Losone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Losone
Palestra Vacchini in Losone
Coat of arms
Losone Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Losone Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Locarno
Area
• Total	9.26 km2 (3.58 sq mi)
Elevation	238 m (781 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	6,647
• Density	717.8/km2 (1,859.1/sq mi)
Postal code	6616
Surrounded by	Ascona, Cavigliano, Intragna, Locarno, Tegna, Verscio

Losone is a town in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It is located in the Locarno district.

History of Losone

Early Settlements and Discoveries

Evidence shows that Losone has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, which was the New Stone Age. Things like peat bogs (wetlands with decayed plants), rock shelters, and rock carvings found in the area suggest this.

In the 1930s and 1970s, items from graves dating back to the 1st to 4th centuries were discovered. There are also signs that the graveyard was used again in the 6th century.

Losone in the Middle Ages

Losone was first officially mentioned in a document from 1061, though we have a copy from 1402. Later, in 1200, it was called de losono.

During the Middle Ages, Losone was a settlement that included areas like Bassa Losone and Arcegno. Until 1807, it also included Vosa im Onsernonetal. Losone was part of the parish of Locarno and had its own local laws, acting like a small, independent community called a Vicinanza. This independence was confirmed in 1734.

The people of Losone had rights to use mountain pastures in nearby valleys. They also paid a tithe (a part of their harvest) from their vineyards and grain to the nobles in Locarno.

Changes and Modern Development

In 1799, Losone resisted the Helvetic Republic (a government in Switzerland at the time) when it tried to create new political towns. Even after Losone became an official political town in 1803, the old Vicinanza group still played an important role in the town's politics and economy.

S. Rocco Church

The local church, S. Lorenzo, was first mentioned in 1243, but it is even older. It became its own parish (a church district) before 1580, separating from the main church in Muralto.

Losone's economy used to rely on farming and stone quarries. Many people left Losone during the Ancien Régime (old political system) to find work elsewhere. For example, people who worked with grinding tools, pewter, and customs officers moved to Tuscany and Rome. Others who installed stoves or made chocolate went to Austria and Hungary.

Growth and Industry

Important construction projects helped Losone grow. A bridge over the Maggia river was built in 1815, and roads to Ascona and Golino were completed in 1824–25. The Maggia river was also controlled in 1890 to prevent floods.

In the 20th century, a parish house and school were built. Between 1941 and 1947, soldiers from Poland and Ukraine were housed in the Arbigo area. They helped build the road from Arcegno to Golino. In 1949–50, a warehouse was turned into military barracks.

A machine factory called Agie opened in Losone in 1957. This helped create a big industrial area in the region. After 1960, Losone became more of a residential community, meaning more people moved there to live. A new education center opened in 1976, and a nursing home in 1982.

Between 1940 and 1980, Losone had the fastest population growth of all towns in the Sopraceneri region. More recently, tourism has grown, with a golf course opening in 1999 in Gerre.

Geography of Losone

Aerial view of Losone (1953)

Losone covers an area of about 9.53 square kilometers (3.68 square miles).

• About 20.5% of the land is used for farming.
• A large part, 65.0%, is covered by forests.
• About 20.0% of the land has buildings or roads.
• A small portion, 3.3%, is rivers or lakes.
• About 2.0% is unproductive land.

Most of the built-up area is for housing (11.8%) and industrial buildings (2.0%). Roads make up 4.0%, and parks or sports fields are 1.8%.

Losone is located in the Locarno district, on the right side of the Maggia river. It's just below where the Melezza river joins the Maggia.

The town includes the main village of Losone and several smaller areas called hamlets. These include Saleggi and Gerre near the river, San Rocco, San Lorenzo, and San Giorgio on a flat area, and Arcegno in the mountains.

Coat of Arms of Losone

The blazon (description) of Losone's coat of arms is: a silver shield with a blue tower that has a silver lion on it, with a red tongue. The tower on the coat of arms represents a tower built in Losone in the 15th century.

Population and Demographics

Losone has a population of 6,647 people. About 20.8% of the people living in Losone are foreign nationals. Over the past 10 years (1997–2007), the population has grown by about 9.5%.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Losone speak Italian (81.8%). German is the second most common language (11.2%), followed by Serbo-Croatian (2.0%).

Age Groups

Looking at the age groups in Losone (as of 2009):

• Children aged 0-9 make up 8.7% of the population.
• Teenagers aged 10-19 make up 10.7%.
• Young adults aged 20-29 make up 10.1%.
• Adults aged 30-49 make up 31.8%.
• Adults aged 50-59 make up 12.8%.
• Seniors aged 60 and above make up 25.9%.

Households and Buildings

As of 2000, there were 2,545 households in Losone, with an average of 2.3 people per household. Most of the buildings (67.2%) were single-family homes.

The historical population of Losone has grown significantly:

Important Heritage Site

The Secondary School at via Primore 13 in Losone is recognized as a heritage site of national significance in Switzerland. This means it's an important building with historical or cultural value.

Economy of Losone

In 2007, Losone had an unemployment rate of 3.87%. This means a small percentage of people looking for work couldn't find it.

Economic Sectors

As of 2005, Losone's economy was divided into three main sectors:

• Primary sector: This involves activities like farming and fishing. About 34 people worked in this sector, with 7 businesses.
• Secondary sector: This includes manufacturing and construction. About 1,780 people worked here, with 99 businesses.
• Tertiary sector: This covers services like shops, hotels, and offices. About 1,149 people worked in this sector, with 229 businesses.

In total, 2,959 residents of Losone were employed, and about 41.3% of them were women.

Commuting and Tourism

Losone is a place where many people come to work. In 2000, 3,615 workers came into the town, while 1,796 workers left to work elsewhere. This means Losone has about twice as many people coming in for work as leaving. About 27.5% of the workers coming into Losone are from outside Switzerland.

Most people (61.3%) use a private car to get to work, while 8.4% use public transportation.

Losone also has a tourism industry. As of 2009, there were 9 hotels in Losone with a total of 184 rooms and 354 beds.

Religion in Losone

According to the 2000 census, most people in Losone are Roman Catholic (76.2%). About 9.9% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number of people (9.58%) belong to other churches not listed in the census, and 4.30% did not state their religion.

Education in Losone

Switzerland has a good education system, and Losone is no exception. About 68.7% of adults aged 25 to 64 in Losone have completed either advanced secondary education or higher education (like university).

School System

As of 2009, there were 1,090 students in Losone. The education system in Ticino canton includes:

• Kindergarten: Up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In Losone, 164 children were in kindergarten.
• Primary School: This program lasts for five years. In Losone, 317 students attended standard primary schools, and 10 students attended a special primary school.
• Lower Secondary School: Students can choose different paths here. Some attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship program (289 students in middle school, 7 in pre-apprenticeship). Others attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education (107 students).
• Upper Secondary School: This prepares students for a trade or for university. Vocational students can attend school while doing an internship (3-4 years) or attend school full-time for a year before an internship. In Losone, 55 vocational students attended full-time, and 125 attended part-time.
• Professional Program: This three-year program prepares students for jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, or business. There were 16 students in this program.

In 2000, 299 students came to Losone from other towns for school, while 262 Losone residents went to schools outside the town.

Notable People from Losone

• Oliver Petrucciani (born 1969 in Losone) is a famous Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.

See also

In Spanish: Losone para niños