Editing Belp

{{about|the place in Switzerland|assessment of subjective quality of life |Berliner Lebensqualitätsprofil}}
{{Infobox Swiss town
 | subject_name		= Belp
 | image_photo          = Belp vom Belpberg.jpg
 | municipality_type	= municipality
 | imagepath_flag	= CHE Belp Flag.svg
 | imagepath_coa	= CHE Belp BE COA.svg
 | pixel_coa        =
 | canton		= Bern
 | iso-code-region 	= CH-BE
 | district		= [[Seftigen (district)|Seftigen]]
 |coordinates = {{coord|46|53|N|7|30|E|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code		= 3123
 | municipality_code	= 0861
 | area			= 17.6
 | elevation		= 521|elevation_description= 
 | population      = 10974 | populationof = Dec 2011 | popofyear = 2011
 | website		= www.belp.ch
 | mayor		= |mayor_asof=|mayor_party=
 | mayor_title	= |list_of_mayors	= 
 | places		= 
 | demonym		= 
 | neighboring_municipalities= [[Allmendingen bei Bern|Allmendingen]], [[Belpberg]], [[Gerzensee]], [[Kehrsatz]], [[Münsingen]], [[Muri bei Bern]], [[Rubigen]], [[Toffen]], [[Wald, Bern|Wald]]
 | twintowns		= 
|}}

'''Belp''' is a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the [[Bern-Mittelland (administrative district)|Bern-Mittelland administrative district]] in the [[canton of Bern]] in [[Switzerland]]. It is close to [[Bern]]'s [[Belp Airport]]. The municipality of [[Belpberg]] merged on 1 January 2012 into the municipality of Belp.<ref name=Fusion>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office {{in lang|de}} accessed 21 December 2011</ref>

==History==
[[File:Lory, Ansicht von Belp.jpg|thumb|left|Painting by Gabriel Lory, Ansicht von Belp]]
[[File:Aberli, Belp 1757.jpg|thumb|left|Belp Castle in 1757]]
Belp is first mentioned in 1263 as ''Belpo''.<ref name=HDS/>

Scattered [[neolithic]] artifacts indicate that the Belp area was inhabited prehistorically. [[Bronze Age]] cemeteries and [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] artifacts show that there were villages near modern Belp before the [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman invasion]]. After the [[collapse of the Roman Empire]] the area may have been uninhabited, but by the [[High Middle Ages]] there were villages and wooden castles here. Very little is known about Fahrhubel Castle, located about {{convert|700|m|ft|sp=us}} north-west of the Hunzigenbrücke (Hunzigen Bridge), and it was eventually completely demolished.<ref name=HDS/>

Hohberg Castle, on the northern slope of the [[Belpberg]], was the ancestral seat of the [[Freiherr]]en of Belp-Montenach. It was built around 1135 and today only ruins remain.<ref name=Belp>[http://www.belp.ch/ortsplan-statistik-geschichte/geschichte.html Belp municipal website - History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105210442/http://www.belp.ch/ortsplan-statistik-geschichte/geschichte.html |date=2012-11-05 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 18 March 2014</ref> During the 12th and 13th centuries, the family expanded their authority from Belp to include neighboring villages. In 1277 they created the ''[[Herrschaft (territory)|Herrschaft]]'' of Belp to include all their estates and villages. Their expanding power brought them into conflict with the growing city-state of [[Bern]] and in 1298 Bern attacked Belp. At the Battle of Donnerbühl or Dornbühl in 1298 Bern destroyed the castle. Eight years later, in 1306, they forced the Freiherren of Belp-Montenach to become citizens of Bern and give up their independence. The ''Hölzernes Schloss'' or Wooden Castle was built in 1327 by the Freiherr in Belp village. By the late 14th century the male line of the Belp-Montenach family died out and Belp and the surrounding lands were acquired by a noble family in Bern. Over the following centuries, Belp passed through several noble families. In 1550-54 the von Luternau family built the Old Castle in the village across from the Wooden Castle. The Old Castle was the administrative seat of the ''Herrschaft'' during the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref>[http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/belpalt.html Swiss Castles.ch - Altes Schloss] {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 18 March 2014</ref>

By the 18th century, wealthy Bernese families began moving to Belp to escape the noise and crowding in the city. In 1735 Victor Fischer built [[Oberried Estate]] above the growing town. This estate was followed in 1740 by the ''Schlössli'' or ''Neues Schloss'' on Rubigenstrasse which was built for the historian Alexander Ludwig von Wattenwyl. Lindenegg Mansion was built in 1800.

The Wooden Castle was demolished in 1783. In 1721 the von Wattenwyl family acquired the ''Herrschaft'', which they ruled until the [[French invasion of Switzerland#Collapse|1798 French invasion]] and creation of the [[Helvetic Republic]] abolished the old aristocratic order. In 1810 the Canton of Bern bought the castle from Karl von Wattenwyl and used it as the center of the newly created Seftigen District.<ref name=HDS/>

The village church of St. Peter and Paul was first mentioned in 1228. It was probably established by the Freiherr of Belp. In 1334, [[Interlaken Monastery]] received the [[Jus patronatus|patronage rights]] over the church. In 1528, Bern adopted the new faith of the [[Protestant Reformation]] and Belp converted. After Bern forcefully secularized Interlaken Monastery, the patronage rights passed to Bern.<ref name=HDS/>

The [[Aare]] river correction of 1829-31 and the Gürbe river correction of 1855-60 helped open up new farmland and prevented devastating floods in the municipality. The river ferries were replaced with the Hunzigen or August Bridge in 1836. It was replaced with the larger Schützenfahr Bridge in 1883 and today is a covered pedestrian bridge. The Industrial Revolution reached Belp in 1844 when a cloth factory settled in the village. The factory operated until 1974. In 1928-29 the Belpmoos airport opened outside the town. It eventually grew into the [[Bern Airport|Bern-Belp Regional Airport]]. Today, almost two-thirds of the population commutes to jobs outside the municipality and about two-thirds of the jobs in Belp are in the services sector.<ref name=HDS/>

==Geography==
[[File:Belpberg und Gürbetal.jpg|thumb|550px|Belpberg and the Gürbetal (Gürbe Valley)]]

[[File:ETH-BIB-Belp-LBS H1-014183.tif|thumb|Aerial view (1952)]]

Before the merger Belp had an area, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, of {{convert|17.59|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. After the 2012 merger, Belp has an area of {{Swiss area|0861|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|0861|QUELLE}}<!--23.29 - 23.27 km2--> As of 2012, a total of {{convert|13.38|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 57.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|6.04|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 25.9% is forested.  The rest of the municipality is {{convert|3.31|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 14.2% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.49|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 2.1% is either rivers or lakes and {{convert|0.05|km2|acre|abbr=on}} or 0.2% is unproductive land.<ref name=BFS_land>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 25 March 2010</ref>

During the same year, housing and buildings made up 7.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 4.9%. A total of 24.6% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 39.1% is used for growing crops and 17.3% is pasturage, while 1.1% is used for orchards or vine crops. Of the water in the municipality, 0.3% is in lakes and 1.8% is in rivers and streams.<ref name=BFS_land/>

The municipality is located at the mouth of the [[Gürbetal]] and on the left bank of the [[Aare river]]. It includes the village of Belp, the [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]] of Viehweide, Heitern and Hofmatt. In recent years, a number of new developments have been built including Eissel (1956–75), Montenach (1960s), Schafmatt (1970s), Hühnerhubel (1980). The [[parish]] includes Belp, Belpberg and [[Toffen]]. It is home to the [[Bern Airport|Bern-Belp regional airport]].

On 1 January 2012 the former municipality of [[Belpberg]] merged into the municipality of Belp.<ref name=Mutation>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113231755/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html |date=2015-11-13 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 13 December 2014</ref>

On 31 December 2009 Amtsbezirk Seftigen, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113231755/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html |date=2015-11-13 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 April 2011</ref>

==Coat of arms==
The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is ''Quartered Gules and Argent.''<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-be302.html Flags of the World.com] accessed 18 March 2014</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:2010-03-28 Belp (Foto Dietrich Michael Weidmann) 165.jpg|thumb|Belp]]
[[File:Belp SW.JPG|thumb|View of Belp from the south-west]]
Belp has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-BE}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0861}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}} {{as of|2011}}, 11.8% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last year (2010-2011) the population has changed at a rate of 3.2%. Migration accounted for 2.5%, while births and deaths accounted for 0.4%.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=January 5, 2016 }} accessed 18 March 2014</ref>

Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[German language|German]] (8,505 or 92.5%) as their first language, [[French language|French]] is the second most common (107 or 1.2%) and [[Albanian language|Albanian]] is the third (107 or 1.2%). There are 103 people who speak [[Italian language|Italian]] and 5 people who speak [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=STAT2000/>

{{as of|2008}}, the population was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. The population was made up of 4,376 Swiss men (42.8% of the population) and 608 (5.9%) non-Swiss men. There were 4,679 Swiss women (45.8%) and 558 (5.5%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=BE_Stat>[http://www.fin.be.ch/de/index/finanzen/finanzen/publikationen/wohnbevoelkerung.html Statistical office of the Canton of Bern] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215012157/http://www.fin.be.ch/de/index/finanzen/finanzen/publikationen/wohnbevoelkerung.html |date=2012-02-15 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 January 2012</ref> Of the population in the municipality, 2,500 or about 27.2% were born in Belp and lived there in 2000. There were 3,908 or 42.5% who were born in the same canton, while 1,434 or 15.6% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 1,052 or 11.4% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>

{{as of|2011}}, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 20.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 62.2% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.5%.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 3,754 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 4,468 married individuals, 492 widows or widowers and 479 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 - 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809142611/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=August 9, 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011</ref>

{{as of|2010}}, there were 1,484 households that consist of only one person and 211 households with five or more people.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073036/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html |date=October 6, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2013</ref> {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 3,772 apartments (93.6% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 175 apartments (4.3%) were seasonally occupied and 84 apartments (2.1%) were empty.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB - Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 - Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907111534/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=September 7, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref> {{as of|2010}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 13 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, was 1.26%. In 2011, single family homes made up 48.4% of the total housing in the municipality.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Anteil Einfamilienhäuser am gesamten Gebäudebestand, 2011] accessed 17 June 2013</ref>

The historical population is given in the following chart:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|484|Belp}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930162751/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true |date=September 30, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 29 January 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Ständige Wohnbevölkerung in Privathaushalten nach Gemeinde und Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718073109/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html |date=July 18, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 12 August 2013</ref>
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 bar:1764 from:start till:789 text:"789"
 bar:1850 from:start till:1970 text:"1,970"
 bar:1860 from:start till:1867 text:"1,867"
 bar:1870 from:start till:2046 text:"2,046"
 bar:1880 from:start till:2069 text:"2,069"
 bar:1888 from:start till:2112 text:"2,112"
 bar:1900 from:start till:2343 text:"2,343"
 bar:1910 from:start till:2921 text:"2,921"
 bar:1920 from:start till:3235 text:"3,235"
 bar:1930 from:start till:3293 text:"3,293"
 bar:1941 from:start till:3593 text:"3,593"
 bar:1950 from:start till:4066 text:"4,066"
 bar:1960 from:start till:4922 text:"4,922"
 bar:1970 from:start till:6981 text:"6,981"
 bar:1980 from:start till:7578 text:"7,578"
 bar:1990 from:start till:8104 text:"8,104"
 bar:2000 from:start till:9193 text:"9,193"
 bar:2010 from:start till:10084 text:"10,084"
</timeline>

==Heritage sites of national significance==
The Bider-Hangar at the airport and [[Oberried Estate]] are listed as Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=de |access-date=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archive-date=28 June 2010 }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Biderhangar.jpg|Bider Hangar
File:Campagna Oberried01843.jpg|Oberried Estate
</gallery>

==Politics==
In the [[2011 Swiss federal election|2011 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Swiss People's Party|Swiss People's Party (SVP)]] which received 29.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]] (17.8%), the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|Conservative Democratic Party (BDP)]] (15.9%) and the [[FDP.The Liberals]] (7.9%). In the federal election, a total of 3,948 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 51.3%.<ref name=election_2011>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office 2011 Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114214422/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html |date=November 14, 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2012</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Skywork Q400 in Bern.jpg|thumb|Airport tower and a Sky Work [[Q400]] at Bern-Belp Airport]]
[[File:2010-03-28 Belp (Foto Dietrich Michael Weidmann) 171.jpg|thumb|Belp railroad station]]
[[Sky Work Airlines]] has its head office in Belp.<ref>"[http://www.flyskywork.com/73-1-Contact.html Contact] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102133929/http://www.flyskywork.com/73-1-Contact.html |date=2010-11-02 }}." SkyWork Airlines. Retrieved on 19 February 2012. "SkyWork Airlines AG Aemmenmattstrasse 43 CH-3123 Bern-Belp"</ref><ref>"[http://www.flyskywork.com/33-1-Legal-notice.html Legal notice] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101114730/http://www.flyskywork.com/33-1-Legal-notice.html |date=2010-11-01 }}." Sky Work Airlines. Retrieved on 19 February 2010. "Sky Work LTD. & Sky Work Airlines LTD. Aemmennmattstrasse 43 CH-3123 Belp"</ref> The head office of [[Heliswiss]] is located on the grounds of Bern Airport in Belp,<ref>"[http://www.heliswiss.com/en/belp/belp.htm Bern-Belp base] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711161653/http://www.heliswiss.com/en/belp/belp.htm |date=2011-07-11 }}." [[Heliswiss]]. Retrieved on 25 February 2011. "Heliswiss is an international helicopter company based at Bern-Belp Airport."</ref> and SkyWorks previously had its head office on the airport grounds.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20101102133929/http://www.flyskywork.com/73-1-Contact.html Contact]." SkyWork Airlines. Retrieved on 8 December 2010. "SkyWork Flughafen Bern-Belp Terminal Nord CH 3123 Bern-Belp."</ref><ref>"[http://www.flyskywork.com/34-1-Terms-and-conditions.html Terms and conditions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227075728/http://flyskywork.com/34-1-Terms-and-conditions.html |date=2010-12-27 }}." [[Sky Work Airlines]]. Retrieved on 8 December 2010. ""We", "our" "ourselves" and "us" means Sky Work Airlines Ltd., domiciled in Bern-Belp, Switzerland."</ref><ref>"[http://www.geomedia.ch/belportsplan/home/frame.asp?B=1024 Ortsplan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813104940/http://www.geomedia.ch/belportsplan/home/frame.asp?B=1024 |date=August 13, 2009 }}." Town of Belp. Retrieved on 8 December 2010.</ref>

{{as of|2011|In 2011}}, Belp had an unemployment rate of 2.02%. {{as of|2008}}, there were a total of 4,372 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 323 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 85 businesses involved in this sector. 1,147 people were employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there were 93 businesses in this sector. 2,902 people were employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 345 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 5,081 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 44.0% of the workforce.

{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} there were a total of 3,426 [[full-time equivalent]] jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 113, of which 108 were in agriculture, 4 were in forestry or lumber production and 1 was in fishing or fisheries. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 1,056 of which 686 or (65.0%) were in manufacturing and 340 (32.2%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 2,257. In the tertiary sector; 760 or 33.7% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 251 or 11.1% were in the movement and storage of goods, 134 or 5.9% were in a hotel or restaurant, 78 or 3.5% were in the information industry, 67 or 3.0% were the insurance or financial industry, 190 or 8.4% were technical professionals or scientists, 153 or 6.8% were in education and 403 or 17.9% were in health care.<ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1-3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=December 25, 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 2,464 workers who commuted into the municipality and 3,297 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 1.3 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering. A total of 1,784 workers (42.0% of the 4,248 total workers in the municipality) both lived and worked in Belp.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 26.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 46% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>

In 2011 the average local and cantonal tax rate on a married resident, with two children, of Belp making 150,000 [[Swiss franc|CHF]] was 11.6%, while an unmarried resident's rate was 17%.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Steuerbelastung, 2011 Politische Gemeinden] {{in lang|de}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref> For comparison, the average rate for the entire canton in the same year, was 14.2% and 22.0%, while the nationwide average was 12.3% and 21.1% respectively.<ref>[http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm Swiss Federal Tax Administration - Grafische Darstellung der Steuerbelastung 2011 in den Kantonen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062122/http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm |date=2013-10-16 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 17 June 2013</ref>

In 2009 there were a total of 4,678 tax payers in the municipality. Of that total, 1,787 made over 75,000 CHF per year. There were 31 people who made between 15,000 and 20,000 per year. The average income of the over 75,000 CHF group in Belp was 115,784 CHF, while the average across all of Switzerland was 130,478 CHF.<ref>[http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de Federal Tax Administration Report Direkte Bundessteuer - Natürliche Personen - Gemeinden - Steuerjahr 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006202236/http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de |date=October 6, 2014 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref>

In 2011 a total of 4.1% of the population received direct financial assistance from the government.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Bezüger/-innen von Sozialhilfeleistungen (Sozialhilfeempfänger/-innen), 2011] accessed 18 June 2013</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Belp Ref Kirche 6.jpg|thumb|Swiss Reformed church in Belp]]
From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 6,020 or 65.5% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]], while 1,277 or 13.9% were [[Roman Catholic]]. Of the rest of the population, there were 75 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|members of an Orthodox church]] (or about 0.82% of the population), there were 2 individuals (or about 0.02% of the population) who belonged to the [[Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland|Christian Catholic Church]], and there were 560 individuals (or about 6.09% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 9 individuals (or about 0.10% of the population) who were [[Judaism|Jewish]], and 307 (or about 3.34% of the population) who were [[Muslim]]. There were 22 individuals who were [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], 50 individuals who were [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and 7 individuals who belonged to another church. 585 (or about 6.36% of the population) belonged to no church, are [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 279 individuals (or about 3.03% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=STAT2000/>

==Climate==
Between 1981 and 2010 Belp had an average of 127.9 days of rain or snow per year and on average received {{convert|1143|mm|in|abbr=on}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. The wettest month was May during which time Belp received an average of {{convert|123|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain or snow. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 12.8 days. The driest month of the year was February with an average of {{convert|66|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation over 9.6 days.<ref name=MeteoSchweiz>{{cite web|url=http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/en/climate/swiss_climate/tabellen.html |title=Norm Values Tables, 1981-2010 |access-date=22 January 2013 |publisher=Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology - MeteoSwiss |language=de, fr, it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514205349/http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/en/climate/swiss_climate/tabellen.html |archive-date=14 May 2013 }}, the Belp weather station elevation is 515 meters above sea level.</ref>

==Education==
In Belp about 60.8% of the population have completed non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]], and 19.8% have completed additional higher education (either [[List of universities in Switzerland|university]] or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO/> Of the 1,183 who had completed some form of tertiary schooling listed in the census, 69.5% were Swiss men, 22.5% were Swiss women, 5.3% were non-Swiss men and 2.7% were non-Swiss women.<ref name=STAT2000/>

The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory [[Kindergarten]], followed by six years of Primary school. This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an [[apprenticeship]].<ref>{{Cite report |title=Kantonale Schulstrukturen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein / Structures Scolaires Cantonales en Suisse et Dans la Principauté du Liechtenstein |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author= EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |access-date= 24 June 2010 }}</ref>

During the 2011–12 school year, there were a total of 1,161 students attending classes in Belp. There were 8 kindergarten classes with a total of 140 students in the municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 20.0% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 11.4% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The municipality had 31 primary classes and 602 students. Of the primary students, 16.3% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 14.3% have a different mother language than the classroom language. During the same year, there were 22 lower secondary classes with a total of 411 students. There were 10.5% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 6.3% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The remainder of the students attend a private or special school.<ref name=School>[http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html Schuljahr 2011/12 pdf document] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602073606/http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html |date=2012-06-02 }}{{in lang|de}} accessed 9 May 2013</ref>

{{as of|2000|In 2000}}, there were a total of 949 students attending any school in the municipality. Of those, 876 both lived and attended school in the municipality, while 73 students came from another municipality. During the same year, 371 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>

Belp is home to the ''Gemeindebibliothek Belp'' (municipal library of Belp). The library has ({{as of|2008|lc=on}}) 13,040 books or other media, and loaned out 79,886 items in the same year. It was open a total of 312 days with average of 18 hours per week during that year.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, list of libraries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706231342/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html |date=2015-07-06 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 14 May 2010</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Bruno Messerli]] (1931 in Belp – 2019) a Swiss geographer and university professor, who focused on geographic high mountain research
* [[Rudolf Joder]] (born 1950) politician, member of the Swiss National Council and lawyer; lives in Belp
* [[Nicolas Bürgy]] (born 1995 in Belp) a Swiss footballer who plays for [[FC Thun]], over 50 club caps

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Switzerland}}
*[http://www.belp.ch/ Town of Belp] {{in lang|de}}
*{{HDS|484|Belp}}
{{commons category|Belp}}

{{Municipalities of the administrative district of Bern-Mittelland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of the canton of Bern]]
[[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Bern]]