Erschwil | ||
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Erschwil village church
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Coordinates: 47°22′N 7°32′E / 47.367°N 7.533°ECoordinates: 47°22′N 7°32′E / 47.367°N 7.533°E | ||
Country | Switzerland | |
Canton | Solothurn | |
District | Thierstein | |
Area | ||
• Total | 7.43 km2 (2.87 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 447 m (1,467 ft) | |
Population (Dec 2015) | ||
• Total | 903 | |
• Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) | |
Postal code | 4228 | |
SFOS number | 2615 | |
Surrounded by | Beinwil, Büsserach, Grindel, Meltingen, Montsevelier (JU) | |
Website |
http://www.erschwil.ch SFSO statistics |
Erschwil is a municipality in the district of Thierstein in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.
Erschwil was first mentioned in 1147 as Hergiswilre.
Erschwil has an area, as of 2009[update], of 7.43 square kilometers (2.87 sq mi). Of this area, 2.58 km2 (1.00 sq mi) or 34.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi) or 57.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi) or 7.1% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.02 km2 (4.9 acres) or 0.3% is either rivers or lakes and 0.02 km2 (4.9 acres) or 0.3% is unproductive land.
Of the built up area, housing and buildings make up 3.0% and transportation infrastructure makes up 3.0%. Out of the forested land, 54.9% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 2.2% is used for growing crops and 30.1% is pastures, while 1.7% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.
The municipality is located in the Thierstein district. It is an elongated village on both sides of the Lüssel river.
The blazon of the municipality coat of arms is Or a Pick and a Smith's Hammer Sable in Saltire.
Erschwil has a population (as of December 2015[update]) of 903. As of 2008[update], 5.2% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1999–2009 ) the population has changed at a rate of -1.9%. It has changed at a rate of -1.2% due to migration and at a rate of -0.2% due to births and deaths.
Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speak German (894 or 96.0%), with French being the second most common (12 or 1.3%) and Serbo-Croatian being third (7 or 0.8%).