Versam is first mentioned in 1050 as a valle Versamia.[2]
Geography
Versam had an area, as of 2006[update], of 16.8 km2 (6.5 sq mi). Of this area, 16.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 70.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (10.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[3]
The former municipality is located in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district. It is located above the Vorderrhein canyon at the entrance to the Safien Valley. It consists of the linear village of Versam and the hamlets of Versam-Station, Arezen, Calörtsch and Sculms.
Demographics
As of 2011[update], Versam had a population of 226.[4] The historical population is as follows:[2]
year
population
2000
255
1950
354
1900
316
1850
396
1803
357
As of 2008[update], 4.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.[5]
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 42.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP (30.7%), the FDP (16.7%) and the CVP (9.1%).[3]
Economy
As of 2005[update], Versam has an unemployment rate of 0.52%. Employment and businesses were organized as follows:[3]
Versam-Safien station, on the line of the Rhaetian Railway that links Chur and Disentis, is located and some 250 metres (820 ft) lower than the village of Versam, and about 3.6 km (2.2 mi) to the north. To solve this, a PostAuto bus service provides a direct connection between the railway station and the village, as well as to Thalkirch and Tenna.[7][8]
Versam was connected to Tenna in 1994 with the completion of the Aclatobel Tunnel.