{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Blitzingen | municipality_type = former | image_photo = Strange evening light in Goms 2.jpg | image_caption = Blitzingen village | imagepath_coa = CHE Blitzingen COA.svg|pixel_coa= | canton = Valais | iso-code-region = CH-VS | district = Goms |coordinates = {{coord|46|26|N|8|12|E|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 3989 | municipality_code = 6055 | area = 11.8 | elevation = 1290|elevation_description= | population = 90|populationof = December 2002 | popofyear = 2002 | website = www.gemeinde-goms.ch | mayor = Erwin Ritz |mayor_asof=|mayor_party= | mayor_title = |list_of_mayors = | places = | demonym = | neighboring_municipalities= Bellwald, Ernen, Grafschaft, Niederwald | twintowns = |}}
'''Blitzingen''' is a former municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. On 1 January 2017 the former municipalities of Blitzingen, Grafschaft, Münster-Geschinen, Niederwald and Reckingen-Gluringen merged into the municipality of Goms.
==History== Blitzingen is first mentioned in 1203 as ''Blicingen''.<ref name=HDS/>
==Geography== Blitzingen had an area, {{as of|2011|lc=on}}, of {{convert|11.8|km2|mi2|sp=us}}. Of this area, 36.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 27.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.7% is settled (buildings or roads) and 34.3% is unproductive land.<ref name=SFSO/>
It consists of the village of Blitzingen and the hamlets of Ammere, Bodme, Wiler and Gadme.
==Coat of arms== The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is ''Azure, issuant from a cliff Vert a flag per fess Gules and Argent two Crosses couped counterchanged staffed of the third and finialed Or, issuant from sinister a Thunderbolt Or, in Chief two Mullets Or.''<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-vs029.html Flags of the World.com]. Retrieved 7 September 2011</ref> The lightning bolt ({{langx|de|blitz}}) may be an example of canting arms.
==Demographics== Blitzingen had a population ({{as of|2015|lc=on}}) of 90. {{as of|2008}}, 24.4% of the population are resident foreign nationals.<ref name=HDS_superweb>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Superweb database - Gemeinde Statistics 1981-2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628151016/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html |date=28 June 2010 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 19 June 2010</ref> Over the last 10 years (1999–2009 ) the population has changed at a rate of -24%. It has changed at a rate of -4.8% due to migration and at a rate of -14.4% due to births and deaths.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=5 January 2016 }} Retrieved 7 September 2011</ref>
Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks German (92 or 92.9%) as their first language with the rest speaking Serbo-Croatian<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2008}}, the gender distribution of the population was 51.9% male and 48.1% female. The population was made up of 26 Swiss men (32.9% of the population) and 15 (19.0%) non-Swiss men. There were 33 Swiss women (41.8%) and 5 (6.3%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=VS_Pop>[http://www.vs.ch/Navig/navig.asp?MenuID=14752 Ständige Wohnbevolkerung nach Geschlecht und Heimat am 31.12.2009.xls] {{in lang|de|fr}} Retrieved 24 August 2011</ref> Of the population in the municipality 44 or about 44.4% were born in Blitzingen and lived there in 2000. There were 21 or 21.2% who were born in the same canton, while 11 or 11.1% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 21 or 21.2% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>
The age distribution of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 23.2% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 49.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 27.3%.<ref name=SFSO/>
{{as of|2000}}, there were 37 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 51 married individuals, 8 widows or widowers and 3 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 - 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809142611/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=9 August 2013 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 2 February 2011</ref>
{{as of|2000}}, there were 42 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.3 persons per household.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 15 households that consist of only one person and 2 households with five or more people. Out of a total of 44 households that answered this question, 34.1% were households made up of just one person and there was 1 adult who lived with their parents. Of the rest of the households, there are 10 married couples without children, 14 married couples with children There were 2 households that were made up of unrelated people and 2 households that were made up of some sort of institution or another collective housing.<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 51 single family homes (or 57.3% of the total) out of a total of 89 inhabited buildings. There were 30 multi-family buildings (33.7%), along with 2 multi-purpose buildings that were mostly used for housing (2.2%) and 6 other use buildings (commercial or industrial) that also had some housing (6.7%).<ref name=Housing>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB - Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 - Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907111534/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=7 September 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 28 January 2011</ref>
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 42 apartments (21.5% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 140 apartments (71.8%) were seasonally occupied and 13 apartments (6.7%) were empty.<ref name=Housing/> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, was 3.02%.<ref name=SFSO/>
The historical population is given in the following chart:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|2685|Blitzingen}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930162751/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true |date=30 September 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 29 January 2011</ref> <timeline> Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) ImageSize = width:960 height:210 PlotArea = height:150 left:100 bottom:50 right:100 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:210 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:40 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:8 start:0 PlotData= color:yellowgreen width:40 mark:(line,white) align:center bar:1850 from:start till:152 text:"152" bar:1860 from:start till:182 text:"182" bar:1870 from:start till:190 text:"190" bar:1880 from:start till:208 text:"208" bar:1888 from:start till:191 text:"191" bar:1900 from:start till:188 text:"188" bar:1910 from:start till:187 text:"187" bar:1920 from:start till:203 text:"203" bar:1930 from:start till:204 text:"204" bar:1941 from:start till:204 text:"204" bar:1950 from:start till:180 text:"180" bar:1960 from:start till:162 text:"162" bar:1970 from:start till:123 text:"123" bar:1980 from:start till:93 text:"93" bar:1990 from:start till:82 text:"82" bar:2000 from:start till:99 text:"99" </timeline>
==Sights== The entire hamlet of Ammere / Gadme /Wiler and the hamlet of Bodmen are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=German |accessdate=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archivedate=28 June 2010 }}</ref>
==Politics== In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the CVP which received 59.26% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP (21.69%), the SVP (10.05%) and the Green Party (4.23%). In the federal election, a total of 28 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 50.9%.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, ''Nationalratswahlen 2007: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung, nach Gemeinden/Bezirk/Canton''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514211354/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html |date=14 May 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 28 May 2010</ref>
In the 2009 Conseil d'État/Staatsrat election a total of 23 votes were cast, of which 5 or about 21.7% were invalid. The voter participation was 44.2%, which is much less than the cantonal average of 54.67%.<ref>[http://www.vs.ch/Navig/navig.asp?MenuID=4363&Language=de&link= Staatsratswahlen vom 1. März 2009] {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 24 August 2011</ref> In the 2007 Swiss Council of States election a total of 28 votes were cast, of which 2 or about 7.1% were invalid. The voter participation was 50.9%, which is much less than the cantonal average of 59.88%.<ref>[http://www.vs.ch/navig/navig.asp?MenuID=4360&RefMenuID=0&RefServiceID=0 Ständeratswahl 2007] {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 24 August 2011</ref>
==Economy== {{as of|2010|In 2010}}, Blitzingen had an unemployment rate of 0.7%. {{as of|2008}}, there were 11 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 5 businesses involved in this sector. 4 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 2 businesses in this sector. 19 people were employed in the tertiary sector, with 5 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 49 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 40.8% of the workforce.
{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} the total number of full-time equivalent jobs was 29. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 7, all of which were in agriculture. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 3, all of which were in manufacturing. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 19. In the tertiary sector; 1 was in the sale or repair of motor vehicles and 16 or 84.2% were in a hotel or restaurant.<ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1-3] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=25 December 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 28 January 2011</ref>
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 24 workers who commuted away from the municipality.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Statweb] {{in lang|de}} Retrieved 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 6.1% used public transportation to get to work, and 46.9% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>
==Religion== From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 81 or 81.8% were Roman Catholic, while 2 or 2.0% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there were 9 members of an Orthodox church (or about 9.09% of the population). 4 (or about 4.04% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 3 individuals (or about 3.03% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=STAT2000/>
==Education== In Blitzingen about 24 or (24.2%) of the population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education, and 7 or (7.1%) have completed additional higher education (either university or a ''Fachhochschule''). Of the 7 who completed tertiary schooling, 57.1% were Swiss men.<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2000}}, there were 13 students from Blitzingen who attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>
==Transport== The village is served by Blitzingen railway station.
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Blitzingen}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060818211725/http://www.blitzingen.ch/ Official website] {{in lang|de}} * {{HDS|2685|Blitzingen}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Former municipalities of Valais