Pura, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pura
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 Pura
Location in Switzerland
Pura
Location in Canton of Ticino
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Ticino | |
| District | Lugano | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.04 km2 (1.17 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 387 m (1,270 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,346 | |
| • Density | 442.8/km2 (1,146.8/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
6984
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| Surrounded by | Bedigliora, Caslano, Croglio, Curio, Magliaso, Neggio, Ponte Tresa | |
Pura is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Lugano area of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It's a lovely place with a rich history and beautiful views.
Contents
History of Pura
Pura was first mentioned a very long time ago, around the years 751–760. We know this from a copy of an old document from the 1600s.
During the Middle Ages, many important groups owned land in Pura. These included a monastery in Pavia, a big church in Como, and other monasteries like Disentis Abbey and the one in Agno.
Pura was part of the Agno church area until 1603. Then, it became its own separate church area, called a parish. The main church, San Martino, was first talked about in 1352. It was rebuilt in 1580 and made even bigger between 1642 and 1658.
For a long time, the people of Pura mostly worked in farming. They raised animals and made dairy products. A dairy cooperative, where farmers worked together, opened in 1890. Because there wasn't much farming land, many people left Pura in the 1800s. Most of them went to Italy to work as brickmakers.
In the 1960s, a lot of new buildings started to go up in Pura. By the year 2000, most people who lived in Pura traveled to other towns for work. Many of them went to Lugano.
Geography of Pura
Pura covers an area of about 3.04 square kilometers (which is about 1.17 square miles). A big part of this land, about 75%, is covered by forests. About 22% is used for farming, and 17.4% has buildings or roads on it.
The town is located in the Lugano area, on a flat piece of land above the Magliasina river. It's in the middle of the Malcantone valley. Pura includes the main village and two smaller areas called hamlets: Magliasina and Moriscio.
Pura is surrounded by hills covered with chestnut trees in the Malcantone region of Ticino. From Pura, you can see amazing views of Lake Lugano and mountains like Monte Bre, Monte San Salvatore, and Monte Generoso. In the past, the village had many vineyards. But because land for building is limited and expensive, many vineyards have been replaced by houses over the years.
Pura is considered a rural area, meaning it's more like the countryside. But it's still very close to bigger places! It's only about a 15-minute drive to the center of Lugano and 10 minutes from Agno Airport. You can even walk to Italy in about 15 minutes from Pura. Because it's so close to the border, border security is important. Swiss border patrols help keep the area safe.
Pura's Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a special design that represents a town or family. Pura's coat of arms shows two black guns crossed, with a sieve at the top and a horn at the bottom, all on a gold background.
This coat of arms comes from the Beroldingen family. Pura used to be part of their hunting grounds. So, the colors on the coat of arms are from the family, and the symbols like the guns and horn represent hunting.
People and Population (Demographics)
Pura has a population of about 1,176 people. As of 2008, about 18.1% of the people living in Pura were from other countries. Over ten years, from 1997 to 2007, the number of people living in Pura grew by 23.5%.
Most people in Pura speak Italian, about 74.1%. The second most common language is German, spoken by 18% of the people. A smaller number, 3.4%, speak French.
In 2008, there were slightly more women (53.4%) than men (46.6%) living in Pura. That year, 8 babies were born to Swiss citizens and 1 to non-Swiss citizens. There were 5 deaths of Swiss citizens and 1 death of a non-Swiss citizen.
The age groups in Pura (as of 2009) are:
- Children (0-9 years old): 10.0%
- Teenagers (10-19 years old): 10.5%
- Young adults (20-29 years old): 9.8%
- Adults (30-59 years old): 44.4%
- Seniors (60+ years old): 25.3%
In 2000, there were 438 homes in Pura, with about 2.3 people living in each home on average. Most of the buildings were single-family homes (75%).
The number of people living in Pura has changed over time, as you can see in this chart:
Important Heritage Sites
The Shrine at Monti Mondin is a very special place in Pura. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means it's an important historical or cultural treasure for the whole country.
Pura's Economy
In 2007, Pura had an unemployment rate of 3.33%. This means a small percentage of people who wanted to work couldn't find jobs.
As of 2005, people in Pura worked in different types of jobs:
- Primary sector: 21 people worked in jobs like farming or forestry.
- Secondary sector: 29 people worked in manufacturing or construction.
- Tertiary sector: 90 people worked in service jobs, like shops, hotels, or offices.
Many people who live in Pura travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 356 people left Pura to work elsewhere, while only 77 people came into Pura for work. Most people (66.8%) used a private car to get to work, while 7.9% used public transportation.
As of 2009, there was one hotel in Pura.
Religion in Pura
Based on the 2000 census, most people in Pura, about 71.4%, were Roman Catholic. About 14.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number of people belonged to other churches or did not state their religion.
Education in Pura
Education is important in Pura. About 79.4% of adults (aged 25 to 64) have finished either high school or gone on to higher education, like university.
In 2009, there were 215 students in Pura. The education system in Ticino offers up to three years of non-required kindergarten. In Pura, 37 children were in kindergarten.
The primary school program lasts for five years. In Pura, 77 students attended regular primary schools. After primary school, students go to lower secondary school. Some students go to a two-year middle school, and others go to a four-year program to prepare for university.
For upper secondary school, students can choose different paths. Some go to vocational schools to learn a trade, like engineering or nursing. In 2009, there were 16 full-time vocational students and 17 part-time students. There was also 1 student in a professional program.
In 2000, only 2 students came to Pura for school from other towns. However, 155 students from Pura went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Pura (Tesino) para niños
