Lax, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lax
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 Lax
Location in Switzerland
Lax
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Goms | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.41 km2 (2.09 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,039 m (3,409 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 329 | |
| • Density | 60.81/km2 (157.5/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3994
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| Surrounded by | Betten, Ernen, Fiesch, Grengiols, Martisberg | |
Lax is a small town, also called a municipality, in the Goms area of the Valais region in Switzerland.
Contents
History of Lax
Lax was first mentioned in old records in 1295, known then as Lacx. Later, in 1308, it was called Zend Goms Lax.
An important event happened in 1347: the first system for sharing water for irrigation was set up. This system still helps seven farms in the area today. The town also created its first local rules in 1436.
Geography of Lax
Lax covers an area of about 5 square kilometers (about 1.9 square miles). A big part of this land, about 37%, is used for farming. Forests cover almost 39% of the area.
About 6% of the land has buildings or roads. The rest, about 17%, is land that cannot be used for farming or building. The town is located on a small flat area above the Deisch valley, on the right side of the Rhone River.
Lax's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is like a special symbol for a town or family. Lax's coat of arms has a blue background. It shows a silver mountain across the middle. Above the mountain, there are three green pine trees with brown trunks.
People of Lax (Demographics)
Lax has a population of about 300 people. A small number of people living here, about 13.7%, are from other countries. Over the past ten years, the number of people in Lax has gone down a little. This is mostly because some people have moved away.
Most people in Lax, about 94%, speak German as their main language. A smaller group, about 4%, speaks Serbo-Croatian.
In 2008, about 54% of the people in Lax were male, and 46% were female. Most people living in Lax were born there or in the same region of Switzerland.
When looking at age groups, about 23% of the people are children and teenagers (under 19 years old). About 65% are adults (20-64 years old). And about 12% are seniors (over 64 years old).
Economy of Lax
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Lax was low, at 3%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs.
People in Lax work in different areas:
- Farming (Primary Sector): About 15 people work in farming, like growing crops or raising animals. There are about 8 businesses in this area.
- Making Things (Secondary Sector): About 27 people work in jobs like manufacturing or construction. There are 3 businesses in this area.
- Services (Tertiary Sector): About 52 people work in service jobs, like shops, restaurants, or offices. There are 16 businesses in this area.
Many people who live in Lax travel to other towns for work. About 13.5% use public transport, and 57.7% use their own car to get to work.
Religion in Lax
A famous building in Lax is the Church of Saint Anne. It was built in 1868 and has a special style called neo-gothic.
Most people in Lax are Roman Catholic, about 85.5%. A smaller number, about 3.8%, belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. There are also some people who are Orthodox Christians or Muslim. A few people do not belong to any church.
Education in Lax
In Lax, about 41% of the people have finished high school. About 8% have gone on to get higher education, like from a university or a special college.
In 2000, 8 students came to Lax to attend school from other towns. At the same time, 25 students from Lax went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Lax (Valais) para niños
