Schmitten, Graubünden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Schmitten
Schmitten village
Coat of arms
Schmitten Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Schmitten Location in Canton of Graubünden Show map of Canton of Graubünden
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Graubünden
District	Albula
Area
• Total	11.35 km2 (4.38 sq mi)
Elevation	1,301 m (4,268 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	222
• Density	19.56/km2 (50.66/sq mi)
Postal code	7493
Surrounded by	Alvaneu, Arosa, Filisur, Wiesen

Schmitten (which is called Ferrera in Romansh) is a small town in Switzerland. It is located in the Albula Region in the Graubünden area.

A Look at Schmitten's Past

Schmitten was first written about in the year 1447. Back then, its name was spelled Schmiten.

Where is Schmitten Located?

Aerial view of Schmitten (1954)

Schmitten covers an area of about 11.3 square kilometers (which is about 4.4 square miles). A large part of this land, about 57%, is covered by forests. About 25% of the land is used for farming. Only a small part, about 1.7%, has buildings or roads. The rest of the land is made up of rivers, glaciers, or mountains.

The town of Schmitten is a linear village, meaning its buildings are spread out along a road. It sits at an elevation of about 1,280 meters (4,199 feet) above sea level. You can find it on the right side of the Albula river valley.

Who Lives in Schmitten?

Schmitten Church

Schmitten has a population of about 240 people. In recent years, the number of people living here has grown a little. About 10% of the people in Schmitten are from other countries.

In the year 2000, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 10% of the people were children under 9 years old. Teenagers (10-19 years old) made up about 15% of the population. Most adults were between 20 and 59 years old. There were also a good number of older people, including some who were over 90 years old!

Most people in Schmitten speak German. In fact, over 94% of the population speaks German as their main language. A smaller number of people speak Portuguese or Romansh.

Education and Jobs in Schmitten

Many adults in Schmitten have completed a good level of education. About 75% of people aged 25 to 64 have finished high school or gone on to higher education, like a university.

The unemployment rate in Schmitten is very low, which means most people who want to work can find a job. Most jobs in Schmitten are in the secondary sector (like manufacturing) and the tertiary sector (like services). A small number of people work in farming.

How Schmitten's Population Has Changed Over Time

Here's a quick look at how the number of people living in Schmitten has changed through the years:

Important Landmarks in Schmitten

The Landwasser Viaduct

Schmitten is home to two very important bridges called viaducts. These are the Schmittentobel and Landwasser Viaducts. They are part of the Rhaetian Railway and are considered very important historical sites in Switzerland.

Images for kids

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  In Spanish: Schmitten (Grisones) para niños