Saint-Prex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saint-Prex
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Town gate of Sant-Prex
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 Saint-Prex
Location in Switzerland
Saint-Prex
Location in Canton of Vaud
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Vaud | |
| District | Morges | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.54 km2 (2.14 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 377 m (1,237 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 5,855 | |
| • Density | 1,056.9/km2 (2,737.3/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
1162
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| Surrounded by | Buchillon, Etoy, Lully, Lussy-sur-Morges, Publier (FR-74), Thonon-les-Bains (FR-74), Tolochenaz, Villars-sous-Yens | |
Saint-Prex is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Vaud canton, which is like a state, and is part of the Morges area.
In 1973, Saint-Prex won the Wakker Prize. This award recognized the town for keeping its old buildings and history well-preserved.
Contents
A Look Back: Saint-Prex History
Saint-Prex was first mentioned in old records in the year 885. Back then, it was called Sanctus Prothasius.
The town officially began when a chateau (a large castle-like house) was built in 1234 AD. The old part of the town sits on a piece of land that sticks out into Lake Geneva. This makes it look like a small peninsula.
In more recent times, many of the shops and businesses have moved to areas outside the old town. During the summer, Saint-Prex is a port for the CGN lake steamers. These are boats that travel across Lake Geneva.
Geography and Location
Saint-Prex covers an area of about 5.5 square kilometers (2.1 square miles). A large part of this land, about 52.5%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 8.3% of the area.
About 38.4% of the town is built up with buildings and roads. A very small part, 0.4%, is made up of rivers or lakes. Most of the water in Saint-Prex is from Lake Geneva.
The town used to be part of the Morges District. This district was changed on August 31, 2006. Saint-Prex then became part of the new Morges district.
Saint-Prex is located right along the beautiful Lake Geneva. It includes the main village of Saint-Prex. It also has smaller areas called hamlets, such as Les Iles, Beaufort, Senaugin, and Fraidaigue. There are also two old, empty villages named Dracy and Marcy within the town's area.
Town Symbol: Coat of Arms
The official symbol, or blazon, of Saint-Prex is a red shield with a silver Fleur-de-lys on it. A Fleur-de-lys is a design that looks like a lily flower.
People of Saint-Prex: Demographics
Saint-Prex has a population of about 5,414 people. About 32.8% of the people living here are foreign nationals. This means they are from other countries.
Over the last 10 years (1999–2009), the number of people living in Saint-Prex grew by 25%. This growth happened because more people moved into the town than left it. Also, more babies were born than people died.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Saint-Prex speak French. About 82.5% of the population uses French as their main language. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 5% of the people. Italian is third, spoken by about 3.3%.
Where People Are From
About 20.1% of the people living in Saint-Prex in 2000 were also born there. Another 30.1% were born in the same canton (Vaud). About 18.4% were born elsewhere in Switzerland. The remaining 28.8% were born outside of Switzerland.
Age Groups in Saint-Prex
In 2009, the population of Saint-Prex included:
- Children aged 0-9 years: 12.5%
- Teenagers aged 10-19 years: 11.2%
- Young adults aged 20-29 years: 11.5%
- Adults aged 30-39 years: 16.7%
- Adults aged 40-49 years: 17.1%
- Adults aged 50-59 years: 12.9%
- Seniors aged 60-69 years: 10.1%
- Seniors aged 70-79 years: 4.9%
- Seniors aged 80-89 years: 2.6%
- Seniors 90 years and older: 0.5%
Population Growth Over Time
The chart below shows how the population of Saint-Prex has changed over many years. You can see how the number of people living in the town has grown.
Important Heritage Sites
The Swiss Reformed Church of Notre-Dame is a very important building. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means it is protected because of its historical and cultural value.
The entire old part of Saint-Prex is also special. It is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This shows how important it is to preserve the town's history and architecture.
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Saint-Prex was 4.5%. This means that 4.5% of people looking for work could not find a job.
Many people in Saint-Prex have jobs in different areas:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming. In 2008, 51 people worked in this area.
- Secondary Sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing and building things. About 740 people worked in this sector.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs in services, like shops, offices, and healthcare. About 966 people worked in this sector.
In total, 2,321 people living in Saint-Prex had jobs. Almost half of these workers (44.6%) were women.
Companies in Saint-Prex
Two important international companies have offices in Saint-Prex:
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals: This is a large company that makes medicines. Its main office is in Saint-Prex.
- Vale: This is a Brazilian company that focuses on mining. It has a regional office located in Saint-Prex.
Many people who live in Saint-Prex travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 1,697 workers left the town for their jobs. Only 533 workers came into Saint-Prex from other places. This means more people leave Saint-Prex for work than come in.
Most people (66%) use a private car to get to work. About 13.9% use public transportation, like trains or buses.
Religion in Saint-Prex
Based on a census from 2000, people in Saint-Prex follow different religions:
- About 38.9% were Roman Catholic.
- About 36.1% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- Smaller numbers of people belonged to other Christian churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, or the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland.
- About 2.95% of the population was Islamic.
- A very small number were Jewish or Buddhist.
- About 12.78% of the people said they did not belong to any church. They might be agnostic or atheist.
Education and Schools
Education is important in Saint-Prex. About 34.1% of the people have finished high school. Also, 18.4% have gone on to higher education, like a university.
School System
In the 2009/2010 school year, there were 632 students in the Saint-Prex school area.
- The Vaud canton offers two years of optional pre-school.
- Primary school lasts for four years. There were 336 students in primary school in Saint-Prex.
- Lower secondary school is required and lasts for six years. There were 289 students in these schools.
- A small number of students (7) were homeschooled or went to other types of schools.
Some students from Saint-Prex (227) go to schools outside the town. Also, 120 students from other towns come to Saint-Prex for school.
Getting Around: Transportation
Saint-Prex has its own railway station, called St-Prex. This station is on the Lausanne–Geneva line. Trains from this station regularly go to Allaman, Lausanne, and Palézieux.
Famous People from Saint-Prex
- Annie Leuch-Reineck (1880 - 1978 in Saint-Prex): She was a Swiss mathematician. She also worked hard for women's rights.
- André Bugnon (born 1947): He is a politician. He was the mayor of Saint-Prex from 1990 to 2002. He was also a member of the Swiss National Council, which is part of the Swiss government.
See also
In Spanish: Saint-Prex para niños
