Vorderhornbach's upswing: New life in the small village

Vorderhornbach's upswing: New life in the small village

The small community of Vorderhornbach, which is part of the picturesque Ausserfern, is showing positive development. In contrast to many other towns, this community is experiencing an increase in population.

In 2020, Vorderhornbach only had 258 citizens. At that time, several houses were empty and the construction of new apartments faced major hurdles in the form of a lack of land. To counteract this stagnating situation, the municipality chose an active approach: new building land was identified behind the municipal office, which was offered for sale. The new building area was not only aimed at local citizens, but also attracted interested parties from outside who appreciated the quiet, sunny location and wanted to take advantage of the attractive prices.

Population growth and new opportunities

"Currently 270 people live in our community. I am confident that this number will continue to rise," says the mayorGottfried Gintheroptimistic. This positive development not only has an impact on the demographic situation, but also secures the future of institutions such as elementary schools and kindergartens, whose continued existence was uncertain for a long time. The educational facilities now offer space for eleven school children and 12 children in kindergarten from Vorderhornbach and Hinterhornbach, which strengthens the community.

An important aspect of this development is the reawakening of life in the community. Mayor Ginther emphasizes that the new buildings are not the only measure. In order to revitalize the village community, empty buildings are also being renovated and inhabited. “The lights are on again in the houses, which is a huge difference from before,” he says, while pointing out the six properties in total that are either already inhabited or will soon be inhabited again.

Infrastructure & leisure activities

But the community is not just focusing on new buildings. The infrastructure is also being brought into shape. The new housing options are just one part of the investments necessary for a modern living environment. Particularly noteworthy is the excellent internet connection. Vorderhornbach can play a pioneering role here because the fiber optic lines have been laid across the board and around 70 percent of households are already benefiting from this modern technology.

The local clubs play an important role in creating an attractive leisure offer. The community's own “Badino”, a natural swimming pond, particularly contributes to this. Those who have visited the village recently cannot fail to notice the positive turnaround. It turns out that keeping a small village alive is a real challenge, but the progress and successes in Vorderhornbach prove that it is possible. “We are not a dying village!” Mayor Ginther summarizes the situation, and his words reflect the newfound confidence in the community.