Grabs
Encyclopedia
Grabs is a municipality
in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of Werdenberg
in the canton
of St. Gallen in Switzerland
.
Grabs has an area, , of 54.7 km² (21.1 sq mi). Of this area, 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (12.9%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).
The municipality is located in the Werdenberg Wahlkreis. The eastern portion of the municipality is on edge of the Rhine valley, but doesn't reach the Rhine. The larger part of the municipality is on the eastern slope of the Churfirsten
-Alvier
group. It consists of the village of Grabs, scattered settlements on the Grabserberg with the hamlets
of Forst, Lehn and Schluss, the village section of Studen, the scattered settlement of Studnerberg and the little city of Werdenberg. It also includes lightly settled alpine pastures on the broad Maiensässgürtel.
The city of Werdenberg with its castle (Schloss Werdenberg) is part of the municipality.
Voralpsee
and Werdenbergersee
are located in the municipality.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Argent a Wild Man stantant afrontee holding a Club in dexter and a Pine Tree eradicated Vert in sinister
, 77 are from Italy
, 365 are from ex-Yugoslavia
, 112 are from Austria
, 56 are from Turkey
, and 135 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 5.2%. Most of the population speaks German (93.0%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.7%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 1.7%). Of the Swiss national languages , 5,854 speak German
, 17 people speak French
, 58 people speak Italian
, and 13 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Grabs is; 777 children or 12.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 914 teenagers or 14.5% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 639 people or 10.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 1,038 people or 16.5% are between 30 and 39, 999 people or 15.9% are between 40 and 49, and 798 people or 12.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 486 people or 7.7% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 372 people or 5.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 216 people or 3.4% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 56 people or 0.9% who are between 90 and 99, and 2 people or 0.0% who are 100 or more.
there were 671 persons (or 10.7% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,282 (or 20.4%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 3,607 (or 57.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 355 (or 5.6%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 48 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 31 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 52 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 251 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SVP
which received 32.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP
(19.9%), the FDP
(19.5%) and the CVP
(9.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Grabs about 70.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
). Out of the total population in Grabs, , the highest education level completed by 1,424 people (22.6% of the population) was Primary, while 2,206 (35.0%) have completed Secondary, 701 (11.1%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 290 (4.6%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
The historical population is given in the following table:
. The mill, saw mill, wool
washing station and hammermill
on Glockenweg are listed as a single site. The fortifications around Werdenberg and Werdenberg Castle
are also on the list. The five houses include; row houses on Städtli 2–7, the Schlangenhaus at Städtli 14, houses at Städtli 16 and 23 as well as the double house at Städtli 24/25.
The region around Schloss Werdenberg, which is shared between Buchs
and Grabs, is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
.
the average unemployment rate was 2.3%. There were 325 businesses in the municipality of which 65 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 163 were involved in the third.
there were 1,459 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,784 residents worked outside Grabs and 1,357 people commuted into the municipality for work.
. Of the rest of the population, there is 1 individual who belongs to the Christian Catholic
faith, there are 92 individuals (or about 1.46% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 193 individuals (or about 3.06% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 2 individuals (or about 0.03% of the population) who are Jewish
, and 251 (or about 3.99% of the population) who are Islam
ic. There are 16 individuals (or about 0.25% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 323 (or about 5.13% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
or atheist
, and 216 individuals (or about 3.43% of the population) did not answer the question.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of Werdenberg
Werdenberg (Wahlkreis)
Werdenberg is a constituency in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Wahlkreis was established on June 10, 2001. The Wahlkreis has its name by the municipality Grabs-Werdenberg.-Demographics:...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of St. Gallen in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
History
Grabs is first mentioned in 841 as Quaravedes. In 979 it was mentioned as Quadravedes, then in 1235 as Grabdis and in 1253 as Graps.Geography
The municipality is located in the Werdenberg Wahlkreis. The eastern portion of the municipality is on edge of the Rhine valley, but doesn't reach the Rhine. The larger part of the municipality is on the eastern slope of the Churfirsten
Churfirsten
Churfirsten is a mountain range in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Depending on the way they are counted, there are seven to thirteen peaks.-Peaks::*Selun *Frümsel *Brisi *Zuestoll...
-Alvier
Alvier
The Alvier River is a mountain stream in Vorarlberg and flows through the Brandnertal where it merges with the Ill. The river passes through the municipality of „Brand in Vorarlberg“....
group. It consists of the village of Grabs, scattered settlements on the Grabserberg with the hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Forst, Lehn and Schluss, the village section of Studen, the scattered settlement of Studnerberg and the little city of Werdenberg. It also includes lightly settled alpine pastures on the broad Maiensässgürtel.
The city of Werdenberg with its castle (Schloss Werdenberg) is part of the municipality.
Voralpsee
Voralpsee
Voralpsee is a lake above Grabs in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland....
and Werdenbergersee
Werdenbergersee
Werdenbergersee is a small lake in Buchs, below the town of Werdenberg, in the municipality of Grabs, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland....
are located in the municipality.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Argent a Wild Man stantant afrontee holding a Club in dexter and a Pine Tree eradicated Vert in sinister
Demographics
Grabs has a population (as of ) of . , about 16.1% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Of the foreign population, , 132 are from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 77 are from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 365 are from ex-Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, 112 are from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, 56 are from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and 135 are from another country. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 5.2%. Most of the population speaks German (93.0%), with Albanian being second most common ( 1.7%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 1.7%). Of the Swiss national languages , 5,854 speak German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, 17 people speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, 58 people speak Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and 13 people speak Romansh.
The age distribution, , in Grabs is; 777 children or 12.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 914 teenagers or 14.5% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 639 people or 10.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 1,038 people or 16.5% are between 30 and 39, 999 people or 15.9% are between 40 and 49, and 798 people or 12.7% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 486 people or 7.7% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 372 people or 5.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 216 people or 3.4% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 56 people or 0.9% who are between 90 and 99, and 2 people or 0.0% who are 100 or more.
there were 671 persons (or 10.7% of the population) who were living alone in a private dwelling. There were 1,282 (or 20.4%) persons who were part of a couple (married or otherwise committed) without children, and 3,607 (or 57.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 355 (or 5.6%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 48 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 31 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 52 who lived household made up of unrelated persons,and 251 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
which received 32.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(19.9%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(19.5%) and the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(9.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Grabs about 70.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
). Out of the total population in Grabs, , the highest education level completed by 1,424 people (22.6% of the population) was Primary, while 2,206 (35.0%) have completed Secondary, 701 (11.1%) have attended a Tertiary school, and 290 (4.6%) are not in school. The remainder did not answer this question.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1816 | 2,354 |
| 1850 | 3,272 |
| 1900 | 4,411 |
| 1950 | 4,516 |
| 2000 | 6,297 |
Heritage sites of national significance
There are several sites and five houses in Grabs municipality that are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
. The mill, saw mill, wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
washing station and hammermill
Hammermill
A hammermill is a machine whose purpose is to shred or crush aggregate material into smaller pieces. These machines have many sorts of applications in many industries, including:*Ethanol plants...
on Glockenweg are listed as a single site. The fortifications around Werdenberg and Werdenberg Castle
Werdenberg Castle
Werdenberg Castle is a castle in the municipality of Grabs of the Canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.-References:...
are also on the list. The five houses include; row houses on Städtli 2–7, the Schlangenhaus at Städtli 14, houses at Städtli 16 and 23 as well as the double house at Städtli 24/25.
The region around Schloss Werdenberg, which is shared between Buchs
Buchs, St. Gallen
Buchs is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Werdenberg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-Geography:Buchs has an area, , of . Of this area, 39.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 27.8% is forested...
and Grabs, is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
The Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites is part of a 1981 Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council implementing the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage.-Sites of national importance:-Types:...
.
Economy
, Grabs had an unemployment rate of 0.86%. , there were 290 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 109 businesses involved in this sector. 1,260 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 66 businesses in this sector. 1,360 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 165 businesses in this sector.the average unemployment rate was 2.3%. There were 325 businesses in the municipality of which 65 were involved in the secondary sector of the economy while 163 were involved in the third.
there were 1,459 residents who worked in the municipality, while 1,784 residents worked outside Grabs and 1,357 people commuted into the municipality for work.
Religion
From the , 1,642 or 26.1% are Roman Catholic, while 3,561 or 56.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
. Of the rest of the population, there is 1 individual who belongs to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith, there are 92 individuals (or about 1.46% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 193 individuals (or about 3.06% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 2 individuals (or about 0.03% of the population) who are Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, and 251 (or about 3.99% of the population) who are Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic. There are 16 individuals (or about 0.25% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 323 (or about 5.13% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
or atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, and 216 individuals (or about 3.43% of the population) did not answer the question.