Saanen

Saanen
Country Switzerland Canton Bern District Saanen 46°29′N 7°16′E / 46.483°N 7.267°E / 46.483; 7.267Coordinates: 46°29′N 7°16′E / 46.483°N 7.267°E / 46.483; 7.267
Population	6,874 (December 2007[update])
- Density	57 /km2 (148 /sq mi)
Area	120.06 km2 (46.36 sq mi)
Elevation	1,014 m (3,327 ft)
- Highest	2542 m - Giferhorn
- Lowest	985 m - Saane at Rüttischlucht
Postal code	3792 Saanen 3780 Gstaad 3777 Saanenmöser 3778 Schönried
SFOS number	0843
Localities	Gstaad, Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Kalberhöni, Saanen, Saanenmöser, Schönried, and Turbach
Surrounded by	Boltigen, Charmey (Gruyère) (FR), Château-d'Œx (VD), Gsteig bei Gstaad, Jaun (FR), Lauenen, Lenk im Simmental, Rougemont (VD), St. Stephan, Zweisimmen
Twin towns	Darmstadt (Germany), Cannes (France), Ordino/La Massana (Andorra)
Website	www.saanen.ch SFSO statistics
Saanen

Saanen

Saanen is a municipality in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of the same name.

Geography

Saanen has an area of 119.7 square kilometers (46.2 sq mi). Of this area, 52.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 33.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (9.4%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[1]

The villages Gstaad, Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Kalberhöni, Saanen, Saanenmöser, Schönried, and Turbach are part of the municipality.

Demographics

Saanen has a population (as of 2007^[update]) of 6,874, of which 23.7% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -1.3%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (82.1%), with French being second most common (3.6%) and Portuguese being third (3.5%).

In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 54.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (17.1%), the SPS (8%) and the local small left-wing parties (6.2%).

The age distribution of the population (as of 2000^[update]) is children and teenagers (0-19 years old) make up 24.3% of the population, while adults (20-64 years old) make up 60.3% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 15.4%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Saanen about 65.1% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).

Saanen has an unemployment rate of 1.95%. As of 2005^[update], there were 520 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 215 businesses involved in this sector. 1162 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 114 businesses in this sector. 3118 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 391 businesses in this sector.^[1]

Education

John F. Kennedy International School

John F. Kennedy International School is a private boarding school and summer camp located in Saanen. Originally, called Kinderheim Chalet Pfrundacker, the school later became known as John F. Kennedy International School.^[2] Founded in 1949 by Fred Sicking and his wife,^[2] the school is an accredited institution, with 75 boarding and day students, whose ages range from 5 to 14.^[3] It is an English language school and offers daily ski instruction in the Swiss Alps. JFK School has a student-teacher ratio of 3 to 1.

References

External links

• John F. Kennedy International School website
• Media related to Saanen at Wikimedia Commons

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