Santa Maria in Calanca Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Santa Maria in Calanca

Coat of arms

Santa Maria in Calanca

Location in Switzerland

Santa Maria in Calanca

Location in Canton of Graubünden

Switzerland

Moesa

Area

• Total

9.31 km² (3.59 sq mi)

Elevation

955 m (3,133 ft)

Population

(Dec 2020 )

• Total

115

• Density

12.35/km² (31.99/sq mi)

Postal code

6541

Surrounded by

Braggio, Buseno, Castaneda, Cauco, Grono, Selma, Verdabbio

Santa Maria in Calanca is a small town, also called a municipality, in the Moesa Region of Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Graubünden.

History of Santa Maria in Calanca
Geography and Land Use
People and Population
Important Historical Buildings
- The Castello Tower
- The Church of Santa Maria Assunta
See also

History of Santa Maria in Calanca

Santa Maria in Calanca was first mentioned in official writings in the year 1219. Back then, it was known as sancte Marie in Calanca.

Geography and Land Use

Aerial view of Santa Maria in Calanca in 1953

Santa Maria in Calanca covers an area of about 9.3 square kilometers (3.6 square miles). A small part of this land, about 5.6%, is used for farming. Most of the area, 73.2%, is covered by forests.

About 1.6% of the land has buildings or roads. The remaining 19.6% is made up of natural features like rivers, glaciers, or mountains.

Before 2017, this town was part of the Calanca sub-district. After 2017, it became part of the larger Moesa Region.

People and Population

Santa Maria in Calanca has a small population. As of the latest count, about 4.4% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the last ten years, the number of people living in the town has gone down by about 5.3%.

Most people in Santa Maria in Calanca speak Italian, which is 86.5% of the population. German is the second most common language, spoken by 9.9% of the people. French is spoken by 2.7% of the population.

In 2000, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 47.7% were male and 52.3% were female.

Age Groups in Santa Maria in Calanca

Here's a look at the different age groups in the town as of 2000:

Children (0-9 years old): 3.6% of the population.
Young teens (10-14 years old): 1.8% of the population.
Older teens (15-19 years old): 5.4% of the population.
Young adults (20-29 years old): 6.3% of the population.
Adults (30-39 years old): 12.6% of the population.
Adults (40-49 years old): 18.9% of the population.
Adults (50-59 years old): 16.2% of the population.
Seniors (60-69 years old): 12.6% of the population.
Seniors (70-79 years old): 13.5% of the population.
Elders (80-89 years old): 8.1% of the population.
Elders (90-99 years old): 0.9% of the population.

Education and Jobs

Many people in Santa Maria in Calanca have a good education. About 64.6% of adults (aged 25-64) have finished either a non-mandatory upper secondary education or a higher education degree, like from a university.

The town has a very low unemployment rate, only 0.15%. This means almost everyone who wants a job has one.

Most jobs in Santa Maria in Calanca are in the primary economic sector. This includes jobs like farming. In 2005, 14 people worked in this sector, and there were 8 businesses. A few people work in the secondary sector (like manufacturing), and some in the tertiary sector (like services).

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Santa Maria in Calanca has changed over the years:

Year	Population
1808	207
1850	206
1900	163
1950	202
2000	111

Important Historical Buildings

Two important places in Santa Maria in Calanca are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. These are the Castello (a castle tower) and the Church of S. Maria Assunta.

The Castello Tower

The Castello, also known as Torre di Sta. Maria, is a large, five-sided tower house. It has two floors with special arched ceilings called vaulted ceilings. We don't know exactly when it was built, but it was first mentioned in records in 1253.

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta was first mentioned in 1291. It has a beautiful Baroque style ceiling from the 1600s. This ceiling is made of many decorated panels, which is very special.