Suraua
Encyclopedia
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.
The coat of arms was chosen through a contest where the children of the municipality were invited to submit their design for the new coat of arms following the merger. It symbolizes the geography of the municipality, with a river flowing though the green woods and fields. In the center is a ring that symbolizes the merger of the four former municipalities which are symbolized by the points of the star.
The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district. It consists of the villages of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus as well as Uors and Peiden, which in 1963 merged to form Uors-Peiden. The municipalities of Cumbel
, Degen
, Lumbrein
, Morissen
, Suraua, Vignogn
, Vella
, and Vrin
are considering a merger for some time in the future into a new municipality that will be known as Val Lumnezia
.
, the gender distribution of the population was 51.5% male and 48.5% female. The age distribution, , in Suraua is; 32 children or 12.8% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 29 teenagers or 11.6% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 33 people or 13.2% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 43 people or 17.2% are between 30 and 39, 38 people or 15.2% are between 40 and 49, and 22 people or 8.8% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 29 people or 11.6% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 18 people or 7.2% are between 70 and 79, there are 6 people or 2.4% who are between 80 and 89.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the CVP
which received 57% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP
(19.9%), the SVP
(18.2%) and the FDP
(4.9%).
In Suraua about 54.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Suraua has an unemployment rate of 0.79%. , there were 76 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 21 businesses involved in this sector. 11 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 11 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 5 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
.
The tower dates to the 12th Century, and is first mentioned in 1253 as the property of the Freiherr
von Überkastel. At that time it was the castle of the Überkastel family. When the family died out in the 15th Century the tower was used as a church tower for the Church of S. Luregn/St. Lorenz. Records of the church have been found from 1345, 1515 and 1520. The gothic
church was consecrated
in 1520. In 1774 it was rebuilt in a baroque
style which remains today. During the restoration, a valuable madonna
statue was discovered, which is now in the museum at Disentis Abbey
.
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 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....
. The municipality was formed on January 1, 2002 through the union of Camuns
Camuns
Camuns is a village in the municipality of Suraua, in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. It used to be an independent municipality before merging on 1 January 2002 to become part of Suraua.-External links:*...
, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden.
History
The municipality was formed on 1 January 2002 through the merger of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden.- Camuns is first mentioned in 1543 as Gamundtz.
- Surcasti is first mentioned in 1515 as Oberkastels and until 1943 it was known by its German name of Obercastels.
- Tersnaus is first mentioned in 1362 as Terzenaus.
- Uors was first mentioned in 831 as villa Vorce, and in 1290 as Furze. Peiden was first mentioned in 1345 as Pedens.
Coat of arms
The municipal coat of arms is Vert a Bend wavy Azure fimbriated Argent and overall an Annulet of the last and a Mullet of Four Or frettee.The coat of arms was chosen through a contest where the children of the municipality were invited to submit their design for the new coat of arms following the merger. It symbolizes the geography of the municipality, with a river flowing though the green woods and fields. In the center is a ring that symbolizes the merger of the four former municipalities which are symbolized by the points of the star.
Geography
Suraua has an area, , of 24.2 km² (9.3 sq mi). Of this area, 29.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 52% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (16.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district. It consists of the villages of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus as well as Uors and Peiden, which in 1963 merged to form Uors-Peiden. The municipalities of Cumbel
Cumbel
Cumbel is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Cumbel is first mentioned about 825 as Cumble...
, Degen
Degen, Switzerland
Degen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Until 1983, it was officially known as Igels.-History:...
, Lumbrein
Lumbrein
Lumbrein is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:The Crestaulta hill near the hamlet of Surin was occupied since at least the early Bronze Age . However, Lumbrein is first mentioned about 850 as in villa Lamarine though this comes from a 16th...
, Morissen
Morissen
Morissen |Surselva]] in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Coat of arms:The municipal coat of arms is Gules three Escallops Or. The scallops on the coat of arms represent St. James the Elder who is the patron saint of the village church.-Geography:...
, Suraua, Vignogn
Vignogn
Vignogn is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Vignogn is first mentioned in 1325 as Vinanne. In 1469 it was mentioned as Viends.-Geography:...
, 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...
, and Vrin
Vrin
Vrin is a municipality in the Val Lumnezia. It belongs to the circle of Lugnez/Lumnezia in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland....
are considering a merger for some time in the future into a new municipality that will be known as Val Lumnezia
Val Lumnezia
The Val Lumnezia is a Swiss high Alpine valley made up of the main Lumnezia valley, and a side valley, the Valser valley to the south-east. Located at , it forms also Municipality, which is composed of the communities Vella, Vignogn, Degen, Suraua, Vrin, Cumbel, Morissen, Vals and Lumbrein. Its...
.
Demographics
Suraua has a population (as of ) of . , 2.2% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -15%. Most of the population speaks Romansh (75.9%), with German being second most common (21.0%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 1.7%)., the gender distribution of the population was 51.5% male and 48.5% female. The age distribution, , in Suraua is; 32 children or 12.8% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 29 teenagers or 11.6% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 33 people or 13.2% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 43 people or 17.2% are between 30 and 39, 38 people or 15.2% are between 40 and 49, and 22 people or 8.8% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 29 people or 11.6% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 18 people or 7.2% are between 70 and 79, there are 6 people or 2.4% who are between 80 and 89.
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 57% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(19.9%), 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...
(18.2%) and 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....
(4.9%).
In Suraua about 54.5% 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...
).
Suraua has an unemployment rate of 0.79%. , there were 76 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 21 businesses involved in this sector. 11 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 11 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 5 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | Camuns | Surcasti | Tersnaus | Uors | Pieden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 77 | 167 | 232 | 156 | 91 |
| 1900 | 167 | 60 | 104 | 129 | |
| 1940/41 | 128 | 112 | |||
| 1950 | 149 | 175 | 87 | ||
| 1990 | 45 | 73 | 20 | ||
| 2000 | 60 | 70 | 90 | ||
- No data given in reference
- Including St. MartinSt. Martin, GraubündenSt. Martin is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:The village was settled around the 14th Century by Walser immigrants. Initially it was a held in fief for the Bishop of Chur by the von Tersnaus and von Mont families...
- Without St. Martin
- Without Uors, since 1961 merged into Uors-Peiden
Heritage sites of national significance
The Church of S. Luregn/St. Lorenz 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 tower dates to the 12th Century, and is first mentioned in 1253 as the property of the Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
von Überkastel. At that time it was the castle of the Überkastel family. When the family died out in the 15th Century the tower was used as a church tower for the Church of S. Luregn/St. Lorenz. Records of the church have been found from 1345, 1515 and 1520. The gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
church was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
in 1520. In 1774 it was rebuilt in a baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style which remains today. During the restoration, a valuable madonna
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
statue was discovered, which is now in the museum at Disentis Abbey
Disentis Abbey
Disentis Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the Canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland, around which the present town of Disentis grew up.-Foundation to 19th century:...
.