Degen, Switzerland

For other uses, see Degen (disambiguation).

Degen
Country Switzerland Canton Graubünden District Surselva 46°42′N 9°10′E / 46.7°N 9.167°E / 46.7; 9.167Coordinates: 46°42′N 9°10′E / 46.7°N 9.167°E / 46.7; 9.167
Population	249 (Dec 2009)[1]
- Density	37 /km2 (96 /sq mi)
Area	6.72 km2 (2.59 sq mi)
Elevation	1,122 m (3,681 ft)
Postal code	7145
SFOS number	3594
Surrounded by	Vella, Vignogn, Suraua, Obersaxen.
Website	www.gemeinde-degen.ch SFSO statistics
Degen
View map of Degen

Degen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Until 1983, it was officially known as Igels.

History

Degen is first mentioned about 840 as Higenae/Egenae. Rumein was mentioned at about the same time as villa Ramnensis, and in 1325 Vattiz was mentioned as Vatigis.^[2]

Geography

Degen village

Rumein hamlet

Degen has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 6.8 km² (2.6 sq mi). Of this area, 78.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 10.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (7%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[3]

The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district. It is on a terrace about 200 m (660 ft) above the Glenner valley floor. It consists of the village of Degen and the hamlets of Rumein und Vattiz. Until 1983 Degen was known as Igels.^[4] 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.^[4]

Coat of arms

The municipal coat of arms is Per bend Sable a Mullet Or and of the last a Bend embattled bretessé Sable in bend couped of the first.^[5]

Demographics

Degen has a population (as of 31 December 2009) of 249.^[1] As of 2008^[update], 5.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.^[6] Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -14.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks Romansh(73.7%), with German being second most common (20.6%) and Albanian being third ( 3.6%).^[3]

As of 2000^[update], the gender distribution of the population was 53.8% male and 46.2% female.^[7] The age distribution, as of 2000^[update], in Degen is; 30 children or 12.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 34 teenagers or 13.8% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 15 people or 6.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 34 people or 13.8% are between 30 and 39, 36 people or 14.6% are between 40 and 49, and 40 people or 16.2% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 28 people or 11.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 16 people or 6.5% are between 70 and 79, there are 12 people or 4.9% who are between 80 and 89 there are 2 people or 0.8% who are between 90 and 99.^[6]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the CVP which received 60.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (16.2%), the FDP (14.9%) and the SP (8.1%).^[3]

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Degen about 59.7% 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]

Degen has an unemployment rate of 0.4%. As of 2005^[update], there were 42 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 23 businesses involved in this sector. 17 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 3 businesses in this sector. 18 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 10 businesses in this sector.^[3]

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

year	population
1808	232
1850	255
1900	214
1950	323
2000	247

Heritage sites of national significance

Chapel of St. Sebastian

The Chapel of St. Sebastian is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.^[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} Degen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 23-Nov-2009
4. ^ ^{a b} Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (German) accessed 23 September 2009
5. ^ Flags of the World.com accessed 23-Nov-2009
6. ^ ^{a b} Graubunden Population Statistics (German) accessed 21 September 2009
7. ^ Graubunden in Numbers (German) accessed 21 September 2009
8. ^ Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance 21.11.2008 version, (German) accessed 23-Nov-2009

External links

• Official Web site
• Degen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.