Bellinzona District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bellinzona District Distretto di Bellinzona
District
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
Capital	Bellinzona
Area
• Total	205.68 km2 (79.41 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	55,906
• Density	271.811/km2 (703.986/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Municipalities	6

The Bellinzona District (also known as Bellinzonese) is a part of Canton Ticino in Switzerland. It's like a county or region within a larger state. As of 31 December 2020, about 55,906 people live here. The main city and capital of the district is Bellinzona.

Exploring Bellinzona District

What is the Bellinzona District?

The Bellinzona District is one of the eight districts in the Canton of Ticino. It's located in the southern part of Switzerland, where people mostly speak Italian. Districts in Switzerland are important for local government and how communities are organized.

Land and Nature in Bellinzona

The Bellinzona District covers an area of about (based on the 2004/09/16 survey) of 205.68 km² (79.41 sq mi) (around 212 square kilometers). A big part of this land, about 68.7%, is covered by forests, which is great for nature and wildlife. About 13.2% of the land is used for farming, where crops are grown and animals graze.

Around 8.3% of the district is built up with buildings and roads, showing where people live and work. Rivers and lakes make up about 1.5% of the area, providing water resources. The remaining 7.3% is unproductive land, like rocky areas or places with sparse vegetation.

People of Bellinzona District

Who Lives Here?

The Bellinzona District is home to many people. In 2000, most people, about 38,109, spoke Italian. Smaller groups spoke German (1,843 people) and French (492 people). A very small number spoke Romansh or other languages. This shows how diverse Switzerland is with its different national languages!

Population Changes

In 2008, there were slightly more women (51.7%) than men (48.3%) living in the district. The population includes both Swiss citizens and people from other countries. That year, more babies were born than people passed away, which means the population grew a little. Also, some people moved into the district from other countries, adding to its growth.

How Old Are People in Bellinzona?

Looking at the age groups in 2009, about 9.6% of the population were young children (0-9 years old). Teenagers (10-19 years old) made up about 9.9%. The largest groups were adults between 30 and 49 years old, showing a strong working-age population. About 11.4% of the people were seniors aged 60-69, and a smaller percentage were over 80.

Homes and Buildings

In 2000, there were over 33,000 buildings in the district. Almost half of these were single-family homes. There were also many multi-family buildings, like apartment complexes. Most of the apartments were permanently lived in, while some were used seasonally, perhaps for holidays.

Historical Population Growth

The number of people living in Bellinzona District has grown a lot over the years. Here’s how the population has changed:

Government and Politics

Voting in Bellinzona

In Switzerland, people vote often on many topics. In the 2007 national election, the FDP party was the most popular in Bellinzona District, getting about 32.78% of the votes. Other popular parties included the CVP and the SP. About 48.7% of eligible voters participated in this election.

People also vote in local elections for the Ticino government. In 2007, a large number of registered voters, about 68.4%, cast their ballots. The PLRT party was the most popular in these local elections.

Beliefs and Religions

Religious Groups

According to the 2000 census, most people in Bellinzona District, about 77.6%, were Roman Catholic. A smaller group, about 4.4%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other churches not listed, and a few did not state their religion.

Learning and Education

Schools in the District

Education is very important in Bellinzona District. In 2009, there were about 7,949 students. The education system in Ticino offers different levels of schooling:

• Kindergarten: Children can attend non-mandatory kindergarten for up to three years. In 2009, 1,296 children were in kindergarten.
• Primary School: This program lasts five years. Students attend either a standard school or a special school.
• Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths. Some go to a two-year middle school, followed by a pre-apprenticeship. Others attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education.
• Upper Secondary School: This level prepares students for a trade job or for university. Students can combine school with internships or apprenticeships.
• Professional Programs: These programs last three years and train students for specific jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, or business.

Circles and Municipalities

The Bellinzona District is divided into smaller areas called "circles," and each circle contains several "municipalities." Municipalities are like towns or local communities. Here are the circles and their municipalities:

Circolo di Bellinzona
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Bellinzona	43,360	164.96
	Total	43,360	164.96

Circolo di Arbedo-Castione
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Arbedo-Castione	5,024	21.28
	Lumino	1,587	9.95
	Total	6,611	31.23

Circolo di Sant'Antonino
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Sant'Antonino	2,542	6.59
	Cadenazzo	2,998	8.37
	Isone	395	12.82
	Total	5,935	27.78

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Bellinzona para niños