Verscio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Verscio
Former municipality of Switzerland
Verscio village
Coat of arms
Verscio Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Verscio Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Locarno
Area
• Total	3.0 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation	245 m (804 ft)
Population  (Dec 2011)
• Total	1,091
• Density	364/km2 (942/sq mi)
Postal code	6653
Surrounded by	Avegno, Cavigliano, Losone, Maggia, Tegna

Verscio was once a small town, or municipality, located in the Locarno area of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On April 14, 2013, Verscio joined with two other towns, Cavigliano and Tegna, to form a new, larger municipality called Terre di Pedemonte.

Geography of Verscio

An aerial view of Verscio in 1953

Before it merged, Verscio covered an area of about 3.1 km² (1.2 sq mi). A big part of this land, about 65%, was covered by forests. About 15% of the land was used for farming, growing crops or for pastures where animals could graze.

Around 11% of Verscio's land was developed with buildings and roads. A small amount, about 4%, was made up of rivers or lakes. The remaining land was not used for farming or building.

People and Languages

In 2011, Verscio had a population of 1,091 people. About 14% of these people were not Swiss citizens. Over ten years, from 1997 to 2007, the number of people living in Verscio grew by 25%.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Verscio speak Italian, which is the main language in the Ticino canton. In 2000, about 76% of the people spoke Italian. The second most common language was German, spoken by about 16% of the population. A smaller number of people, about 3%, spoke French.

Population Changes

In 2008, there were slightly more women (51.1%) than men (48.9%) living in Verscio. That year, more babies were born than people died, which helped the population grow. Also, some people moved to Verscio, adding to its growth.

Age Groups

The population of Verscio in 2009 included many young people. About 11.7% were children under 10, and 12.7% were teenagers between 10 and 19. The largest group was adults aged 40 to 49, making up about 18.8% of the population. There were also many older adults and seniors living in the town.

Homes and Households

In 2000, Verscio had 375 households, with an average of 2.4 people living in each home. Most of the buildings were single-family homes, making up about 72% of all inhabited buildings. There were also some two-family and multi-family buildings. Most apartments in Verscio were lived in all year round.

Historical Population

Here's how the population of Verscio has changed over time:

Important Sights

The entire village of Verscio is recognized as an important Swiss heritage site. This means it has special historical or cultural value that is protected.

Economy and Jobs

In 2007, the unemployment rate in Verscio was low, at 2.4%. This means most people who wanted jobs had them.

Working in Verscio

The town's economy was divided into three main parts:

• Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming. In 2005, 12 people worked in this area.
• Secondary Sector: This involves manufacturing and construction. 72 people worked in this sector.
• Tertiary Sector: This covers services, like shops, schools, and healthcare. 126 people worked in this sector.

Many people who lived in Verscio traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, about 294 residents worked outside Verscio, while 202 people came into Verscio for their jobs. Most people used a private car to get to work, while a smaller number used public transportation.

Religion

According to the 2000 census, most people in Verscio were Roman Catholic, making up about 70% of the population. About 11% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belonged to other churches or did not state their religion.

Education

Many adults in Verscio have completed a good level of education. About 77% of people aged 25-64 had finished upper secondary education or even higher education, like university.

Schools in Verscio

In 2009, there were 242 students in Verscio. The local education system offers:

• Kindergarten: 39 children attended kindergarten.
• Primary School: This program lasts five years. 77 students were in standard primary schools, and 2 were in a special school.
• Lower Secondary School: Students either go to a two-year middle school or a four-year program to prepare for higher education.
• Upper Secondary School: This prepares students for a trade job or for university. Some students attend full-time, while others combine school with an internship.

Scuola Teatro Dimitri

Verscio is home to a special school called the Scuola Teatro Dimitri. It's a performing arts college that focuses on physical theatre. It was started by a famous Swiss clown named Dimitri, and it used to be known as a clown school!

See also

In Spanish: Verscio para niños