Masein
# Masein

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.

## Geography

Masein has an area, as of 2006, of 4.2 $km^2$ (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).

Before 2017, the municipality was located in the Thusis sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district, after 2017 it was part of the Viamala Region. 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. As of 2008, 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%.

As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 51.0% male and 49.0% female. The age distribution, as of 2000, 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.

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%).

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).

Masein has an unemployment rate of 1.21%. As of 2005, 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.

The historical population is given in the following table:

| year | population |
| - | - |
| 1803 | 198 |
| 1850 | 282 |
| 1900 | 228 |
| 1950 | 270 |
| 2000 | 366 |
| 2010 | 409 |

## Languages

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

Languages in Masein :

| Languages | Census 1980 | Census 1980 | Census 1990 | Census 1990 | Census 2000 | Census 2000 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Languages | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| German | 188 | 82.82% | 306 | 91.89% | 339 | 92.62% |
| Romanish | 26 | 11.45% | 15 | 4.50% | 12 | 3.28% |
| Italian | 6 | 2.64% | 3 | 0.90% | 1 | 0.27% |
| Population | 227 | 100% | 333 | 100% | 366 | 100% |
