owned by the Meiss family of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, then in 1498 it became a fief of Hans von Seengen, and in 1506-10 it was owned by Melchior von Gilgen of Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
. He also purchased the Bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
of Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:The earliest settlement in the municipality built the neolithic burial mound at Zigiholz. The next known settlement was a Roman era villa with a portico and bath house from the 1st Century AD...
in 1514, and in 1510 donated a chapel. In 1628 the property was purchased by John Lussi Landamman for Unterwalden
Unterwalden
Unterwalden is the old name of a forest-canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy in central Switzerland, south of Lake Lucerne, consisting of two valleys or Talschaften, now organized as two half-cantons, an upper part, Obwalden, and a lower part, Nidwalden.Unterwalden was one of the three participants...
, then in 1644 it went to the Zwyer family of Evibach in Silenen
Silenen
Silenen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-Geography:Silenen has an area, , of . Of this area, 12.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.7% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
. In 1743 the village transferred by marriage to the Tschudi family of Glarus
Glarus
Glarus is the capital of the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Glarus municipality since 1 January 2011 incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern....
, which were desposed in 1749 by Augustin Victor Franz Roll from Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
. He had the late gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
chapel demolished and a new chapel built. The new chapel's choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
is a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
. Religiously, Hilfikon has always belonged to the Villmergen parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. So, in 1743 a part of the village came under the power of Villmergen's courts, while the other part remained under the nobles' courts. In 1798 Augustine von Roll eliminated this division of judicial authority.
During the second Toggenburg War
Battles of Villmergen
The Battles of Villmergen were two battles between Reformed and Catholic Swiss cantons. They occurred on January 24, 1656 and July 24, 1712 at Villmergen, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland ....
, in 1712, the castle was the seat of the catholic General Staff. In 1832 the castle was sold along with other properties and has since had several owners.
Into the 20th Century the small town was dominated by agriculture and a few small businesses. In 1916, the Wohlen-Meisterschwanden Railway was built, to which Hilfikon was a station. The village has a comprehensive school for primary education.
In 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen
Villmergen
Villmergen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.Two famous battles took place at Villmergen.In 2010 Hilfikon merged into Villmergen.-History:...
.
Geography
Hilfikon has an area, , of 1.7 square kilometre (0.65637366960731 sq mi). Of this area, 63.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 25.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 10.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).The village is located in the Bremgarten district along the old Villmergen-Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf
Sarmenstorf is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:The earliest settlement in the municipality built the neolithic burial mound at Zigiholz. The next known settlement was a Roman era villa with a portico and bath house from the 1st Century AD...
road on the northern edge of the Lindenberg.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Argent an Elephant Sable defendu and harnessed Or carrying a Tower embattled Gules doored and windowed of the second.
Demographics
Hilfikon has a population (as of ) of . , 9.9% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -2.4%. Most of the population speaks German (95.1%), with French being second most common ( 3.1%) and Italian being third ( 0.9%).The age distribution, , in Hilfikon is; 24 children or 9.6% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 32 teenagers or 12.7% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 29 people or 11.6% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 29 people or 11.6% are between 30 and 39, 56 people or 22.3% are between 40 and 49, and 42 people or 16.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 9 people or 3.6% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 15 people or 6.0% are between 70 and 79, there are 12 people or 4.8% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 3 people or 1.2% who are 90 and older.
the average number of residents per living room was 0.57 which is about equal to the cantonal average of 0.57 per room. In this case, a room is defined as space of a housing unit of at least 4 m² (43.1 sq ft) as normal bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens and habitable cellars and attics. About 73.1% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
or a rent-to-own agreement). , there were 3 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 29 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 46 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.73 individuals. there were 63 single family homes (or 62.4% of the total) out of a total of 101 homes and apartments. There were a total of 1 empty apartments for a 1.0% vacancy rate. , the construction rate of new housing units was 4.1 new units per 1000 residents.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 41% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(19.7%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(14%) and the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(13.1%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Hilfikon about 83.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
). Of the school age population , there are 13 students attending primary school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1743 | 125 |
| 1798 | 119 |
| 1850 | 159 |
| 1870 | 205 |
| 1900 | 179 |
| 1950 | 172 |
| 2000 | 224 |
Heritage sites of national significance
Schloss Hilfikon and chapel are listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
Economy
, Hilfikon had an unemployment rate of 1.89%. , there were 20 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 7 businesses involved in this sector. 4 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 3 businesses in this sector. 18 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 9 businesses in this sector.there were 114 total workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 84 or about 73.7% of the residents worked outside Hilfikon while 19 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 49 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 8.5% used public transportation to get to work, and 51.7% used a private car.
Religion
From the , 143 or 63.8% were Roman Catholic, while 62 or 27.7% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
.