Alvaschein
Encyclopedia
Alvaschein is a municipality
in the district of Albula
in the canton
of Graubünden
in Switzerland
.
Description: divided between black and silver (white); a broken silver key on the black ground, and a black carpenter's axe on the silver ground. The key and axe are references to the church patrons: St. Peter in Mistail and St. Joseph in Alvaschein.
The municipality is located in the Alvaschein sub-district of the Albula District. It is located along the route to the Julier
and Albula Pass
es on a terrace which is north-east of the Albula river.
, Lantsch/Lenz
, Stierva
, Tiefencastel
, and Vaz/Obervaz
.
, the population of Alvaschein belonged to those municipalities in the canton that remained true to the "old teachings." Today (as of 2000) 73.38% are Roman Catholic, 14.94% are Protestant, 1.95% are Orthodox Christians; 2.6% are Muslim
, 1.95% are atheist, and 4.55% did not respond.
and Serbia and Montenegro
.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 39.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
(29.4%), the FDP
(17.8%) and the SPS
(13.6%).
).
Alvaschein has an unemployment rate of 0.35%. , there were 14 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 6 businesses involved in this sector. 14 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 2 businesses in this sector. 21 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 8 businesses in this sector.
. The village church is named St. Joseph and was erected between 1653 and 1657.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the district of Albula
Albula (district)
Albula District is one of the eleven administrative districts in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It has an area of 723.13 km² and has a population of ....
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Coat of arms
Geography
Alvaschein has an area, , of 4.1 km² (1.6 sq mi). Of this area, 31.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 58.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 7.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.2%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The municipality is located in the Alvaschein sub-district of the Albula District. It is located along the route to the Julier
Julier Pass
The Julier Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, in the Albula Range of the Alps. It connects the Engadin valley with the rest of Graubünden...
and Albula Pass
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
es on a terrace which is north-east of the Albula river.
Neighboring municipalities
Alvaschein borders on Brienz/BrinzaulsBrienz/Brinzauls
Brienz/Brinzauls is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.The majority of the population is German-speaking, with a large Romansh-speaking minority.-Geography:...
, Lantsch/Lenz
Lantsch/Lenz
Lantsch/Lenz is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.The majority of its population is Romansh-speaking.-Geography:...
, Stierva
Stierva
Stierva is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.In the 2000 census, some two-thirds of the population declared Romansh as a first language, with most of the rest speaking German.-History:...
, Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Tiefencastel is first mentioned in 831 as in Castello Impitinis. Starting around in the 14th Century it was known as Tüffenkasten.-Geography:Tiefencastel has an area, , of...
, and Vaz/Obervaz
Vaz/Obervaz
Vaz/Obervaz is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.The municipality of Vaz/Obervaz includes the following villages: Lain, Muldain, Zorten, Lenzerheide, and Valbella, as well as the hamlets of Nivaigl, Fuso, Trantermoira, Sporz, Tgantieni, Sartons,...
.
Population growth
The population was relatively stable in the second half of the 19th century (lowest value: 137; highest value: 156). The all-time high came in 1900, when the population reached 276. However, many of these were laborers working on the Abula train line. For the same reason (construction) the population was above average in 1970. Between 1900 and 1930 the population rose slightly, remained stable for two decades, and then fell in the 1980s. Since then the population has oscillated about 150. Alvaschein has a population (as of ) of . , 4.1% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -17.1%.| Population Growth | |
|---|---|
| Year | Population |
| 1850 | 156 |
| 1860 | 137 |
| 1888 | 144 |
| 1900 | 276 |
| 1910 | 165 |
| 1930 | 208 |
| 1950 | 208 |
| 1970 | 235 |
| 1980 | 149 |
| 2004 | 149 |
Languages
The original majority language was Romansh; today only a minority still speak it. Most of the population speaks German (53.2%), with Romansh being second most common (40.3%) and Italian being third ( 3.2%).| Languages in Alvaschein | |||||||
| Language | 1980 Census | 1990 Census | 2000 Census | ||||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
| German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... |
73 | 48.99% | 64 | 44.13% | 82 | 53.25% | |
| Romansh | 71 | 47.65% | 67 | 46.21% | 62 | 40.26% | |
| Italian Italian language Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia... |
5 | 3.36% | 2 | 1.38% | 5 | 3.25% | |
| Population | 149 | 100% | 145 | 100% | 154 | 100% | |
Religion
At the time of the ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the population of Alvaschein belonged to those municipalities in the canton that remained true to the "old teachings." Today (as of 2000) 73.38% are Roman Catholic, 14.94% are Protestant, 1.95% are Orthodox Christians; 2.6% are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, 1.95% are atheist, and 4.55% did not respond.
Origin-nationality
Of the 149 inhabitants at the end of 2004, 144 (96.64%) were Swiss citizens. At the time of the last census 92.86% were Swiss citizens, of whom eight were dual citizens. The few immigrants come from no less than eight foreign countries, including, most prominently, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
.
Politics
The current Municipal President is Hans Peter Salzburger.In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 39.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(29.4%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(17.8%) and the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(13.6%).
Education
In Alvaschein about 56.1% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a FachhochschuleFachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
Economy
In 2000/2001 there were 17 work places in Alvaschein, at which 50 people earned their income. By economic sector (# of work places/ # of employees): Agriculture and Forestry (7/17), Industry and Trade (3/20), services (7/13).Alvaschein has an unemployment rate of 0.35%. , there were 14 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 6 businesses involved in this sector. 14 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 2 businesses in this sector. 21 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 8 businesses in this sector.
History
The first mention of the municipality came in 1154, on the occasion of the construction of nunnery named Alvasinis. It became subordinate to the Princes-Bishop of Chur in 1282. In 1367 it belonged to the municipality of Gotteshausband. The inhabitants finally bought their freedom from the Princes-Bishop in 1732. Nearly the whole community was destroyed in a fire in 1745. It has been the seat of the district of the same name since 1851.Attractions
The biggest attraction is the Carolingian-era church of St. Peter Mistail, which is a monument of cultural and historical meaning to Europe and is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
. The village church is named St. Joseph and was erected between 1653 and 1657.