Mendrisio District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mendrisio District Distretto di Mendrisio
District
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
Capital	Mendrisio
Municipalities	11
Area
• Total	100.89 km2 (38.95 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,969
• Density	495.282/km2 (1,282.77/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

The Mendrisio District, also called Mendrisiotto, is the southernmost district of the Ticino canton in Switzerland. It's like the very bottom tip of Switzerland! To its north is the Lugano District. On its other three sides, it is surrounded by Italy. The province of Como is to its east and south, and the province of Varese is to its west. As of 31 December 2020, about 49,969 people live in the Mendrisio District.

What is the Geography of Mendrisio District?

The Mendrisio District covers an area of about 100.89 square kilometers (38.95 square miles). A large part of this area is covered by forests. About 60.7% of the land is forested, which means it's full of trees! Another 25.6% of the land is used for farming. This includes growing crops, orchards, and pastures for animals.

About 18.7% of the district is built up with buildings and roads. This includes homes, factories, and transportation routes. A small part, about 0.4%, is made up of rivers or lakes. The rest, about 1.0%, is land that can't be used for farming or building.

Who Lives in Mendrisio District?

The Mendrisio District is home to about 49,969 people. Most people in the district speak Italian. In 2000, about 41,239 people spoke Italian. Other languages spoken include German (2,083 people) and French (534 people). A very small number speak Romansh or other languages.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Mendrisio District has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:

What is the Age of the Population?

In 2009, the district had a mix of ages. About 8.6% of the population were children aged 0 to 9 years old. Teenagers, aged 10 to 19, made up about 10.0%. Adults aged 20 to 59 made up a large portion of the population. Older adults, aged 60 and above, made up about 27.6% of the population.

What Religions are Practiced?

Most people in Mendrisio District are Roman Catholic. In 2000, about 83.5% of the population identified as Roman Catholic. About 4.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other churches, and a small number did not state their religion.

What About Education in Mendrisio District?

In 2009, there were 7,465 students in the Mendrisio District. The education system in Ticino canton offers different levels of schooling:

• Kindergarten: Children can attend non-mandatory kindergarten for up to three years. In 2009, 1,213 children were in kindergarten.
• Primary School: This program lasts for five years. It includes a standard school and a special school for students with different needs.
• Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths. Some go to a two-year middle school, followed by a two-year program to prepare for a job. Others attend a four-year program to get ready for higher education, like university.
• Upper Secondary School: This level prepares students for a trade job or for university. Students can learn a trade while working (an apprenticeship) or study full-time.
• Professional Program: This three-year program trains students for jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, computer science, and business.

What are the Municipalities in Mendrisio District?

The Mendrisio District is divided into 11 municipalities, which are grouped into 5 "circles." A circle is like a smaller administrative area.

Circle of Mendrisio

* Circle of Mendrisio
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km2
	Mendrisio	14,902	31.77
	Coldrerio	2,867	2.46
	Total	17,769	34.47

Circle of Balerna

Circle of Balerna
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Balerna	3,240	2.57
	Castel San Pietro	2,194	11.83
	Chiasso	7,581	5.33
	Morbio Inferiore	4,441	2.29
	Total	17,456	22.02

Circle of Caneggio

Circle of Caneggio
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Vacallo	3,363	1.61
	Breggia	1,926	25.85
	Total	5,289	27.46

Circle of Stabio

Circle of Stabio
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Stabio	4,491	6.15
	Novazzano	2,338	5.18
	Total	6,829	11.33

Circle of Riva San Vitale

Circle of Riva San Vitale
Coat of arms	Municipality	Population (31 December 2020)	Area km²
	Riva San Vitale	2,626	5.97
	Total	2,626	5.97

Changes to Municipalities

Over the years, some smaller municipalities have joined together to form larger ones. This helps with managing the areas more easily. For example:

• In 2009, Genestrerio, Arzo, Tremona, Rancate, and Capolago joined Mendrisio.
• In 2004, Casima, Monte, and a village called Campora became part of Castel San Pietro.
• Salorino joined Mendrisio in 2003.
• Pedrinate became part of Chiasso in 1975.
• In 2009, six municipalities (Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio, and Sagno) merged to form Breggia.
• In 2013, Besazio, Ligornetto, and Meride also merged into the municipality of Mendrisio.

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Mendrisio para niños