Mels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mels
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 Mels
Location in Switzerland
Mels
Location in Canton of St. Gallen
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | St. Gallen | |
| District | Sarganserland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 139.11 km2 (53.71 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 8,716 | |
| • Density | 62.655/km2 (162.277/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
8887
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| Surrounded by | Bad Ragaz, Fläsch (GR), Flums, Glarus Süd (GL), Pfäfers, Sargans, Vilters-Wangs, Wartau | |
Mels is a town in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the Sarganserland area of the canton of St. Gallen. Mels is located in the beautiful Seeztal valley.
Contents
History of Mels
Mels was first mentioned in old writings in the year 765. At that time, it was called Maile. Later, in 1018, its name was written as Meilis. These early mentions show that Mels has been an important place for a very long time.
Geography and Landscape of Mels
Mels covers a large area of about 139.2 square kilometers (53.7 square miles). It is the biggest municipality in the canton of St. Gallen by land size.
A big part of Mels is used for farming, about 42.6%. Forests cover 29.3% of the land. About 2.6% of the area has buildings or roads. The rest, 25.5%, is made up of rivers, lakes, or other natural areas.
The town is located in the Sarganserland region. It includes the beautiful Weisstannen valley and part of the Seez valley. You can find Castels hill and Castels fortress to the west of the Nidberg area.
Mels is made up of the main village of Mels. It also includes smaller settlements like Heiligkreuz bei Mels, Plons, and Ragnatsch. There are also tiny villages called hamlets such as Butz, St. Martin, Mädris, and Tils. Higher up in the mountains, you'll find the alpine settlement of Vermol. Plus, there are two special Walser villages called Schwendi and Weisstannen.
A reservoir called Chapfensee is also located within the municipality. It's a man-made lake used to store water.
Mels Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Mels is a blue shield with two golden keys crossed over each other. This design is called Azure two Keys Or in saltire. A coat of arms is like a special symbol or emblem for a town or family.
Population and People of Mels
Mels has a population of about 8,800 people. Around 14.4% of the people living in Mels are from other countries. Many of these foreign residents come from Italy, former Yugoslavia, and Turkey.
Most people in Mels speak German, about 90.8%. Other languages spoken include Albanian (2.5%) and Italian (2.2%). A few people also speak French or Romansh.
The population of Mels has grown by about 7.4% over the last ten years. This means more people are choosing to live in Mels.
In terms of age, Mels has a good mix of people. About 13.7% of the population are children aged 0-9 years old. Teenagers aged 10-19 make up about 14.5% of the population. Adults aged 20-59 make up a large part of the population. Older adults, aged 60 and above, make up about 17.5% of the population.
Many people in Mels live in families. About 62.9% of people live in homes with a couple and their children. About 18.4% are couples without children. Around 9.4% of people live alone.
In the 2007 national election, the most popular political party in Mels was the SVP. They received 43.9% of the votes. Other popular parties included the CVP, the FDP, and the SP.
Many adults in Mels have a good education. About 65.5% of people aged 25–64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like university.
Here is how the population of Mels has changed over time:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1800 | 2,433 |
| 1850 | 3,305 |
| 1900 | 4,035 |
| 1950 | 5,837 |
| 2000 | 7,837 |
Transportation in Mels
Mels is easy to reach by car because it is located on the A3 motorway. This is a major highway in Switzerland.
The A3 motorway actually ends in Mels. From Mels, the road continues north towards St. Margrethen. To the east, the road becomes the A13 national motorway. This road goes towards places like Landquart, Chur, and San Bernardino.
Important Heritage Sites
Mels has some very old and important places. These are called heritage sites of national significance. This means they are protected because of their historical importance.
One such site is Castels hill. People have lived on this hill since prehistoric times, all the way up to the Middle Ages. Another important site is the early medieval church of St. Peter und Paul. These places tell us a lot about the history of Mels and the people who lived there long ago.
Economy and Jobs in Mels
Mels has a healthy economy with many different types of jobs. In 2007, the unemployment rate was very low, at 0.82%. This means most people who wanted to work had a job.
Many people in Mels work in different economic sectors:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming and forestry. About 330 people work in this area.
- Secondary sector: This involves manufacturing and construction. About 722 people work in these types of jobs.
- Tertiary sector: This is the largest sector and includes jobs in services, like shops, offices, and tourism. About 1,932 people work in this sector.
Many people who live in Mels also work in Mels. However, some residents travel outside the municipality for work. Also, many people from other areas come to Mels for their jobs.
Religion in Mels
Most people in Mels are Roman Catholic, making up about 77.7% of the population. Another 8.0% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.
There are also smaller groups of people who follow other Christian faiths, like the Orthodox Church. About 5.32% of the population are Muslim. Some people belong to other religions, or do not belong to any church at all.
Trivia about Mels
Mels was one of the places where the Swiss-Austrian movie Akte Grüninger was filmed.
Notable People from Mels
Many interesting people were born or have lived in Mels:
- Josef Ackermann (born 1948), a famous bank executive.
- Paul Guldin (1577–1643), a Swiss mathematician.
- Otto Pfister (born 1937), a German football coach.
- Paul Good (born 1942), a philosopher.
- Andy Egert (born 1961), a Swiss blues musician.
- Doris Ackermann (born 1963), a singer and songwriter.
- Andy Prinz (born 1974), a music producer.
See also
In Spanish: Mels para niños
