Innertkirchen is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

[4] It was formed from the farming settlements (Bäuerten) of Grund, Bottigen, Wyler-Schattseite, Wyler-Sonnseite and the agricultural cooperative of Äppigen.

During the Middle Ages a number of small farming communities developed in the high valleys and alpine meadows of the modern municipality.

In 1713, the communities of Innertkirchen united with the municipalities of Gadmen and Guttannen to form the parish of Hasle.

[4] After 1334 the communities banded together into Bäuerten to share and regulate usage of the seasonal alpine meadows and farm land.

Beginning in the 15th century the Bäuerten often squabbled with neighboring communities and Engelberg Abbey over land rights and the borders between municipalities.

An iron mine, blast furnace and forge were built in Wyler in the 16th century.

In 1814, the road from Meiringen through Innertkirchen and over the Susten Pass began to open up the villages to the outside world.

This coupled with a growing population and limited farmland forced many residents to emigrate to escape poverty and starvation.

In 1925, the Oberhasli AG company (later KWO) built power plants in the municipality, providing jobs and improving the standard of living.

[citation needed] Construction for the power plants also opened Innertkirchen up to tourism.

In 1713 Gadmen became part of the parish of Innertkirchen and in 1722 the chapel expanded into a filial church.

[5] The residents of the village generally lived on farming, seasonal alpine herding and from traffic over the Susten Pass.

During the 19th century, the farms became increasing mechanized and many residents were forced to emigrate to North America for jobs.

The construction of the Susten Road in 1939-45 opened up the village to tourism and provided additional jobs.

During construction and after its completion, the Oberhasli AG power plant became the largest employer in the municipality.

[7] The large alpine municipality is located at the confluence of the Urbach and Gadmer streams into the Aare river.

Innertkirchen was created out of the Bäuerten (farming communities) of Grund, Bottigen, Wyler-Schattseite, Wyler-Sonnseite and the agricultural cooperative of Äppigen in 1834.

Gadmen lies in the Bernese Oberland with the Susten Pass on the eastern border of the former municipality.

[3] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per chevron inverted Or an Eagle displayed Sable crowned of the first and Gules.

[16] The historical population is given in the following chart:[4][5][17] The Feldhaus Wyler Sunnsiten at Feldweg 6 and the saw mill at Uesers Milital 642 B are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance.

[19] The village has access to considerable reserves of running water and two hydropower plants provide around 1,500 million kWh of power per annum, as well as employment for 220 persons.

In the tertiary sector; 17 or 13.8% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 17 or 13.8% were in the movement and storage of goods, 44 or 35.8% were in a hotel or restaurant, 6 or 4.9% were the insurance or financial industry, 16 or 13.0% were technical professionals or scientists, 7 or 5.7% were in education and 8 or 6.5% were in health care.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

Construction of the proposed Grimsel Tunnel would provide additional train travel to the south towards Oberwald railway station.