and 19th centuries, Walkringen's location on the road helped turn it into a center of the canvas weaving industry. As the textile industry began to decline, saw mills and other industries moved in. Several projects drained the bogs and marshes in 1848 and further in 1944, which opened up new farm land. A railroad station on the Burgdorf-Thun line opened in 1899. The municipality has grown into regional center with the Friederika Foundation jobs training center, a conference center for the parish, the Sunnegg group home and employment center as well as a nursing home. There are school buildings in all three villages; Walkringen, Wikartswil and Bigenthal.