Grengiols facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grengiols
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Grengiols from the air
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 Grengiols
Location in Switzerland
Grengiols
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Raron | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 58.52 km2 (22.59 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 995 m (3,264 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 431 | |
| • Density | 7.365/km2 (19.075/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3993
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| Surrounded by | Baceno (IT-VB), Betten, Binn, Bister, Ernen, Filet, Lax, Martisberg, Ried-Brig, Termen, Varzo (IT-VB) | |
Grengiols is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Raron district. It is part of the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Contents
A Look at Grengiols' Past
Grengiols was first mentioned in old records in the year 1052. Back then, it was called Graneirolis. Later, in 1228, its name appeared as Griniruel, and in 1297, it was called Graniols.
The name Grengiols likely comes from the Latin word graneirolas. This word means a small granary, which is a building where grain is stored.
Exploring Grengiols' Land
Grengiols covers an area of about 58.5 square kilometers (22.6 square miles). A big part of this land is used for farming, about 21.2%. Forests cover another 25.6% of the area.
Only a small portion, 0.8%, has buildings or roads. The largest part, 52.4%, is unproductive land. This means it's not used for farming, building, or forests.
The town is located in the Östlich Raron district. It sits on the southern slopes of the Rhone valley. This is near the entrance to the Goms valley. Grengiols includes the main village and smaller settlements. These include Hockmatte, Ze Hyschere, and Bächerhyschere. They are found along the road leading into the Goms valley and towards the Albrun Pass.
Understanding the Grengiols Coat of Arms
The official coat of arms for Grengiols has a special description called a blazon. It is described as Gules, two Keys Or in saltire in chief a papal Crown of the same.
This means the background color is red (Gules). There are two golden (Or) keys crossed over each other (in saltire). Above the keys, there is a golden papal crown.
Who Lives in Grengiols?
Grengiols has a population of about 497 people. In 2008, a small number, 2.3%, were foreign nationals living there. Over ten years, from 2000 to 2010, the population slightly decreased. This was due to people moving away and fewer births compared to deaths.
Languages Spoken in Grengiols
Most people in Grengiols speak German. In 2000, about 98% of the population spoke German as their main language. A few people spoke French (0.8%) or English (0.4%).
Where Do Grengiols Residents Come From?
In 2008, most residents were Swiss citizens. About 69.5% of the people living in Grengiols in 2000 were also born there. Another 18.9% were born in the same canton, Valais. A smaller number, 4.3%, were born elsewhere in Switzerland. About 3.7% were born outside of Switzerland.
Age Groups in Grengiols
In 2000, children and teenagers (ages 0-19) made up 28.3% of the population. Adults (ages 20-64) were the largest group at 51.7%. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 20% of the population.
Households in Grengiols
In 2000, there were 114 private households in Grengiols. On average, each household had 3.5 people. Some households had only one person, while others had five or more.
Many apartments in Grengiols are used seasonally, like for holidays. In 2000, about 53.2% of apartments were for seasonal use. Only 36.7% were lived in all year round.
How Grengiols' Population Has Changed
The chart below shows how the number of people living in Grengiols has changed over many years.
Special Places to See
The entire village of Grengiols is recognized as an important heritage site. It is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means its buildings and layout are special and worth protecting.
How Grengiols Makes Money
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Grengiols was very low, at 1.1%. This means almost everyone who wanted a job had one.
Jobs in Different Sectors
In 2008, people in Grengiols worked in three main types of jobs:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs that get raw materials from nature. In Grengiols, 46 people worked in this sector, mostly in farming. There were 22 businesses in this area.
- Secondary Sector: These jobs involve making things. 19 people worked here, with most in manufacturing (making goods) and some in construction (building things). There were 8 businesses.
- Tertiary Sector: This sector includes jobs that provide services. 63 people worked in this area, in 14 businesses.
Overall, 209 residents had jobs. About 35.4% of the workers were women.
Specific Jobs in the Tertiary Sector
In 2008, there were 54 full-time equivalent jobs in the service sector. These included:
- Sales and repair of vehicles (9.3%)
- Moving and storing goods (1 job)
- Hotels and restaurants (13%)
- Insurance or finance (3.7%)
- Technical professionals or scientists (51.9%)
- Education (7.4%)
Commuting for Work
In 2000, 33 workers came into Grengiols for their jobs. However, 117 workers left Grengiols to work in other towns. This means more people leave Grengiols for work than come in.
Most people used private cars (60.8%) to get to work. About 11.5% used public transportation.
Religion in Grengiols
Based on the 2000 census, most people in Grengiols are Roman Catholic. About 91.4% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church.
A smaller group, 3.3%, belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people (1.43%) were members of an Orthodox church. A very small number (0.61%) did not belong to any church.
Learning and Education
Education is important in Grengiols. About 28.7% of the population has finished upper secondary education. This is schooling after middle school that is not always required.
About 5.1% of people have gone on to higher education. This means they attended a university or a specialized college (a Fachhochschule). Most of these highly educated people were Swiss men.
Schools in Grengiols
During the 2010–2011 school year, 45 students were in the Grengiols school system. The Valais canton has a school system that allows young children to attend one year of non-required Kindergarten. In Grengiols, there was one kindergarten class with 8 students.
Students must attend six years of primary school. Grengiols had 4 primary school classes with 45 students. After primary school, students go to secondary school. This includes three required years, followed by optional advanced schooling. All secondary students from Grengiols attend schools in nearby towns.
In 2000, 30 students from Grengiols went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Grengiols para niños
