Agarn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agarn
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 Agarn
Location in Switzerland
Agarn
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Leuk | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.65 km2 (2.95 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 620 m (2,030 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 705 | |
| • Density | 92.16/km2 (238.7/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3951
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| Surrounded by | Chandolin, Leuk, Oberems, Saint-Luc, Turtmann, Unterems | |
Agarn is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Valais region of Switzerland. It's found in the Leuk district, where people mostly speak German. Agarn is known for its beautiful Swiss scenery and rich history.
Contents
Discover Agarn's Past: A Brief History
Agarn has a long history, first being mentioned way back in 1252. Back then, it was called Aert. Later, in 1267, its name changed to Ayert. By the 1500s, it became known as Agaren, which is very close to its name today.
This town faced tough times, too. It was almost completely destroyed by fires twice. These big fires happened in 1799 and again in 1899. But Agarn rebuilt itself each time!
Exploring Agarn's Landscape: Geography
Agarn covers an area of about 7.7 square kilometers (about 3 square miles). Imagine a place where nature and buildings share space.
- Farmland and Forests: About 17% of Agarn's land is used for farming. This means fields where crops grow and pastures for animals. Forests cover a large part, about 33% of the area. These are dense woods and smaller groups of trees.
- Buildings and Roads: Around 4.4% of the land is built up with houses, schools, and roads. This is where people live and get around.
- Rivers and Lakes: A small part, about 0.8%, is made up of rivers or lakes. All the water in Agarn is found in lakes.
- Unused Land: The biggest part, about 44.4%, is land that isn't used for farming or building. This includes areas with lots of rocks or even small glaciers.
Agarn is located in the Rhone valley. It sits on a special type of landform called an alluvial fan, which is shaped like a fan and made of soil carried by water. The town itself used to be a linear village, meaning it stretched out along a road or river.
Understanding Agarn's Symbol: Coat of Arms
Every town has a special symbol, like a logo, called a coat of arms. Agarn's coat of arms has a green background. On it, you'll see a silver (white) curved shape, like a big arch. In the top right corner, there's a silver cross. In the bottom left, a silver dove is flying. These symbols represent different things about the town's history and values.
Who Lives in Agarn? Demographics
Agarn is home to about 757 people (as of 2002). The population has changed a little over the years. Over the last decade (1999–2009), the number of people living here went down slightly. This was mostly because more people moved away than moved in, even though more babies were born than people passed away.
- Languages Spoken: Most people in Agarn speak German, about 90% of the population. Other languages spoken include Albanian (about 4.6%) and Italian (about 1.6%). A few people also speak French.
- Where People Come From: Many residents (about 55%) were born right in Agarn. Others were born in the same region of Switzerland (Valais), or in other parts of Switzerland. About 9% of the people living in Agarn were born outside of Switzerland.
- Age Groups: Agarn has a good mix of ages. About 27.6% of the population are children and teenagers (under 19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up the largest group at 60.9%. Seniors (over 64 years old) make up about 11.5% of the population.
The chart below shows how Agarn's population has changed over many years:
How People Work: Economy in Agarn
Agarn has a low unemployment rate, meaning most people who want to work can find jobs. In 2010, only 1.6% of people were unemployed.
People in Agarn work in different types of jobs:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs related to nature, like farming. About 27 people work in this area, with 15 businesses.
- Secondary Sector: These jobs involve making things. This includes manufacturing (like factories) and construction (building things). About 96 people work in this sector, with 15 businesses.
- Tertiary Sector: These are service jobs. This includes things like working in shops, restaurants, or schools. About 93 people work in this sector, with 26 businesses.
Many people who live in Agarn travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 260 people left Agarn for their jobs, while 81 people came into Agarn to work. Most people (about 60%) use a private car to get to work, while about 20% use public transportation.
Faith and Community: Religion in Agarn
Most people in Agarn are Roman Catholic, making up about 89.6% of the population. A smaller number of people belong to the Swiss Reformed Church or other Christian churches. There are also people who follow Islam. A small group of people do not belong to any church.
Agarn has a church dedicated to Mary. The local pastor is H.H. Anderas Werlen.
Learning and Growing: Education in Agarn
Education is important in Agarn. About 34.6% of the population has finished upper secondary education, which is like high school. A smaller group, about 5%, has gone on to higher education, like university.
The school system in Valais, where Agarn is located, has a few steps:
- Kindergarten: Young children can attend one year of non-required kindergarten. In the 2010–2011 school year, Agarn had one kindergarten class with 9 students.
- Primary School: Students must attend six years of primary school. Agarn had 5 primary school classes with 54 students during that same school year.
- Secondary School: After primary school, students go to secondary school. Agarn's students attend their secondary schools in nearby towns.
Most students living in Agarn attend schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Agarn para niños
