Präz

Präz is first mentioned in 1290-98 as Pare(t)z.[2]

Präz village from downslope

Präz has an area, as of 2006, of 11.3 km² (4.4 sq mi). Of this area, 45.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 47.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (4%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[3]

The municipality is located in the Thusis sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district and is located on the Heinzenberg mountains. It consists of the haufendorf (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) village of Präz and the hamlets of Dalin and Raschlinas as well as scattered farm houses. The municipalities of Portein, Präz, Sarn, and Tartar merged on 1 January 2010 into Cazis.

Castle Heinzenberg ruins

Präz has a population (as of 2007) of 161, of which 5.0% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -20.3%.[3]

As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.[4] The age distribution, as of 2000, in Präz is; 29 people or 16.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 13 people or 7.3% are 10 to 14, and 9 people or 5.1% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 17 people or 9.6% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 33 people or 18.5% are 30 to 39, 21 people or 11.8% are 40 to 49, and 22 people or 12.4% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 15 people or 8.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 12 people or 6.7% are 70 to 79, there are 5 people or 2.8% who are 80 to 89, and there are 2 people or 1.1% who are 90 to 99.[5]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 48% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SPS (24.6%), the FDP (17.3%) and the CVP (9.7%).[3]

The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Präz about 70.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).[3]

Präz has an unemployment rate of 0.82%. As of 2005, there were 45 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 18 businesses involved in this sector. 1 person is employed in the secondary sector and there is 1 business in this sector. 7 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 5 businesses in this sector.[3]

The historical population is given in the following table:[2]

Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (95.5%), with Romansh being second most common ( 2.8%) and Italian being third ( 0.6%).[3] The Romansh population speaks the Sutsilvan dialect.

• Official Web site