View source for Oberaargau

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{coord|47|11|N|7|45|E|source:kolossus-eowiki|display=title}}
The '''Oberaargau''' is the region that encompasses the upper watershed of the [[Aar River]] in the canton of [[Bern (canton)|Bern]] in Switzerland. On the north, lie the [[Jura Mountains]], and on the south the hills leading to the [[Emmental]].

Administratively, the Oberaargau forms a district within the  ''region'' [[Emmental-Oberaargau]] of the [[canton of Bern]].
Historically (until 2009), the Oberaargau comprised the two administrative [[districts of Switzerland|district]]s of [[Wangen (district)|Wangen]] and [[Aarwangen (district)|Aarwangen]].

==Geography==
It lies in the extreme northeast corner of the canton and includes the districts of [[Aarwangen (district)|Aarwangen]] and [[Wangen (district)|Wangen]], and part of the district of [[Trachselwald (district)|Trachselwald]]. It is surrounded by the cantons of [[Solothurn (canton)|Solothurn]], [[Aargau]], and [[Lucerne (canton)|Lucerne]]. It is connected to the rest of the canton of Bern only in the south, where it borders on the Emmenthal.

The Oberaargau lies on the [[Swiss Plateau]] between the large population centers of [[Bern]] and [[Zürich]] and has therefore become a major thoroughfare for traffic running both east and west and north and south. The Aar River traverses it from west to east, and the primary motorway of Switzerland (the A1) and the main Bern-Zürich railway run through it, making it a central transport region.

The primary city is [[Langenthal, Switzerland|Langenthal]], and the towns of [[Herzogenbuchsee]], [[Wangen, Switzerland|Wangen]], and [[Aarwangen]] are important transportation centers. Since the building of the motorway, the primary economic development has taken place in the north, at the foot of the [[Jura Mountains]], particularly in the towns of [[Wiedlisbach]] and [[Niederbipp]].

The highest point in the Oberaargaus is the [[Höllchöpfli]] in the municipality of [[Rumisberg]], at 1231 meters, and the lowest point is on the Aare at [[Wynau]], at 405 meters.

==Administrative district==
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
 | official_name                  = Oberaargau District
 | native_name                    = Verwaltungskreis Oberaargau
 | settlement_type                = District
 | image_map                      = Karte Verwaltungskreis Oberaargau 2020.png
 | image_flag                     = CHE Wangen an der Aare Flag.svg
 | image_shield                   = CHE Wangen an der Aare COA.svg
 | subdivision_type               = Country
 | subdivision_name               = {{CHE}}
 | subdivision_type2              = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]]
 | subdivision_name2              = {{Flag|Bern}}
 | subdivision_type3              = Capital
 | subdivision_name3              = [[Wangen an der Aare]]
 | area_total_km2                 = {{Swiss area|B0244|km=on}}
 | area_footnotes                 = 
 | population_as_of 	          = {{Swiss populations Y|CH-BE|B0244}}
 | population_total 	          = {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|B0244}}
 | population_footnotes           = 
 | population_density_km2         = auto
 | timezone         	          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
 | utc_offset 	                  = +1
 | timezone_DST 	          = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
 | utc_offset_DST         	  = +2
 | blank_name_sec1                = Municipalities
 | blank_info_sec1                = 43
}}
The Oberaargau District in the [[Canton of Bern]] was created on 1 January 2010.<ref>{{Cite report |title= Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009 |url= http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.Document.128095.pdf |publisher= Federal Statistical Office |year= 2009 |access-date= 6 March 2010 |docket= 2776 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101118021059/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.Document.128095.pdf |archive-date= 18 November 2010}}</ref> It is part of the Emmental-Oberaargau administrative region and includes 45 municipalities over an area of {{Swiss area|B0244|mi=yes|year=yes}}, {{efn|Based on the 2004/09/16 survey{{Swiss area data||QUELLE}}}} and as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-BE|B0244}}, {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|B0244}} residents.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}}

{| class="wikitable"
! Border
!width="190" | Name
!width="100" | Population<br /><small>({{Swiss populations date|CH-BE}}){{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}}</small>
!width="100" | Area in km<sup>2</sup>{{Swiss area data||QUELLE}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Aarwangen COA.svg|35px|Aarwangen]]
| [[Aarwangen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0321}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0321|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Attiswil COA.svg|35px|Attiswil]]
| [[Attiswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0971}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0971|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Auswil COA.svg|35px|Auswil]]
| [[Auswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0322}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0322|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Bannwil-coat of arms.svg|35px|Bannwil]]
| [[Bannwil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0323}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0323|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Berken COA.svg|35px|Berken]]
| [[Berken]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0972}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0972|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Bettenhausen COA.svg|35px|Bettenhausen]]
| [[Bettenhausen BE|Bettenhausen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0973}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0973|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Bleienbach-coat of arms.svg|35px|Bleienbach]]
| [[Bleienbach]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0324}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0324|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Busswil bei Melchnau-coat of arms.svg|35px|Busswil bei Melchnau]]
| [[Busswil bei Melchnau]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0325}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0325|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Eriswil COA.svg|35px|Eriswil]]
| [[Eriswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0953}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0953|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Farnern COA.svg|35px|Farnern]]
| [[Farnern]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0975}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0975|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Gondiswil COA.svg|35px|Gondiswil]]
| [[Gondiswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0326}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0326|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Graben BE COA.svg|35px|Graben]]
| [[Graben BE|Graben]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0976}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0976|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Heimenhausen COA.svg|35px|Heimenhausen]]
| [[Heimenhausen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0977}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0977|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Herzogenbuchsee COA.svg|35px|Herzogenbuchsee]]
| [[Herzogenbuchsee]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0979}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0979|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Huttwil COA.svg|35px|Huttwil]]
| [[Huttwil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0954}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0954|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Inkwil COA.svg|35px|Inkwil]]
| [[Inkwil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0980}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0980|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Langenthal COA.svg|35px|Langenthal]]
| [[Langenthal]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0329}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0329|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Lotzwil COA.svg|35px|Lotzwil]]
| [[Lotzwil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0331}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0331|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Madiswil COA.svg|35px|Madiswil]]
| [[Madiswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0332}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0332|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Melchnau-coat of arms.svg|35px|Melchnau]]
| [[Melchnau]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0333}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0333|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Niederbipp-coat of arms.svg|35px|Niederbipp]]
| [[Niederbipp]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0981}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0981|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Niederönz COA.svg|35px|Niederönz]]
| [[Niederönz]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0982}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0982|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Oberbipp-coat of arms.svg|35px|Oberbipp]]
| [[Oberbipp]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0983}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0983|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Ochlenberg-coat of arms.svg|35px|Ochlenberg]]
| [[Ochlenberg]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0985}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0321|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Oeschenbach-coat of arms.svg|35px|Oeschenbach]]
| [[Oeschenbach]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0335}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0335|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Reisiswil-coat of arms.svg|35px|Reisiswil]]
| [[Reisiswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0336}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0336|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Roggwil BE COA.svg|35px|Roggwil]]
| [[Roggwil BE|Roggwil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0337}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0337|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Rohrbach COA.svg|35px|Rohrbach]]
| [[Rohrbach BE|Rohrbach]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0338}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0338|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Rohrbachgraben-coat of arms.svg|35px|Rohrbachgraben]]
| [[Rohrbachgraben BE|Rohrbachgraben]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0339}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0339|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Rumisberg-coat of arms.svg|35px|Rumisberg]]
| [[Rumisberg]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0987}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0987|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Rütschelen COA.svg|35px|Rütschelen]]
| [[Rütschelen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0340}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0340|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Schwarzhäusern COA.svg|35px|Schwarzhäusern]]
| [[Schwarzhäusern]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0341}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0341|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Seeberg COA.svg|35px|Seeberg]]
| [[Seeberg BE|Seeberg]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0988}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0988|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Thörigen-coat of arms.svg|35px|Thörigen]]
| [[Thörigen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0989}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0989|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Thunstetten COA.svg|35px|Thunstetten]]
| [[Thunstetten BE|Thunstetten]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0342}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0342|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Ursenbach-coat of arms.svg|35px|Ursenbach]]
| [[Ursenbach BE|Ursenbach]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0344}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0321|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Walliswil bei Niederbipp-coat of arms.svg|35px|Walliswil bei Niederbipp]]
| [[Walliswil bei Niederbipp]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0990}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0321|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Walliswil bei Wangen COA.svg|35px|Walliswil bei Wangen]]
| [[Walliswil bei Wangen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0991}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0321|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Walterswil-coat of arms.svg|35px|Walterswil]]
| [[Walterswil BE|Walterswil]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0959}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0959|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:CHE Wangen an der Aare COA.svg|35px|Wangen an der Aare]]
| '''[[Wangen an der Aare]]''' || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0992}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0992|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Wiedlisbach-coat of arms.svg|35px|Wiedlisbach]]
| [[Wiedlisbach]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0995}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0995|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Wynau-coat of arms.svg|35px|Wynau]]
| [[Wynau]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0345}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0345|km=on}}
|-
| align="center" | [[Image:Wyssachen-coat of arms.svg|35px|Wyssachen]]
| [[Wyssachen]] || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0960}}
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|0960|km=on}}
|- style="background-color:#EFEFEF;"
| || '''Total''' || align="center" | {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|B0244}} 
| align="center" | {{Swiss area|B0244|km=on}}
|}

==Mergers==
*On 1 January 2021 the former municipality of [[Obersteckholz]] merged into Langenthal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.agvchapp.bfs.admin.ch/de/home |title=Applikation der Schweizer Gemeinden |year=2021 | work=bfs.admin.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |access-date= 26 January 2021}}</ref>
*On 1 January 2024 the former municipality of [[Wangenried]] merged into Wangen an der Aare.

==History==
The region was already known as the Oberaargau in the early [[Middle Ages]] (in [[Latin (language)|Latin]] ''superior pagus Aragauginsis''). However, this concept also included the Emmenthal.

In the [[High Middle Ages]], the area was divided among the counts of Froburg, Aarwangen (later Grünenberg), Zähringen (later the [[Habsburg]]s).

As the political influence of the city of Bern increased in the late Middle Ages, the Oberaargau came more and more into its sphere of influence. In the 15th century, Bern conquered both the Oberaargau and the [[Unteraargau]] and ruled them as one.

When Bern lost its old power in 1798, the Unteraargau became the modern canton of Aargau. The boundary between the Oberaargau and Unteraargau was fixed in 1798 along the [[Wigger River]]. In 1802, however, it was shifted west to [[Murg (Aare)|Murg]] river. This action was confirmed by the [[Act of Mediation]] of [[Napoleon]] in 1803 and the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815.

==References==
;Notes
{{notelist}}
;Citations
{{Reflist}}

== External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050304033253/http://www.oberaargau.ch/ Regional Web site (in German)]
*{{HLS|10295}}
{{Administrative districts of the canton of Bern}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Regions of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Geography of Switzerland]]