Dorf is a municipality in the district of Andelfingen in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. The German word Dorf means “village”; consequently, the name is shared by many settlements in German‑speaking regions, but Dorf is the only Swiss municipality bearing this name alone.
Geography
- Coordinates: 47°34.319′ N 8°38.882′ E (47.571983° N, 8.648033° E)
- Area: 5.55 km² (2.14 sq mi)
- Elevation: 426 m (1,398 ft) above sea level
- Land use (as of the latest survey):
- 52.7 % agricultural
- 40.6 % forested
- 6.7 % settled (buildings and roads)
- Location: Situated at the entrance to the Flaacker river valley, Dorf is bordered by the municipalities of Andelfingen, Buch am Irchel, Humlikon, Neftenbach, and Volken.
History
- First documented mention in 1044 under the name Dorf (the surviving reference is a copy from 1347).
- Historically part of the parish of Andelfingen until 1699, when it became an independent Protestant parish.
Demographics
- Population (31 December 2020): 666 inhabitants, yielding a density of approximately 120 persons per km².
- Foreign nationals: 6.7 % (as of 2007).
- Population growth: 20.3 % increase over the ten years preceding 2007.
- Language distribution (2000 census):
- German: 95.4 % (primary language)
- English: 1.3 %
- Serbo‑Croatian: 1.3 %
- Age structure (2000):
- 0–19 years: 27.3 %
- 20–64 years: 63.9 %
- 65 years and over: 8.8 %
- Education (ages 25–64): 84.6 % have completed non‑mandatory upper secondary education or higher education (university or Fachhochschule).
Economy
- Unemployment rate: 1.2 % (as of 2005).
- Economic sectors (2005 data):
- Primary (agriculture): 27 persons employed across 11 businesses.
- Secondary (manufacturing and construction): 11 persons employed in 5 businesses.
- Tertiary (services): 41 persons employed in 12 businesses.
- Commuting patterns: 73 residents work outside the municipality, while 22 workers commute into Dorf.
Politics
- 2007 federal election results:
- Swiss People’s Party (SVP): 55.5 % of the vote
- Social Democratic Party (SPS): 9.5 %
- Local small left‑wing parties: 9.0 %
- Christian Social Party (CSP): 8.5 %
Administration
- Postal code: 8458
- Municipality code (SFOS): 26
- ISO code region: CH‑ZH
- Official website: www.dorf.ch
Notable Features
- The municipality’s coat of arms and flag incorporate traditional heraldic elements typical of Swiss local symbols.
- The surrounding landscape combines agricultural fields, forested hills, and the Flaacker river valley, offering a typical rural setting within the canton of Zürich.