Schönengrund

Municipality in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland

47°19′N 9°13′E / 47.317°N 9.217°E / 47.317; 9.217CountrySwitzerlandCantonAppenzell AusserrhodenDistrictn.a.Area • Total5.21 km² (2.01 sq mi)Elevation844 m (2,769 ft)Population • Total533 • Density100/km² (260/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (Central European Time) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)Postal code(s)SFOS number3003ISO 3166 codeCH-ARSurrounded byHemberg (SG), Sankt Peterzell (SG), Schwellbrunn, UrnäschWebsitewww.schoenengrund.ch
SFSO statistics

Schönengrund is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland.

Geography

Schönengrund has an area, as of 2006^[update], of 5.2 km² (2.0 sq mi). Of this area, 65.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.1% is forested. The rest of the land, (4.4%) is settled.^[3]

Demographics

Schönengrund has a population (as of 2008^[update]) of 488, of which about 3.4% are foreign nationals.^[4] Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -0.6%. Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (97.8%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 0.9%) and Spanish being third ( 0.4%).^[3]

As of 2000^[update], the gender distribution of the population was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.^[5] The age distribution, as of 2000^[update], in Schönengrund is; 45 people or 9.8% of the population are between 0–6 years old. 73 people or 15.9% are 6-15, and 23 people or 5.0% are 16-19. Of the adult population, 21 people or 4.6% of the population are between 20–24 years old. 130 people or 28.3% are 25-44, and 108 people or 23.5% are 45-64. The senior population distribution is 46 people or 10.0% of the population are between 65–79 years old, and 13 people or 2.8% are over 80.^[5]

In the 2007 federal election the FDP received 77.9% of the vote.^[3]

In Schönengrund about 70.1% 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]

Schönengrund has an unemployment rate of 1.35%. As of 2005^[update], there were 57 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 28 businesses involved in this sector. 20 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 7 businesses in this sector. 49 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 17 businesses in this sector.^[3]

The historical population is given in the following table:^[5]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1980	404	—
1990	434	+7.4%
2000	459	+5.8%
2005	471	+2.6%
2007	469	−0.4%

Tourism

Schönengrund attracts tourists both during the winter and summer. During winter downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing are offered. During the summer, hiking attracts tourists.

References