Blenio District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blenio District Distretto di Blenio
District
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
Capital	Acquarossa
Area
• Total	360.74 km2 (139.28 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,656
• Density	15.6789/km2 (40.608/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Municipalities	3

The Blenio District is an important area in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It's like a county or region within the larger canton. As of 31 December 2020, about 5,656 people live here. The main town and capital of the district is Acquarossa.

What is the Geography of Blenio District?

The Blenio District covers a total area of about 360.74 square kilometers (139.28 square miles). That's a pretty big space!

How is the Land Used?

A large part of the district is covered by forests, making up about 36.9% of the land. Imagine lots of trees and green spaces! Another big chunk, 39.7%, is unproductive land, which means it's often rocky or has very little plant life.

About 3.7% of the land is used for farming, where crops are grown. A smaller part, 1.8%, is built up with buildings and roads. Rivers and lakes make up about 1.6% of the district's area.

Who Lives in Blenio District?

Let's look at the people who call Blenio District home.

What Languages are Spoken?

Most people in Blenio District speak Italian. In fact, in 2000, about 4,716 people spoke Italian. Other languages spoken include German (301 people) and French (78 people). A few people also speak Romansh or other languages.

How Many People Live Here?

The population of Blenio District changes over time. In 2008, there were slightly more men (50.2%) than women (49.8%). Most people living in the district are Swiss citizens.

The district's population has changed over the years. Here's a quick look:

What are the Age Groups?

In 2009, about 9.2% of the population were young children (0-9 years old), and 10.0% were teenagers (10-19 years old). Adults aged 20-59 made up a large part of the population, with people over 60 making up about 31.2%.

How is Blenio District Governed?

Like any place, Blenio District has its own way of making decisions and choosing leaders.

How Do People Vote?

In the 2007 federal election, which is a big election for all of Switzerland, the most popular political party in Blenio District was the CVP. They received about 30.81% of the votes. Other popular parties included the FDP and the SP. About 46.2% of eligible voters participated in this election.

People in Blenio District also vote in local elections for their canton's government, called the Ticino Gran Consiglio. In 2007, over half of the registered voters participated in this election.

What About Religion in Blenio District?

Most people in Blenio District are Catholic. According to the 2000 census, about 83.6% of the population identified as Catholic. A smaller number, 3.5%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other churches or did not state their religion.

How is Education Organized?

Education is very important in Blenio District, just like in the rest of Switzerland.

What are the School Levels?

In 2009, there were 902 students in the district. The education system in Ticino, the canton Blenio is part of, offers different levels of schooling:

• Kindergarten: Children can attend non-mandatory kindergarten for up to three years. In 2009, 136 children were in kindergarten.
• Primary School: This program lasts for five years. There were 270 students in standard primary schools.
• Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths. Some go to a two-year middle school, while others attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education.
• Upper Secondary School: This level prepares students for a trade or for university. Students might attend school full-time or part-time while also doing internships or apprenticeships.
• Professional Programs: These programs last three years and train students for specific jobs like engineering or nursing.

Circles and Municipalities

The Blenio District is divided into smaller areas called "circles," and within those circles are different towns or "municipalities."

Circolo di Malvaglia

Circolo di Malvaglia
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Serravalle	2,079	96.8
	Total	2,079	96.8

Circolo di Acquarossa

Circolo di Acquarossa
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Acquarossa	1,807	61.59
	Total	1,807	61.59

Circolo di Olivone

Circolo di Olivone
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Blenio	1,770	202.06
	Total	1,770	202.06

How Municipalities Have Changed

Over the years, some smaller towns in Blenio District have joined together to form larger municipalities. This helps with local government and services.

• In 2004, the municipality of Acquarossa was created by combining eight smaller towns.
• In 2006, the municipality of Blenio was formed from four towns.
• In 2012, the municipality of Serravalle was formed from three towns.

Images for kids

• 

  Coat of arms of Serravalle

• 

  Coat of arms of Acquarossa

• 

  Coat of arms of Blenio

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Blenio para niños