Preonzo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preonzo
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The old village
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 Preonzo
Location in Switzerland
Preonzo
Location in Canton of Ticino
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Ticino | |
| District | Bellinzona | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.45 km2 (6.35 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) | |
| Population
(November 2010)
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| • Total | 553 | |
| • Density | 33.62/km2 (87.07/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
6523
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| Surrounded by | Claro, Cresciano, Cugnasco, Gnosca, Gorduno, Lavertezzo, Lodrino, Moleno, Monte Carasso, Vogorno | |
Preonzo was once a small town, known as a municipality, located in the Bellinzona area of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
On April 2, 2017, Preonzo and several other nearby municipalities, like Camorino, Claro, and Giubiasco, joined together to form the larger municipality of Bellinzona.
Contents
History of Preonzo
Preonzo was first mentioned in official records in 1335. Back then, it was called Prevonzo. In the 1300s, Preonzo and a place called Moleno were part of the same settlement. By 1335, Preonzo became its own municipality within the County of Bellinzona.
During a time when the Ticino region was being taken over (between 1403 and 1422), Preonzo was controlled by the cantons of Uri and Obwalden. These cantons gave the villages their own rules and customs, called Statuti or ordini.
The main parish church in Preonzo, dedicated to Saints Simone and Giuda, was built in 1459. It was rebuilt in the 1600s and later fixed up in the 1960s and 1990s. In 1545, it became separate from the Church of S. Vittore in Moleno. Preonzo's church, along with those in Gnosca and Moleno, was special because it used the Ambrosian Rite, a different way of performing church services, in the Bellinzona area.
For a long time, the people of Preonzo mostly worked with animals on mountain pastures and farmed the land. However, by 2005, only a small part of the jobs (13%) were in farming. Most jobs (56%) were in making things, like in factories. More than three-quarters of the people who worked in Preonzo traveled to jobs in Biasca and Bellinzona.
Geography of Preonzo
Preonzo covers an area of about 16.44 square kilometers (6.35 square miles). A small part of this land (7.4%) is used for farming. A much larger part (60.4%) is covered by forests. About 3.3% of the land has buildings or roads, and 2.4% is made up of rivers or lakes. The remaining 25% is land that cannot be used for farming or building, like very rocky areas.
Most of the forested land is dense forest, while some has smaller trees and bushes. The water in the municipality comes from flowing rivers.
Preonzo is located in the Bellinzona district. It sits on the right side of the Ticino river, between the towns of Bellinzona and Biasca.
The Valegión Rockslide
The rock face called "Valegión" or "Purscì" is located high up on Alpe di Roscioro, about 1517 meters (4977 feet) above sea level. This rock wall has had parts of it break off and fall many times over the centuries. In 1702, 1725, and 1747, large rockslides and debris destroyed parts of the old town. Some boulders have been found as far as 400 meters (1300 feet) from the base of the slope.
In the 1970s, a small wall was built to hold back about 3,000 cubic meters (3,900 cubic yards) of rock. This was done before a motorway was built nearby. In 1998, as the local industrial area grew, a much larger wall was constructed. This new wall could hold between 15,000 and 20,000 cubic meters (20,000 to 26,000 cubic yards) of rock.
Between 1999 and 2003, scientists placed sensors on the rock wall. They wanted to study what causes these rockslides.
In 2001, two more landslides happened from the "Riale Valegión" area:
- The first, in June, involved about 25,000 to 28,000 cubic meters (33,000 to 37,000 cubic yards) of rock. It filled the retaining walls and caused flooding in the industrial park.
- The second, in July, was about 20,000 cubic meters (26,000 cubic yards) of rock. Most of it was stopped by the walls, but some still reached the industrial area.
Because of these events, the authorities decided to make the largest retaining wall even bigger. Its capacity was increased to about 70,000 cubic meters (92,000 cubic yards). This larger wall was finished by the end of 2002.
On May 7–8, 2002, about 150,000 cubic meters (200,000 cubic yards) of rock fell during heavy rain. Only a few boulders reached the partly finished retaining wall.
During the night of May 14–15, 2012, another major rockslide happened above Preonzo. Luckily, no one was hurt and no buildings were damaged. However, it caused roads to be closed, including parts of the motorway, for safety. About 300,000 cubic meters (390,000 cubic yards) of rock fell during this event. Experts also noted that another 500,000 cubic meters (650,000 cubic yards) of rock could potentially fall in the future.
Coat of Arms
The blazon (description) of Preonzo's municipal coat of arms is quite detailed. It shows a design with a red and gold background. On the red part, there's a gold mill wheel at the bottom. On the gold part, there's a red curved bar at the top. And over both, there's a wavy silver stripe.
Population and People
Preonzo had a population of 553 people as of November 2010. In 2008, about 11.9% of the people living there were from other countries. Over ten years (1997–2007), the population grew by about 20.8%.
Most people in Preonzo (91.9%) speak Italian, which is the main language in the Ticino canton. The second most common language is German (5.2%), and French is third (1.2%).
In 2008, there were slightly more women (50.3%) than men (49.7%) living in Preonzo. The population included both Swiss citizens and people from other countries.
The age groups in Preonzo in 2009 were:
- Children (0-9 years old): 9.1%
- Teenagers (10-19 years old): 11.5%
- Young adults (20-29 years old): 11.2%
- Adults (30-59 years old): 44.8%
- Seniors (60+ years old): 23.4%
In 2000, there were 195 households in Preonzo, with about 2.5 people living in each home. Most of the buildings (76.5%) were single-family homes.
Here's how Preonzo's population has changed over time:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1850 | 402 |
| 1900 | 315 |
| 1950 | 347 |
| 1980 | 405 |
| 1990 | 396 |
| 2000 | 484 |
Sights to See
The entire village of Preonzo is recognized as an important Swiss Heritage Site. This means its buildings and layout are historically and culturally valuable and should be protected.
Economy and Jobs
In 2007, the unemployment rate in Preonzo was 3.25%. This means a small percentage of people looking for work couldn't find a job.
In 2005, jobs in Preonzo were divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: 19 people worked in farming and related businesses.
- Secondary sector: 82 people worked in manufacturing and construction.
- Tertiary sector: 45 people worked in services, like shops, offices, and healthcare.
Many people living in Preonzo traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, 175 people from Preonzo commuted out to work, while only 72 people commuted into Preonzo for jobs. This means Preonzo was a "net exporter" of workers. Most people (73.5%) used a private car to get to work, while 11.6% used public transportation.
Religion
According to the 2000 census, most people in Preonzo (81.8%) were Roman Catholic. A smaller group (5.2%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. About 10.95% of the population belonged to other churches, and a few people did not state their religion.
Education
In Preonzo, a good number of adults (about 76.2% of those aged 25 to 64) have completed higher education. This means they finished either non-mandatory upper secondary school or went on to a university or a specialized college (a Fachhochschule).
In 2009, there were 107 students in Preonzo. The education system in Ticino offers:
- Kindergarten: Up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In Preonzo, 16 children were in kindergarten.
- Primary School: This program lasts for five years. In Preonzo, 29 students attended standard primary schools.
- Lower Secondary School: Students can choose between a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship, or a four-year program to prepare for higher education. There were 31 students in the two-year middle school program and seven students in the four-year advanced program.
- Upper Secondary School: This prepares students for a trade or for university. Students can attend vocational school while doing an internship or apprenticeship (3-4 years), or attend school full-time for a year before an internship. In Preonzo, eight students were full-time vocational students, and 15 were part-time.
- Professional Program: This three-year program prepares students for jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, or business. One student was in this program.
In 2000, 20 students came into Preonzo from other towns to attend school, while 45 students from Preonzo went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Preonzo para niños
