Masein
Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Masein
Masein Show map of Switzerland Masein Show map of Canton of Graubünden
Coordinates: 46°42′N 9°25′E / 46.700°N 9.417°E / 46.700; 9.417
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Graubünden
District	Viamala
Area [1]
• Total	4.2 km2 (1.6 sq mi)
Elevation	865 m (2,838 ft)
Population  (31 December 2018)[2]
• Total	488
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)	7425
SFOS number	3663
Surrounded by	Cazis, Flerden, Portein, Tartar, Thusis, Urmein
Website	www.masein.ch SFSO statistics

Masein (Romansh: Masagn) is a municipality in the Viamala Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

History

Masein is first mentioned in 1156 as de Medezenu.^[3]

Geography

Masein has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 4.2 km² (1.6 sq mi). Of this area, 38.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 52% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).^[4]

Before 2017, the municipality was located in the Thusis sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district, after 2017 it was part of the Viamala Region.^[5] It is located on the lower Heinzenberg and consists of the two settlements of Ober- and Unter-Masein and the hamlets of Dalaus, Cresta und Lochmüli.

Demographics

Masein has a population (as of 31 December 2020) of 500.^[6] As of 2008^[update], 2.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 2.9%.^[4]

As of 2000^[update], the gender distribution of the population was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.^[7] The age distribution, as of 2000^[update], in Masein is; 46 people or 12.6% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 29 people or 7.9% are 10 to 14, and 37 people or 10.1% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 38 people or 10.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 60 people or 16.4% are 30 to 39, 70 people or 19.1% are 40 to 49, and 47 people or 12.8% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 21 people or 5.7% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 12 people or 3.3% are 70 to 79, there are 5 people or 1.4% who are 80 to 89, and there is 1 person who is 90 to 99.^[8]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 37.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (33.6%), the FDP (14.8%) and the CVP (11.4%).^[4]

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Masein about 80.4% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).^[4]

Masein has an unemployment rate of 1.21%. As of 2005^[update], there were 32 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 11 businesses involved in this sector. 3 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 2 businesses in this sector. 47 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 11 businesses in this sector.^[4]

The historical population is given in the following table:^[3]

Languages

Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (92.6%), with Romansh being second most common ( 3.3%) and Dutch being third ( 1.4%).^[4]