Masein

for other uses see Masein (disambiguation)

Masein
Country Switzerland Canton Graubünden District Hinterrhein 46°42′N 9°25′E / 46.7°N 9.417°E / 46.7; 9.417Coordinates: 46°42′N 9°25′E / 46.7°N 9.417°E / 46.7; 9.417
Population	398 (Dec 2009)[1]
- Density	95 /km2 (245 /sq mi)
Area	4.2 km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Elevation	865 m (2,838 ft)
Postal code	7425
SFOS number	3663
Surrounded by	Cazis, Flerden, Portein, Tartar, Thusis, Urmein
Website	www.masein.ch SFSO statistics
Masein
View map of Masein

Masein (Romansh: Masagn) is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

History

Masein is first mentioned in 1156 as de Medezenu.^[2]

Geography

Masein has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 4.2 km² (1.6 sq mi). Of this area, 38.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 52% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[3]

The municipality is located in the Thusis sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district. It is located on the lower Heinzenberg and consists of the two settlements of Ober- and Unter-Masein and the hamlets of Dalaus, Cresta und Lochmüli.

Demographics

Masein has a population (as of 31 December 2009) of 398.^[1] As of 2008^[update], 2.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 2.9%.^[3]

As of 2000^[update], the gender distribution of the population was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.^[4] The age distribution, as of 2000^[update], in Masein is; 46 people or 12.6% of the population are between 0 to 9 years old. 29 people or 7.9% are 10 to 14, and 37 people or 10.1% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 38 people or 10.4% of the population are between 20 to 29 years old. 60 people or 16.4% are 30 to 39, 70 people or 19.1% are 40 to 49, and 47 people or 12.8% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 21 people or 5.7% of the population are between 60 to 69 years old, 12 people or 3.3% are 70 to 79, there are 5 people or 1.4% who are 80 to 89, and there is 1 person who is 90 to 99.^[5]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 37.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (33.6%), the FDP (14.8%) and the CVP (11.4%).^[3]

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Masein about 80.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).^[3]

Masein has an unemployment rate of 1.21%. As of 2005^[update], there were 32 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 11 businesses involved in this sector. 3 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 2 businesses in this sector. 47 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 11 businesses in this sector.^[3]

The historical population is given in the following table:^[2]

year	population
1803	198
1850	282
1900	228
1950	270
2000	366

Languages

Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (92.6%), with Romansh being second most common ( 3.3%) and Dutch being third ( 1.4%).^[3]

Languages in Masein
Languages	Census 1980		Census 1990		Census 2000
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
German	188	82.82 %	306	91.89 %	339	92.62 %
Romanish	26	11.45 %	15	4.50 %	12	3.28 %
Italian	6	2.64 %	3	0.90 %	1	0.27 %
Population	227	100 %	333	100 %	366	100 %

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Swiss Federal Statistical Office, MS Excel document – Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung nach Kantonen, Bezirken und Gemeinden (German) accessed 25 August 2010
2. ^ ^{a b} Masein in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 7 October 2009
4. ^ Graubunden in Numbers (German) accessed 21 September 2009
5. ^ Graubunden Population Statistics (German) accessed 21 September 2009

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.

External links

• Official Web site