Ghirone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ghirone
Former municipality of Switzerland
Coat of arms
Ghirone Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Ghirone Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Blenio
Area
• Total	30.35 km2 (11.72 sq mi)
Elevation	1,247 m (4,091 ft)
Population
• Total	40
• Density	1.32/km2 (3.4/sq mi)
Postal code	6720
Surrounded by	Aquila, Campo (Blenio), Medel (Lucmagn) (GR), Olivone, Vrin (GR)

Ghirone was a small town, also known as a municipality, in Switzerland. It was located in the Blenio area, which is part of the Ticino region.

In 2005, the local government decided that Ghirone would join with four other nearby towns. These towns were Aquila, Campo Blenio, Olivone, and Torre. Together, they formed a new, larger municipality called Blenio. This change officially happened on October 22, 2006.

History of Ghirone

Ghirone is a very old place. It was first mentioned in historical records around the year 1200. Back then, it was known as Agairono.

Early Land Ownership

In 1334, a religious community called Disentis Abbey gained control over all the land in Ghirone. This meant they had rights to the area.

Joining and Separating Towns

For a long time, Ghirone was part of the community of Aquila. In 1803, Ghirone officially became its own municipality. Later, in 1836, Ghirone and another small village called Buttino decided to separate from Aquila. They formed their own combined community. Buttino was a village that existed until the late 1800s.

Ghirone and Buttino rejoined Aquila twice, in 1842 and 1846. However, they finally separated for good in 1853. In 1914, a special group called the Citizens Community (or Patriziato) was formed. This group, which still exists, is called Ghirone-Buttino. It helps manage shared resources for the citizens.

The Church and Emigration

The main church in Ghirone is called SS Martino e Giorgio. It was first mentioned in 1215. The church building was rebuilt around the year 1700. In 1758, the church became independent from Aquila, forming its own parish (church district).

Like many towns in the Blenio Valley, many people from Ghirone moved away. They often went to other European countries to find work. They worked as chestnut roasters, servants, or waiters. While this brought money back to the town, it also caused the number of people living in Ghirone to steadily decrease.

Modern Developments

In the late 1950s, a large structure called the Luzzone Dam was built. This dam is located between Ghirone and Aquila. It was expanded in 1995 and 1999. The dam is used to create hydroelectric power, which means it generates electricity from water.

The construction of the dam and a new road tunnel in 1958 greatly helped the local economy. The new tunnel made it easier for people to visit Ghirone in both winter and summer. This led to the development of a winter sports center, which boosted tourism. While these changes helped the economy, traditional farming, especially livestock farming, became less common.

Population Over Time

The table below shows how the population of Ghirone changed throughout history.

• The numbers for some years include the population of Buttino.
• The large increase in population in 1960 was during the construction of the Luzzone Dam.