| Degen | ||||||||||
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| Population | 235 (Dec 2010)[1] | |||||||||
| - Density | 35 /km2 (91 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 6.74 km2 (2.60 sq mi)[2] | |||||||||
| 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 |
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Degen
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Map of Degen
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Degen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Until 1983, it was officially known as Igels.
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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.[3]
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).[4]
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.[5] 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.[5]
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.[6]
Degen has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 235.[1] As of 2008[update], 5.3% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.[7] 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%).[4]
As of 2000[update], the gender distribution of the population was 53.8% male and 46.2% female.[8] 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.[7]
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%).[4]
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).[4]
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.[4]
The historical population is given in the following table:[3]
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1808 | 232 |
| 1850 | 255 |
| 1900 | 214 |
| 1950 | 323 |
| 2000 | 247 |
The Chapel of St. Sebastian is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.[9]