Franches-Montagnes District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franches-Montagnes District
District des Franches-Montagnes
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District
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| Country |  Switzerland |
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| Canton |  Jura |
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| Capital | Saignelégier | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 200.18 km2 (77.29 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,479 | |
| • Density | 52.348/km2 (135.580/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Municipalities | 12 | |
The Franches-Montagnes District is a special area in Switzerland. It is one of three districts in the canton of Jura. Think of a district like a county or a region within a larger state.
The main town and capital of this district is Saignelégier. Most people here speak French. As of 31 December 2020, about 10,479 people live in the Franches-Montagnes District.
Contents
Towns and Villages in Franches-Montagnes
The Franches-Montagnes District has 12 different towns and villages, which are called municipalities. Each municipality has its own local government.
| Coat of Arms | Municipality | Population (31 December 2020) |
Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lajoux | 671 | 12.38 |
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Le Bémont | 324 | 11.68 |
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Le Noirmont | 1,914 | 20.39 |
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Les Bois | 1,246 | 24.71 |
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Les Breuleux | 1,528 | 10.82 |
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Les Enfers | 149 | 7.12 |
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Les Genevez | 516 | 13.63 |
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Montfaucon | 572 | 18.25 |
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Muriaux | 490 | 16.88 |
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Saignelégier | 2,615 | 31.67 |
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Saint-Brais | 227 | 15.16 |
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Soubey | 131 | 13.49 |
| Total | 10,479 | 200.18 |
Changes to Municipalities
Over time, some smaller municipalities have joined together to form larger ones. This is called a merger.
- In 2009, several changes happened. Montfavergier joined Montfaucon, and Le Peuchapatte joined Muriaux. Also, Goumois and Les Pommerats became part of Saignelégier.
- More recently, in 2023, La Chaux-des-Breuleux merged into Les Breuleux.
District Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family, a town, or a district. The coat of arms for Franches-Montagnes District has a golden background. It features a silver circle with a black border, and below it are six red hills.
Who Lives Here? (Demographics)
The Franches-Montagnes District has a population of about 10,479 people.
Languages Spoken
Most people in the district speak French as their main language. About 91.9% of the population uses French. The second most common language is German, spoken by about 4.4% of the people. A smaller number of people speak Portuguese (0.9%) or Italian.
Where People Were Born
In 2000, about 42.5% of the people living in Franches-Montagnes were also born there. Another 23.8% were born in the same canton (Jura). About 18.8% came from other parts of Switzerland, and 10.6% were born outside of Switzerland.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Franches-Montagnes has changed quite a bit over the years. In the late 1800s, the population was over 10,000. It slowly went down in the early 1900s, reaching a low point in the 1980s. Since then, the population has grown again.
How People Vote (Politics)
In the 2007 national election, the most popular political party in Franches-Montagnes was the SPS. They received about 34% of the votes. Other popular parties included the CSP, the CVP, and the FDP. About 44.6% of the people who could vote actually cast their ballots in that election.
Beliefs and Religions
Most people in Franches-Montagnes identify as Christian. In 2000, about 88.6% of the population was Christian.
Christian Faiths
Within the Christian community, the largest group is Roman Catholics, making up about 72.4% of the population. Another 11.3% are Protestants. There are also smaller groups of other Christian faiths.
Other Beliefs
About 7.7% of the population said they did not have a specific religious belief. A small number of people identified as Muslim (0.9%), Hindu, or Buddhist.
Learning and Schools (Education)
Education is important in Franches-Montagnes. About 33.3% of the adults have finished high school (called upper secondary education). About 8% have gone on to get a higher education from a university or a specialized college.
The School System
The school system in the Canton of Jura, where Franches-Montagnes is located, starts with two years of optional Kindergarten. After that, children attend six years of Primary school. Then comes three years of required lower Secondary school. In lower Secondary, students are grouped based on their abilities.
After lower Secondary, students can choose to go to an optional upper Secondary school for three or four years. This can lead to a university or college. Another option is to start an apprenticeship, where they learn a trade or skill on the job.
School Enrollment
During the 2009-2010 school year, there were 922 students in 55 classes across Franches-Montagnes. This included 197 kindergarten students and 725 primary school students.
See also
In Spanish: Distrito de Franches-Montagnes para niños
