Crana
Encyclopedia
Crana is a village and former municipality in the district of Locarno
in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland
.
In 1995 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Comologno
and Russo
to form a new and larger municipality Onsernone
.
During the Ancien Régime
, Crana belonged to the Squadra of Crana which included the territory of Vocaglia, Comologno and Spruga, and was part of the old municipality of Onsernone. The modern village was created during the institutional changes of the Act of Mediation
in 1803. Crana is known for the over 5,000 holders of heimatrecht
in the village. The heimatrecht is similar to place of birth
in other countries, and the heimatort is used on Swiss passports. A person maintains their heimatort regardless of whether they have ever lived in the municipality. The reason for the high number of heimatrecht holders is that the village sold the heimatrecht, which conferred local citizenry (and thus Swiss citizenship) to help make up for the low village income.
The parish
was created in 1787 when the village split away from the Russo parish. The Church of SS Peter and Paul was built in 1676.
The present population is made up of retirees and commuters who work in the Onsernone valley and in the agglomeration
of Locarno
.
Locarno (district)
The district of Locarno is a district of Canton Ticino, Switzerland. It has a population of .-Geography:...
in the canton of Ticino, 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....
.
In 1995 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Comologno
Comologno
Comologno is a village and former municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.In 1995 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Crana and Russo to form a new and larger municipality Onsernone....
and Russo
Russo, Switzerland
Russo is a village and former municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.In 1995 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Comologno and Crana to form a new and larger municipality Onsernone....
to form a new and larger municipality Onsernone
Onsernone
Onsernone is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Ticino, near the city of Locarno. The river Isorno runs through this valley.The municipality was created in 1995 by a merger of Comologno, Crana and Russo.-History:...
.
History
Crana is first mentioned in 1228 as Grana'. In 1265 it was mentioned as Crana.During the Ancien Régime
Early Modern Switzerland
The early modern history of the Old Swiss Confederacy , lasting from formal independence in 1648 to the French invasion of 1798 came to be referred as Ancien Régime retrospectively, in post-Napoleonic Switzerland.The early modern period was characterized by an increasingly...
, Crana belonged to the Squadra of Crana which included the territory of Vocaglia, Comologno and Spruga, and was part of the old municipality of Onsernone. The modern village was created during the institutional changes of the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
in 1803. Crana is known for the over 5,000 holders of heimatrecht
Bürgergemeinde
The Bürgergemeinde is a statutory corporation in public law in Switzerland...
in the village. The heimatrecht is similar to place of birth
Place of birth
The place of birth is the place where a person was born. This place is often used in legal documents, together with name and date of birth, to uniquely identify a person. The place of birth is not necessarily the place where the parents of the new baby live. If the baby is born in a hospital in...
in other countries, and the heimatort is used on Swiss passports. A person maintains their heimatort regardless of whether they have ever lived in the municipality. The reason for the high number of heimatrecht holders is that the village sold the heimatrecht, which conferred local citizenry (and thus Swiss citizenship) to help make up for the low village income.
The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was created in 1787 when the village split away from the Russo parish. The Church of SS Peter and Paul was built in 1676.
The present population is made up of retirees and commuters who work in the Onsernone valley and in the agglomeration
Agglomeration
In the study of human settlements, an urban agglomeration is an extended city or town area comprising the built-up area of a central place and any suburbs linked by continuous urban area. In France, INSEE the French Statistical Institute, translate it as "Unité urbaine" which means continuous...
of Locarno
Locarno
Locarno is the capital of the Locarno district, located on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino, close to Ascona at the foot of the Alps. It has a population of about 15,000...
.
Historic population
The historical population is given in the following table:| Year | Population Crana |
|---|---|
| 1795 | 134 |
| 1808 | 138 |
| 1850 | 185 |
| 1900 | 303 |
| 1950 | 134 |
| 1960 | 87 |
| 1990 | 49 |