Calpiogna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calpiogna
Former municipality of Switzerland
Coat of arms
Calpiogna Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Calpiogna Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Leventina
Area
• Total	3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Elevation	1,149 m (3,770 ft)
Population  (December 2004)
• Total	39
• Density	11.8/km2 (30.6/sq mi)
Postal code	6760
Surrounded by	Blenio, Campello, Faido, Mairengo

Calpiogna is a small, historic village located in the Ticino region of Switzerland. It used to be its own town, called a municipality. But on April 1, 2012, Calpiogna joined with several other nearby towns to become part of the larger municipality of Faido. This area is found in the Leventina district, known for its beautiful valleys and mountains.

A Look at Calpiogna's Past

Calpiogna was first mentioned in old records way back in 1246. It was an important place for a group of villages called the Vicinanza of Faido. This group included Calpiogna, Primadengo, Campello, and other small settlements. They even shared some mountain pastures in Graubünden.

For a long time, Calpiogna was part of the church area of Mairengo. But in 1670, it got its own church area. The Chapel of S. Eutichio, first mentioned in 1577, was rebuilt in 1665. Another chapel, St. Anthony of Padua in Primadengo, was built in 1651.

Life in Calpiogna used to be mostly about farming and raising animals. People also traveled to other places like France, England, and the United States to find work and earn extra money. This travel became more common in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Since the 1950s, the mountain areas near Calpiogna, like Prodo (with Carì), have become popular for tourists. People visit in both winter and summer to enjoy the scenery and activities.

Where is Calpiogna?

Aerial view (1967) of the upper part of the municipality with the village of Prodör in the foreground

Calpiogna is located on a high terrace, about 1,149 meters (3,770 feet) above sea level. It sits on the left side of the middle part of the Leventina valley.

The area of Calpiogna is about 3.3 square kilometers (1.3 square miles). A little bit of this land, about 6.7%, is used for farming. More than half of the land, about 51.5%, is covered in forests. Some areas have buildings and roads (4.8%), and a small part has rivers or lakes (1.2%). The rest of the land (22.1%) is rocky or not useful for farming.

Calpiogna includes the main village and a small nearby village called Primadengo, which is about 975 meters (3,199 feet) high. There's also a former mountain pasture area called Prodör, located at 1,650 meters (5,410 feet). The village of Campello was once part of Calpiogna until 1853.

Calpiogna's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Calpiogna has a simple design. It shows three green fir trees growing from a green base, on a silver (white) background. This design likely represents the natural landscape of the area, with its forests.

Who Lives in Calpiogna?

Calpiogna is a very small place. As of 2008, about 9.3% of the people living there were from other countries. Over the ten years before 2007, the number of people living in Calpiogna decreased by about 24.5%.

Most people in Calpiogna speak Italian, which is 85% of the population. A smaller group, about 15%, speaks German.

In 2008, there were slightly more women than men living in Calpiogna. The population included Swiss men and women, as well as non-Swiss men and women.

The population of Calpiogna changes a bit each year due to births, deaths, and people moving in or out. In 2008, the total population grew by a few people.

As of 2009, the age groups in Calpiogna were:

• Children (0-9 years old): 6.4%
• Teenagers (10-19 years old): 6.4%
• Young adults (20-29 years old): 14.9%
• Adults (30-59 years old): 47.0%
• Seniors (60+ years old): 25.5%

Most homes in Calpiogna are owned by the people who live in them. In 2000, there were 18 households, with about 1.9 people living in each. Most of the buildings were single-family homes. Many apartments in Calpiogna are used only during certain seasons, like for holidays, rather than being lived in all year.

Here's how the population of Calpiogna has changed over time:

Places to See

The villages of Calpiogna and Primadengo are very special. They are recognized as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means they have important historical and cultural value, and their unique character is protected.

How People Make a Living

In 2007, Calpiogna had a very low unemployment rate, meaning almost everyone who wanted a job had one. In 2005, a few people worked in farming, which is the primary economic sector. A couple of people worked in the tertiary sector, which includes services like tourism.

Most people who live in Calpiogna travel outside the village for work. In 2000, about 15% of workers used public transportation, and 50% drove their own cars to get to their jobs.

Religion in Calpiogna

Based on the 2000 census, most people in Calpiogna, about 85%, are Roman Catholic. A smaller group, about 12.5%, belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.

Learning and Education

Switzerland is known for its good education system. In Calpiogna, many adults (between 25 and 64 years old) have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like university.

In 2009, there were only a few students living in Calpiogna. The local education system offers kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. Students in Calpiogna would attend these schools, often traveling to nearby towns for their classes. After secondary school, students can choose to go to a trade school or prepare for university.

See also

In Spanish: Calpiogna para niños