Pfäffikon, Zurich
Encyclopedia
Pfäffikon is a municipality
in the canton
of Zurich in Switzerland
. It is the seat of the district of the same name. It is not to be confused with Pfäffikon SZ
on Lake Zurich but in the canton of Schwyz.
from the vicus Centum Prata (Kempraten
) on Lake Zürich
via Vitudurum (Oberwinterthur
) to Tasgetium (Eschenz
) to the Rhine. To secure this important transport route, the Irgenhausen Castrum
was built. The native name of the fort is unknown, thus Irgenhausen was mentioned in 811 AD as Camputuna sive Irincheshusa. Maybe the castrum's name was Cambodunum, the name of the neighbooring village of Kempten (Wetzikon
).
Pfäffikon is first mentioned in 811 as faffinchova. In 965 it was mentioned as haffinchova.
Pfäffikon is situated on Pfäffikersee
in Zürcher Oberland
southeasternly of the city of Zurich
. Neighbooring municipalities are Bäretswil
, Bauma
, Fehraltorf
, Hittnau
, Russikon
, Seegräben
, Uster
, Wetzikon
and Wildberg
.
The town is divided into four districts (Aussenwachten), namely Auslikon
, Irgenhausen
and Rutschberg situated on Pfäffikersee
, as well as the districts of Ober Balm, Unter Balm, Bussenhausen, Oberwil, Sulzberg, Hermatswil, Schür, Wallikon, Rick, Ravensbühl, and Faichrüti.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP
which received 37.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
(15.4%), the CSP
(14.5%) and the Green Party
(10.7%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 23.5% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 62% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 14.5%. In Pfäffikon about 73.3% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). There are 3954 households in Pfäffikon.
Pfäffikon has an unemployment rate of 2.52%. , there were 200 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 58 businesses involved in this sector. 1635 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 99 businesses in this sector. 2379 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 352 businesses in this sector. 50% of the working population were employed full-time, and 50% were employed part-time.
there were 2549 Catholics
and 4771 Protestants
in Pfäffikon. In the 2000 census, religion was broken down into several smaller categories. From the , 52.5% were some type of Protestant, with 48.6% belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church
and 4% belonging to other Protestant churches. 27.3% of the population were Catholic. Of the rest of the population, 0% were Muslim, 7.5% belonged to another religion (not listed), 2.4% did not give a religion, and 9.5% were atheist or agnostic.
The historical population is given in the following table:
. The wettest month is August during which time Pfäffikon receives an average of 136 mm (5.4 in) of precipitation. During the wettest month, August, there is precipitation for an average of 12.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 13.4, but with only 112 mm (4.4 in) of precipitation.
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 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 Zurich 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 seat of the district of the same name. It is not to be confused with Pfäffikon SZ
Pfäffikon, Schwyz
Pfäffikon is the principal town of the Municipality of Freienbach in canton Schwyz in Switzerland. Together with Wollerau, Pfäffikon is considered the principal town of the borough Höfe and the center of the region of Ausserschwyz. The former farm town is known today as cultural, economic and...
on Lake Zurich but in the canton of Schwyz.
History
In Roman era, along Pfäffikersee there was a Roman roadRoman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
from the vicus Centum Prata (Kempraten
Kempraten
Kempraten-Lenggis is a village within the municipality of Rapperswil-Jona, Wahlkreis of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It is one of the most important archeological sites in the canton of St...
) on Lake Zürich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
via Vitudurum (Oberwinterthur
Winterthur
Winterthur is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. It has the country's sixth largest population with an estimate of more than 100,000 people. In the local dialect and by its inhabitants, it is usually abbreviated to Winti...
) to Tasgetium (Eschenz
Eschenz
Eschenz is a municipality in Frauenfeld District in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.-History:The prehistoric shore village on Werd Island and in the Seeäckern area are rich archeological sites that have contributed substantially to our understanding of the history of settlements in the...
) to the Rhine. To secure this important transport route, the Irgenhausen Castrum
Irgenhausen Castrum
Irgenhausen Castrum is a Roman fort in Irgenhausen, Switzerland. It was a square fort, measuring in square, with four corner towers and three additional towers...
was built. The native name of the fort is unknown, thus Irgenhausen was mentioned in 811 AD as Camputuna sive Irincheshusa. Maybe the castrum's name was Cambodunum, the name of the neighbooring village of Kempten (Wetzikon
Wetzikon
Wetzikon is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Wetzikon has an area of . Of this area, 42.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 27.9% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
).
Pfäffikon is first mentioned in 811 as faffinchova. In 965 it was mentioned as haffinchova.
Geography
Pfäffikon has an area of 19.5 km² (7.5 sq mi). Of this area, 43.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 16.7% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (16.5%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains). housing and buildings made up 11.9% of the total area, while transportation infrastructure made up the rest (4.8%). Of the total unproductive area, water (streams and lakes) made up 11.4% of the area. 13.6% of the total municipal area was undergoing some type of construction.Pfäffikon is situated on Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee is a lake in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, near the town of Pfäffikon. It is 2.5 km long and 1.3 km wide at the middle. The lake was created in the last ice age when a moraine blocked off the ability for the lake to empty north towards Winterthur...
in Zürcher Oberland
Zürcher Oberland
The Zürcher Oberland in Switzerland, is the hilly south-eastern part of the Canton of Zurich, bordering on the Toggenburg, including the districts of Uster, Hinwil, Pfäffikon as well as the Töss Valley as far as the district of Winterthur. The territory gradually fell under the control of the city...
southeasternly of the city 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...
. Neighbooring municipalities are Bäretswil
Bäretswil
Bäretswil is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Bäretswil is first mentioned in 741 as Berofovilare. In 745 it was mentioned as Perolfeswilari.-Geography:...
, Bauma
Bauma
Bauma is a municipality in the district of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.-Geography:Bauma has an area of . Of this area, 35.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 54.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 8.6% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, Fehraltorf
Fehraltorf
Fehraltorf is a municipality in the district of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Fehraltorf is first mentioned between 1265-87 as Rueggesaltorf and also as Altorf de Chiburg. Around 1670 it was mentioned as Rüeggis-Altdorff and as Feer-Altdorff.-Geography:Fehraltorf has an...
, Hittnau
Hittnau
Hittnau is a municipality in the district of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Hittnau has an area of . Of this area, 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 11.8% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, Russikon
Russikon
Russikon is a municipality in the district of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Russikon is first mentioned in 775 as Ruadgisinchova. In 1247 it was mentioned as Rusinchon.-Geography:...
, Seegräben
Seegräben
Seegräben is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Seegräben has an area of . Of this area, 49.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 15.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 15.6% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, Uster
Uster
Uster is a city and capital of the district Uster in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.It is the third largest city in the Canton of Zürich, with over 30,000 inhabitants, and is one of the twenty largest cities in Switzerland...
, Wetzikon
Wetzikon
Wetzikon is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Wetzikon has an area of . Of this area, 42.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 27.9% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
and Wildberg
Wildberg
Wildberg is a town in Calw in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The asteroid 117506 Wildberg was named in its honour by its discoverer, the Observatorium Wildberg....
.
The town is divided into four districts (Aussenwachten), namely Auslikon
Auslikon
Auslikon is a village of the municipality of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.-Geography:Auslikon is located in the district of Pfäffikon in the Zürcher Oberland on the eastern shore of the Pfäffikersee .-Points of interest:In Auslikon is a popular Lido and a camping site, within...
, Irgenhausen
Irgenhausen
Irgenhausen is a village of the municipality of Pfäffikon in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland.-Geography:Irgenhausen is located in the district of Pfäffikon in the Zürcher Oberland on the eastern shore of the Pfäffikersee .-History:In Roman era, along Pfäffikersee there was a Roman road from...
and Rutschberg situated on Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee
Pfäffikersee is a lake in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, near the town of Pfäffikon. It is 2.5 km long and 1.3 km wide at the middle. The lake was created in the last ice age when a moraine blocked off the ability for the lake to empty north towards Winterthur...
, as well as the districts of Ober Balm, Unter Balm, Bussenhausen, Oberwil, Sulzberg, Hermatswil, Schür, Wallikon, Rick, Ravensbühl, and Faichrüti.
Demographics
Pfäffikon has a population (as of ) of . , 17.6% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. the gender distribution of the population was 49% male and 51% female. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 12.1%. Most of the population speaks German (86.9%), with Italian being second most common ( 4.6%) and Albanian being third ( 2.3%).In the 2007 election 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 37.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(15.4%), the CSP
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
(14.5%) and the Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
(10.7%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 23.5% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 62% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 14.5%. In Pfäffikon about 73.3% 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...
). There are 3954 households in Pfäffikon.
Pfäffikon has an unemployment rate of 2.52%. , there were 200 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 58 businesses involved in this sector. 1635 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 99 businesses in this sector. 2379 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 352 businesses in this sector. 50% of the working population were employed full-time, and 50% were employed part-time.
there were 2549 Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and 4771 Protestants
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in Pfäffikon. In the 2000 census, religion was broken down into several smaller categories. From the , 52.5% were some type of Protestant, with 48.6% belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church
Swiss 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...
and 4% belonging to other Protestant churches. 27.3% of the population were Catholic. Of the rest of the population, 0% were Muslim, 7.5% belonged to another religion (not listed), 2.4% did not give a religion, and 9.5% were atheist or agnostic.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1463 | 385 |
| 1634 | 786 |
| 1799 | 2,271 |
| 1850 | 2,896 |
| 1860 | 3,066 |
| 1900 | 2,986 |
| 1950 | 4,784 |
| 1970 | 7,586 |
| 2000 | 9,592 |
| 2005 | 9,920 |
Weather
Pfäffikon has an average of 139.3 days of rain per year and on average receives 1162 mm (45.7 in) of precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is August during which time Pfäffikon receives an average of 136 mm (5.4 in) of precipitation. During the wettest month, August, there is precipitation for an average of 12.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 13.4, but with only 112 mm (4.4 in) of precipitation.