Splügen
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| Splügen | ||||||||||
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| Population | 421 (December 2007[update]) | |||||||||
| - Density | 7 /km2 (18 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 60.49 km2 (23.36 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 1,475 m (4,839 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 7435 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Walter Mengelt | |||||||||
| Localities | Medels im Rheinwald | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Madesimo (IT-SO), Mesocco, Nufenen, Safien, Sufers | |||||||||
| Website | www.gemeinde-spluegen.ch | |||||||||
  Splügen
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Splügen is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2006 Splügen incorporated its neighbouring municipality of Medels im Rheinwald.
In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen.
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[edit] History
Splügen is first mentioned about 840 as cella in Speluca.[1]
[edit] Geography
Splügen has an area, as of 2006[update], of 60.5 square kilometers (23.4 sq mi). Of this area, 38.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (42.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[2]
The municipality is located in the Rheinwald sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district. It consists of the village of Splügen and since 1 January 2006, Medels im Rheinwald. It is a haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) located on a ridge between the Splügen pass and San Bernardino pass.
The Splügen Pass road leads from Splügen to Chiavenna and rises to a height of 2,020 meters (6,627 ft). The Italian name for the pass is Passo della Spluga.
[edit] Demographics
Splügen has a population (as of 2007[update]) of 421, of which 10.7% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -8.3%.[2]
As of 2000[update], the gender distribution of the population was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.[3] The age distribution, as of 2000[update], in Splügen is; 25 people or 13.2% of the population are between 0 to 9 years old. 22 people or 11.6% are 10 to 14, and 3 people or 1.6% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 8 people or 4.2% of the population are between 20 to 29 years old. 35 people or 18.5% are 30 to 39, 20 people or 10.6% are 40 to 49, and 15 people or 7.9% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 28 people or 14.8% of the population are between 60 to 69 years old, 21 people or 11.1% are 70 to 79, there are 11 people or 5.8% who are 80 to 89, and there are 1 people or 0.5% who are 90 to 99.[4]
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 47.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (23.4%), the SPS (22.6%) and the CVP (6.2%).[2]
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Splügen about 67.6% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).[2]
Splügen has an unemployment rate of 0.33%. As of 2005[update], there were 39 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 16 businesses involved in this sector. 27 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 150 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 30 businesses in this sector.[2]
The historical population is given in the following table:[1]
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1690 | 360 |
| 1850 | 494 |
| 1900 | 373 |
| 1930 | 336 |
| 1950 | 387 |
| 2000 | 365 |
[edit] Languages
Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (89.8%), with Italian being second most common ( 2.7%) and Portugese being third ( 2.4%).[2]
| Languages in Splügen | ||||||
| Languages | Census 1980 | Census 1990 | Census 2000 | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| German | 350 | 84.34% | 364 | 87.71 % | 369 | 89.78 % |
| Romanish | 30 | 7.23 % | 18 | 4.34 % | 8 | 1.95 % |
| Italian | 20 | 4.82 % | 9 | 2.17 % | 11 | 2.68 % |
| Population | 415 | 100 % | 415 | 100 % | 411 | 100 % |
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Skiing
Splugen, in the winter, is a ski resort with a lift going in the direction of the Splügen Pass.
[edit] Heritage sites of national significance
The former Säumerherberge (seamstress hostel) Weiss Kreuz is listed as a Swiss heritage sites of national significance.[5]
[edit] Wakker Prize
In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen. The prize description notes that Splügen had reached a notable compromise between preservation and tourism. The old town was strictly protected to maintain the original appearance, while rational zone planning allowed development to occur outside the old village.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Splügen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- ^ a b c d e f Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 06-Oct-2009
- ^ Graubunden in Numbers (German) accessed 21 September 2009
- ^ Graubunden Population Statistics (German) accessed 21 September 2009
- ^ Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance 21.11.2008 version, (German) accessed 06-Oct-2009
- ^ Swiss Heritage Society (German) accessed 6 October 2009
- This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.
[edit] External links
- Official Web site
Media related to Splügen at Wikimedia Commons- Kurt Wanner: Splügen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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