Fürstenau is first mentioned in 1257 as Fúrstenowo and Furstinowe. Originally there were two medievaltower houses or guard towers and a bishop's house in the area that became Fürstenau.[3] The Bishop's summer residence is of course the reason for the city right.
Geography
Fürstenau village and surrounding valley
Fürstenau has an area, as of 2006[update], of 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi). Of this area, 52.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 9.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (6.2%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[4]
Before 2017, the municipality was located in the Domleschg sub-district of the Hinterrhein district, after 2017 it was part of the Viamala Region.[5] It consists of the village of Fürstenau and Fürstenaubruck, on the right side of the valley.
Demographics
Fürstenau has a population (as of 31 December 2020) of 350.[6] As of 2008[update], 8.1% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 12.5%.[4]
As of 2000[update], the gender distribution of the population was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.[7] The age distribution, as of 2000[update], in Fürstenau is; 29 people or 9.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 16 people or 5.1% are 10 to 14, and 13 people or 4.2% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 27 people or 8.7% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 51 people or 16.4% are 30 to 39, 36 people or 11.6% are 40 to 49, and 44 people or 14.1% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 25 people or 8.0% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 28 people or 9.0% are 70 to 79, there are 33 people or 10.6% who are 80 to 89, and there are 9 people or 2.9% who are 90 to 99.[8]
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SPS which received 32.5% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (30.4%), the FDP (27.2%) and the CVP (9.5%).[4]
In Fürstenau about 81% 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]
Fürstenau has an unemployment rate of 1.85%. As of 2005[update], there were 11 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 4 businesses involved in this sector. 2 people are employed in the secondary sector and there is 1 business in this sector. 133 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 15 businesses in this sector.[4]
The historical population is given in the following table:[3]
year
population
1803
107
1850
304
1900
235
1950
253
1980
198
2000
311
Sights
Fürstenau has three Swiss Heritage Sites of National Significance.
The municipality is predominantly German-speaking, with a small Romansh-speaking minority. As of 2000[update], 92.3% speaks German, with Romansh being second most common ( 3.2%) and Italian being third ( 1.9%).[4]
