Splügen

Splügen
Country Switzerland Canton Graubünden District Hinterrhein 46°33′N 9°19′E / 46.55°N 9.317°E / 46.55; 9.317Coordinates: 46°33′N 9°19′E / 46.55°N 9.317°E / 46.55; 9.317
Population	414 (Dec 2009)[1]
- Density	7 /km2 (18 /sq mi)
Area	60.49 km2 (23.36 sq mi)
Elevation	1,475 m (4,839 ft)
Postal code	7435
SFOS number	3694
Mayor	Walter Mengelt
Localities	Medels im Rheinwald
Surrounded by	Madesimo (IT-SO), Mesocco, Nufenen, Safien, Sufers
Website	www.gemeinde-spluegen.ch SFSO statistics
Splügen
View map of Splügen

Splügen (Romansh: Spleia) is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2006 Splügen incorporated its neighbouring municipality of Medels im Rheinwald.

In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen.

History

Splügen is first mentioned about 840 as cella in Speluca.^[2]

Geography

Splügen

Splügen has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 60.5 km² (23.4 sq mi). Of this area, 38.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (42.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[3]

The municipality is located in the Rheinwald sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district. It consists of the village of Splügen and since 1 January 2006, Medels im Rheinwald. It is a haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) located on a ridge between the Splügen pass and San Bernardino pass.

The Splügen Pass road leads from Splügen to Chiavenna and rises to a height of 2,020 meters (6,630 ft). The Italian name for the pass is Passo della Spluga. The pass is closed in winter nowadays and the whole route hosts a number of historically interesting spots that can be reached on a common multiday hike between Thusis and Chiavenna,^[4] passing the two gorges Roflaschlucht and Viamala north of Splügen.

Demographics

Splügen has a population (as of 31 December 2009) of 414.^[1] As of 2008^[update], 10.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -8.3%.^[3]

As of 2000^[update], the gender distribution of the population was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.^[5] The age distribution, as of 2000^[update], in Splügen is; 25 people or 13.2% of the population are between 0 to 9 years old. 22 people or 11.6% are 10 to 14, and 3 people or 1.6% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 8 people or 4.2% of the population are between 20 to 29 years old. 35 people or 18.5% are 30 to 39, 20 people or 10.6% are 40 to 49, and 15 people or 7.9% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 28 people or 14.8% of the population are between 60 to 69 years old, 21 people or 11.1% are 70 to 79, there are 11 people or 5.8% who are 80 to 89, and there are 1 people or 0.5% who are 90 to 99.^[6]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 47.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (23.4%), the SPS (22.6%) and the CVP (6.2%).^[3]

In Splügen about 67.6% 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]

Splügen has an unemployment rate of 0.33%. As of 2005^[update], there were 39 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 16 businesses involved in this sector. 27 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 150 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 30 businesses in this sector.^[3]

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

year	population
1690	360
1850	494
1900	373
1930	336
1950	387
2000	365

Languages

Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (89.8%), with Italian being second most common ( 2.7%) and Portuguese being third ( 2.4%).^[3]

Languages in Splügen
Languages	Census 1980		Census 1990		Census 2000
	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
German	350	84.34%	364	87.71 %	369	89.78 %
Romanish	30	7.23 %	18	4.34 %	8	1.95 %
Italian	20	4.82 %	9	2.17 %	11	2.68 %
Population	415	100 %	415	100 %	411	100 %

Tourism

Splugen in winter

Skiing

Splugen, in the winter, is a ski resort with a lift going in the direction of the Splügen Pass.

Heritage sites of national significance

Hotel Weiss Kreuz

The former Säumerherberge (seamstress hostel) Weiss Kreuz is listed as a Swiss heritage sites of national significance.^[7]

Wakker Prize

In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen. The prize description notes that Splügen had reached a notable compromise between preservation and tourism. The old town was strictly protected to maintain the original appearance, while rational zone planning allowed development to occur outside the old village.^[8]

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} Splügen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 06-Oct-2009
4. ^ (English)Hiking Switzerland Graubünden Via Spluga cultural history route
5. ^ Graubunden in Numbers (German) accessed 21 September 2009
6. ^ Graubunden Population Statistics (German) accessed 21 September 2009
7. ^ Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance 21.11.2008 version, (German) accessed 06-Oct-2009
8. ^ Swiss Heritage Society (German) accessed 6 October 2009

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

External links

• Official Web site
• Media related to Splügen at Wikimedia Commons
• Kurt Wanner: Splügen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.