St. Martin, Graubünden
Encyclopedia
St. Martin is a municipality
in the district of Surselva
in the Swiss
canton
of Graubünden
.
immigrants. Initially it was a held in fief for the Bishop of Chur
by the von Tersnaus
and von Mont families. In 1457 the German speaking population was forbidden from purchasing land or marrying in the neighboring village of Tersnaus. The village church (conscrated 1345) was initially under the parish church
of St. Vinzenz in Pleif (in Vella
municipality), but in 1528 came under the authority of Tersnaus. After 1776, St. Martin's village church had a German speaking Prebend
though in 1868 it fell back under the authority of Tersnaus.
By 1671 the farm houses of St. Martin's were a neighborhood in Tersnaus, and in 1878 the municipality separated from Tersnaus to become politically independent. The municipality remained firmly rural, and in 1972-73 became the last municipality in Switerland to be connected to the electric grid
.
represents the name of the municipality, while the seven stars represent the seven hamlets that make up the municipality.
The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district. It is a scattered settlement on the steep slopes above both sides of the Valser Rhine
canyon at an elevation of between 1000 and 1700 m (3,280.8 and 5,577.4 ft). The majority German speaking village marks the language border between German and Romansh in the valley. It consists of hamlets
of St. Martin, Lunschania (post office), Bucarischuna, Munt, Gadenstatt, Mariaga and Travisasch. The additional hamlets of Feistenberg, Haspel and Montaschg are all abandoned.
, the gender distribution of the population was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. The age distribution, , in St. Martin is; 7 children or 19.4% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 4 teenagers or 11.1% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, people or 0.0% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 6 people or 16.7% are between 30 and 39, 6 people or 16.7% are between 40 and 49, and 3 people or 8.3% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 3 people or 8.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 5 people or 13.9% are between 70 and 79, there is 1 person who is between 80 and 89, and there is 1 person who is between 90 and 99.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the CVP
which received 67.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP
(20%), the SVP
(12.7%) and the SP
(0%).
In St. Martin about 40% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
St. Martin has an unemployment rate of 0%. , there were 13 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 7 businesses involved in this sector. 1 person is employed in the secondary sector and there is 1 business in this sector. No one is employed in the tertiary sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
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 Surselva
Surselva (district)
Surselva District is an administrative district in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has an area of and has a population of ....
in the Swiss
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....
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...
.
History
The village was settled around the 14th Century by WalserWalser
The Walser are German-speaking people who live in the Alps of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Austria. The Walser people are named after the Wallis , the uppermost Rhône River valley...
immigrants. Initially it was a held in fief for the Bishop of Chur
Bishop of Chur
The Bishop of Chur is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chur, Grisons, Switzerland .-History:...
by the von Tersnaus
Suraua
Suraua is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The municipality was formed on January 1, 2002 through the union of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden.-History:...
and von Mont families. In 1457 the German speaking population was forbidden from purchasing land or marrying in the neighboring village of Tersnaus. The village church (conscrated 1345) was initially under the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St. Vinzenz in Pleif (in Vella
Vella
Vella is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:While there is some evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th Centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle...
municipality), but in 1528 came under the authority of Tersnaus. After 1776, St. Martin's village church had a German speaking Prebend
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
though in 1868 it fell back under the authority of Tersnaus.
By 1671 the farm houses of St. Martin's were a neighborhood in Tersnaus, and in 1878 the municipality separated from Tersnaus to become politically independent. The municipality remained firmly rural, and in 1972-73 became the last municipality in Switerland to be connected to the electric grid
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
.
Coat of arms
The municipal coat of arms is Azure, Saint Martin statant clad as bishop argent and or holding in his dexter hand a crosier and his sinister hand raised in blessing, between seven mullets of the last. Saint MartinMartin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
represents the name of the municipality, while the seven stars represent the seven hamlets that make up the municipality.
Geography
St. Martin has an area, , of 22.9 km² (8.8 sq mi). Of this area, 29% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (38.2%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district. It is a scattered settlement on the steep slopes above both sides of the Valser Rhine
Valser Rhine
The Valser Rhine is a source of the river Rhine in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The river originates from the Länta glacier and the Grauhorn glacier at the northern foot of the Rheinwaldhorn and initially flows through the Länta valley before it flows into the Zervreilasee reservoir...
canyon at an elevation of between 1000 and 1700 m (3,280.8 and 5,577.4 ft). The majority German speaking village marks the language border between German and Romansh in the valley. It consists of hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of St. Martin, Lunschania (post office), Bucarischuna, Munt, Gadenstatt, Mariaga and Travisasch. The additional hamlets of Feistenberg, Haspel and Montaschg are all abandoned.
Demographics
St. Martin has a population (as of ) of all Swiss citizens Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -6.8%. Most of the population speaks German (86.1%), with the rest speaking Romansh (13.9%)., the gender distribution of the population was 48.8% male and 51.2% female. The age distribution, , in St. Martin is; 7 children or 19.4% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 4 teenagers or 11.1% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, people or 0.0% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 6 people or 16.7% are between 30 and 39, 6 people or 16.7% are between 40 and 49, and 3 people or 8.3% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 3 people or 8.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 5 people or 13.9% are between 70 and 79, there is 1 person who is between 80 and 89, and there is 1 person who is between 90 and 99.
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 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...
which received 67.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were 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....
(20%), 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...
(12.7%) and the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(0%).
In St. Martin about 40% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
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...
).
St. Martin has an unemployment rate of 0%. , there were 13 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 7 businesses involved in this sector. 1 person is employed in the secondary sector and there is 1 business in this sector. No one is employed in the tertiary sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1800 | 139 |
| 1880 | 150 |
| 1900 | 99 |
| 1941 | 83 |
| 1950 | 112 |
| 2000 | 36 |