Tinizong-Rona

Tinizong is mentioned during the Nervan–Antonine dynasty (96 to 192) of the Roman Empire as Tinetione, a station on the Roman Septimer Pass route.[2] Rona is first mentioned in 1330 as Rouenam. In 1377 it was mentioned as Rouvena, and in 1412 as Rofna.[3]

Tinizong village

Tinizong-Rona had an area, as of 2006, of 54.3 km² (21.0 sq mi). Of this area, 32.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 25.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (40.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).[4]

The former municipality is located in the sub-district of Sursés, in the Albula district. It is located along the route to the Julier pass. It consists of the villages of Tinizong and Rona. Rona consists of Ober-Rona (Romansh: Ruegnas) on a terrace and Unter-Rona (Romansh: Rieven) along the banks of the Gelgia. Rieven used to be located on the same site as the hamlet of Livizung (the hamlet was destroyed in 1580 by a rock slide), but moved following repeated flooding of the river. In 1998 the municipalities merged to form the municipality of Rona-Tinizong.[5]

Tinizong-Rona had a population (as of 2014) of 320. As of 2008, 17.5% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -9.1%.[4]

As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.[6] The age distribution, as of 2000, in Tinizong-Rona is; 47 people or 12.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 29 people or 7.9% are 10 to 14, and 8 people or 2.2% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 35 people or 9.5% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 45 people or 12.2% are 30 to 39, 63 people or 17.1% are 40 to 49, and 38 people or 10.3% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 42 people or 11.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 38 people or 10.3% are 70 to 79, there are 19 people or 5.1% who are 80 to 89, and there are 5 people or 1.4% who are 90 to 99.[7]

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the CVP which received 42.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (26.9%), the SPS (18.1%) and the FDP (10.4%).[4]

In Tinizong-Rona about 54.8% 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]

Tinizong-Rona has an unemployment rate of 1.36%. As of 2005, there were 40 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 15 businesses involved in this sector. 60 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 9 businesses in this sector. 19 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 10 businesses in this sector.[4]

The historical population is given in the following table:[6]

Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks Rhaeto-Romance (50.1%), with German being second most common (38.8%) and Portuguese being third ( 4.9%).[4] The official language of the municipality is the Surmiran dialect of the Romansh language.

The Church of S. Plasch (St. Blasius) and the Chasa Cresta Nr. 5 are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.[8]

The church was first mentioned in 1180. In 1512 the side altars were rebuilt. In 1663 it was rebuilt from the original gothic style by the Capuchin friars.

• Tinizong-Rona in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Tinizong in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Rona in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.