Zollikofen

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Zollikofen is a small municipality in the Bern-Mittelland district in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It lies just outside the city of Bern and serves as a quiet suburb with its own local government and schools. The Swiss College of Agriculture (SHL) is located here.

Area and geography
Zollikofen covers 5.39 square kilometers and sits at about 557 meters above sea level. The land is a mix of farms, forests, and built-up areas. Roughly 44% of the land is used for farming, about 12% is forested, and around 42% is settled with buildings and roads. The area also includes rivers and streams.

Population and language
As of 2018, about 10,300 people lived in Zollikofen, with the population around 10,600 by 2020. The vast majority speak German. A small number speak Italian or French, and a portion of residents are foreign nationals.

Economy and housing
Zollikofen has a busy service sector, some manufacturing, and agricultural activity. In recent years, many residents commute to work in nearby Bern and other towns. The town provides local schools and services to residents, with housing and development closely linked to the broader Bern area.

Heritage and notable sites
Two sites in Zollikofen are listed as Swiss heritage notables: the Archiv Schweizer Milchproduzenten (Archive of Swiss Milk Producers) and Reichenbach Castle. The hamlet of Büelikofen/Graben is also recognized for its heritage. The Bern Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is nearby in Münchenbuchsee, with Zollikofen as its postal address.

Transport
Zollikofen has four railway stations and good connections to Bern, Biel/Bienne, Thun, and Worblaufen. The town sits on both standard- and narrow-gauge lines, making it easy to travel to the city and surrounding areas.

Education
Zollikofen follows the Canton Bern school system, with kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary schools. In the 2009–10 school year, about 1,081 students attended local classes. The SHL library in Zollikofen serves students and researchers with thousands of books and media.

Local government
The municipality is governed by a seven-member council. The mayor (as of the information available) was Daniel Bichsel. Zollikofen is part of the Bern-Mittelland district and works closely with nearby communities to provide services to residents.