Vira (Gambarogno) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vira
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 Vira
Location in Switzerland
Vira
Location in Canton of Ticino
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Ticino | |
| District | Locarno | |
| Municipality | Gambarogno | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.99 km2 (4.63 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 201 m (659 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 679 | |
| • Density | 56.63/km2 (146.67/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
6574
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| Surrounded by | Indemini, Magadino, Minusio, Piazzogna, Rivera, Sigirino | |
| Twin towns | Vaumarcus (Switzerland) | |
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Vira was a town, also known as a municipality, located in the Locarno district within the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
On April 25, 2010, Vira joined with several other towns. These towns included Caviano, Contone, Gerra Gambarogno, Indemini, Magadino, Piazzogna, San Nazzaro, and Sant'Abbondio. Together, they formed a new, larger municipality called Gambarogno.
Contents
Exploring Vira's Landscape
Vira (Gambarogno) covered an area of about 11.99 square kilometers (about 4.6 square miles). Most of this land was covered by forests.
About 86.7% of the area was forest. A smaller part, 4.4%, was used for farming. Around 4.7% of the land had buildings and roads. Rivers and lakes made up about 1.2% of the area. The remaining 4.3% was unproductive land, like rocky areas.
Understanding Vira's Coat of Arms
A blazon is a special description of a coat of arms. Vira's coat of arms had a unique design.
It featured eight wavy stripes of silver and blue. On top of these stripes, there was a black anchor at the bottom. Above the anchor, there were three golden five-pointed stars.
Vira's Population and People
In December 2009, Vira (Gambarogno) had a population of 679 people. Over the ten years before that (1997–2007), the population grew by about 2%.
Languages Spoken in Vira
Most people in Vira spoke Italian. In 2000, about 73.7% of the population spoke Italian. German was the second most common language, spoken by 17.2% of the people. French was spoken by 2.8%.
Who Lives in Vira?
In 2008, the population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 48% were male, and 52% were female. Most residents were Swiss citizens.
Age Groups in Vira
In 2009, Vira had a mix of age groups. Children aged 0-9 made up 7.8% of the population. Teenagers aged 10-19 were 6.6%. Adults aged 20-59 made up a larger portion, with people in their 50s being the largest group. Senior citizens, aged 60 and above, made up about 35.1% of the population.
Homes and Housing in Vira
In 2000, there were 277 private households in Vira. On average, each household had 2.2 people. Most of the buildings were single-family homes, making up 74.6% of all inhabited buildings.
Vira had 740 apartments in 2000. Many of these apartments (60.1%) were used seasonally, meaning people lived there only part of the year. About 37.3% were lived in all year round.
Historical Population Trends
The table below shows how Vira's population changed over the years:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 454 |
| 1960 | 530 |
| 1970 | 589 |
| 1980 | 579 |
| 1990 | 531 |
| 2000 | 616 |
Vira's Economy and Jobs
In 2007, Vira (Gambarogno) had a low unemployment rate of 3.13%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs.
Types of Jobs
Jobs in Vira were divided into three main groups:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming. In 2005, 4 people worked in this area.
- Secondary sector: This involves manufacturing and construction. There were 39 people working here.
- Tertiary sector: This covers services, like shops, hotels, and offices. This was the largest sector, with 223 people employed.
Overall, 277 residents of Vira had jobs. About 41.5% of the workers were female.
Commuting to Work
Many people who lived in Vira traveled to other towns for work. In 2000, 162 residents commuted out of the village. Only 92 workers came into Vira from other places. Most people (56.3%) used a private car to get to work.
Tourism in Vira
Vira was a place where people could stay. In 2009, there were 6 hotels in the town. These hotels had a total of 79 rooms and 166 beds for visitors.
Religion in Vira
According to the 2000 census, most people in Vira were Roman Catholic, making up 74.0% of the population. Another 12.7% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belonged to other churches or did not state their religion.
Learning and Education in Vira
Vira had its own schools for younger students. There was a municipal preschool and a municipal primary school.
Education Levels
In Switzerland, people are generally well-educated. In Vira, about 69.2% of adults (aged 25–64) had completed either high school or higher education, like university.
Students in Vira
In 2009, there were 84 students in Vira (Gambarogno).
- Kindergarten: 18 children were in kindergarten, which is not mandatory but helps prepare kids for school.
- Primary School: 26 students attended the five-year primary school program.
- Lower Secondary School: Students then went to lower secondary school. This could be a two-year middle school (15 students) or a four-year program to prepare for higher education (6 students).
- Upper Secondary School: After lower secondary, students prepare for a trade or university. There were 8 full-time and 9 part-time vocational students.
- Professional Programs: One student was in a three-year professional program, which prepares students for jobs in fields like engineering or nursing.
Most students from Vira attended schools within the village. However, 41 residents went to schools outside Vira.
