Editing Grossaffoltern (section)

==History==
[[File:Düngerfarbrik.JPG|thumb|left|Hauert's fertilizer factory around 1960]]
Grossaffoltern is first mentioned in 1216 as ''Affoltron''.<ref name=HDS/>

The oldest evidence of humans in the Grossaffoltern area are [[neolithic]] objects at Vorimholz, an Early [[Bronze Age]] ax blade depot at Munimatte and Bronze Age items at Kosthofen.  There are at least 38 [[Hallstatt culture|Hallstatt era]] [[tumulus|grave mounds]] scattered around the municipality.  The area was also inhabited during the [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman era]] and the [[Early Middle Ages]].  During the Middle Ages it was owned by the [[House of Zähringen]] until that family died out, when it was inherited by the [[House of Kyburg|Kyburgs]].  Under the Zähringens and the Kyburgs, during the 13th and 14th centuries, it was part of the district of [[Oltigen]].  In 1412, Grossaffoltern and the surrounding villages came under [[Bern]]ese control.  It was originally part of the [[bailiwick]] of Oltigen until that was dissolved in 1483, when it became part of the bailiwick of [[Aarberg]] allocated.  Under the [[Helvetic Republic]], in 1798, Grossaffoltern was in the [[Zollikofen]] district before switching back to the Aarberg district in 1803.<ref name=HDS/>

The village church of St. Stephen was first mentioned in 1275.  The current church building is from 1510 to 1524, though it was built on top of the foundations of two 12th or 13th century churches.  The church tower is from the 14th century.  In 1383 it was given by Anna of Kyburg-Nidau to the monastery of Klingental near Basel.  The monastery sold the church in 1416 to the [[Abbey of Frienisberg]].  Under Frienisberg it became the [[parish church]] of the local [[parish]] in 1451.  The parish came under Bernese control in 1528.<ref name=HDS/>

Even today, the economy of municipality remains strongly agrarian.  In 1835-44 the cantonal road from Bern to [[Biel/Bienne]] was built passing through Grossaffoltern.  This was followed in 1864 by a railroad and in 1983 by a [[highway]], all of which boosted the local economy.  Due to the good transportation connections, starting the 1960s, the number of commuters living in Grossaffoltern rose sharply.  In 1967, Grossaffoltern and six surrounding villages merged into a single municipality to streamline government and centralize services.<ref name=HDS/>