Alvaschein

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Alvaschein

Canton	Graubünden
District	Albula
Coordinates	46°40′N, 9°33′E
Population	149 (December 2004)
Area	4.06 km²
Elevation	1,001 m
Postal code	7451
SFOS number	3501
Mayor	Hans Peter Salzburger
Alvaschein

Alvaschein (Romansh: Alvaschagn) is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.

1 Coat of arms
2 Geography
3 Neighboring municipalities
4 Population
5 Politics
6 Economy
7 History
8 Attractions
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Coat of arms

Description: divided between black and silver (white); a broken silver key on the black ground, and a black carpenter's axe on the silver ground. The key and axe are references to the church patrons: St. Peter in Mistail and St. Joseph in Alvaschein.

[edit] Geography

The municipality lies on a hill 200 meters above the Albula valley, which is in between the valley of the Rhein the Engadin valley. Of the municipal area of 406 hectares, 236 hectares are forested, 127 hectares are used for agriculture (meadows and fields), 30 hectares are developed, and 13 hectares are unproductive.

[edit] Neighboring municipalities

Alvaschein borders on Brienz/Brinzauls, Lantsch/Lenz, Stierva, Tiefencastel, and Vaz/Obervaz.

[edit] Population

[edit] Population growth

The population was relatively stabile in the second half of the 19th century (lowest value: 137; highest value: 156). The all-time high came in 1900, when the population reached 276. However, many of these were laborers working on the Abula train line. For the same reason (construction) the population was above average in 1970. Between 1900 and 1930 the population rose slightly, remained stabile for two decades, and then fell in the 1980s. Since then the population has oscillated about 150.

Population Growth
Year	Population
1850	156
1860	137
1888	144
1900	276
1910	165
1930	208
1950	208
1970	235
1980	149
2004	149

[edit] Languages

The original majority language was Romansch; today only a minority still speak it.

Languages in Alvaschein
Language	1980 Census		1990 Census		2000 Census
Language	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
German	73	48.99%	64	44.13%	82	53.25%
Romansch	71	47.65%	67	46.21%	62	40.26%
Italian	5	3.36%	2	1.38%	5	3.25%
Population	149	100%	145	100%	154	100%

[edit] Religion

At the time of the Reformation, the population of Alvaschein belonged to those municipalities in the canton that remained true to the "old teachings." Today (as of 2000) 73.38% are Roman Catholic, 14.94% are Protestant, 1.95% are Orthodox Christians; 2.6% are Muslim, 1.95% are atheist, and 4.55% did not respond.

[edit] Origin-nationality

Of the 149 inhabitants at the end of 2004, 144 (96.64%) were Swiss citizens. At the time of the last census 92.86% were Swiss citzens, of whom eight were dual citizens. The few immigrants come from no less than eight foreign countries, including, most prominently, Germany and Serbia and Montenegro.

[edit] Politics

The current Municipal President is Hans Peter Salzburger.

[edit] Economy

In 2000/2001 there were 17 work places in Alvaschein, at which 50 people earned their income. By economic sector (# of work places/ # of employees): Agriculture and Forestry (7/17), Industry and Trade (3/20), services (7/13).

[edit] History

The first mention of the municipality came in 1154, on the occasion of the construction of nunnery named Alvasinis. It became subordinate to the Princes-Bishop of Chur in 1282. In 1367 it belonged to the municipality of Gotteshausband. The inhabitants finally bought their freedom from the Princes-Bishop in 1732. Nearly the whole community was destroyed in a fire in 1745. It has been the seat of the district of the same name since 1851.

[edit] Attractions

The biggest attraction is the Carolingian-era church of St. Peter Mistail, which is a monument of cultural and historical meaning to Europe. The village church is named St. Joseph and was erected between 1653 and 1657.