Goms, Valais

Goms is a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. On 1 January 2017, the former municipalities of Niederwald, Blitzingen, Grafschaft, Münster-Geschinen and Reckingen-Gluringen merged into the new municipality of Goms.

Goms
Municipality in Switzerland
Niederwald village in Goms
Coat of arms
Location of Goms
Goms
Goms
Coordinates: 46°27′N 8°13′E
CountrySwitzerland
CantonValais
DistrictGoms
Area
 • Total128.94 km2 (49.78 sq mi)
Elevation
1,251 m (4,104 ft)
Population
 (2018-12-31)[1]
 • Total1,216
 • Density9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)
3985, 3989,
3998
SFOS number6077
Surrounded byBellwald, Binn, Ernen, Fieschertal, Formazza (IT), Guttannen (BE), Obergoms
Websitehttps://www.gemeinde-goms.ch
SFSO statistics

History

Blitzingen

Blitzingen is first mentioned in 1203 as Blicingen.[2]

Grafschaft

Grafschaft was created in 2000 through the merger of Biel (VS), Ritzingen and Selkingen.[3] Biel was first mentioned in 1277 as Buele.[4] Starting in the 13th Century, Ritzingen gradually became a municipality. By the 16th Century the traditional practices and pastures of the farmers were finally codified into laws.[5] Selkingen was first mentioned in 1374 as villa de Selgingen.[6]

Münster-Geschinen

Münster-Geschinen was formed in 2004 from the union of the municipalities of Münster and Geschinen.[7] Münster is first mentioned in 1221 as Musterium.[8] Geschinen is first mentioned in 1327 as Gessinon.[9]

Niederwald

Niederwald is first mentioned in 1526 as Zniderwaldt.[10]

Reckingen-Gluringen

Reckingen-Gluringen was formed in 2004 from the union of the municipalities of Reckingen and Gluringen.[7] Reckingen is first mentioned in 1225 as Requinguen.[11] Gluringen is first mentioned in 1203 as Gluringen.[12]

Geography
Aerial view from 4600 m by Walter Mittelholzer (1934)

Goms has an area, as of 2009, of 129.59 km2 (50.03 sq mi).[13]

Population

The new municipality has a population (as of December 2019) of 1,184.[14]

Historic population

The historical population is given in the following chart:[15]

Heritage sites of national significance
Church of St. Maria
Church of Mariä Geburt

The Church of St. Maria with Cemetery Chapel in Munster and the Church of Mariä Geburt in Reckingen-Gluringen are listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The entire villages of Münster and Geschinen are both part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. The villages of Biel, Ritzingen, Selkingen, Niederwald, Gluringen and Reckingen along with the entire hamlets of Ammere / Gadme / Wiler and Bodmen are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.[16]

Notable residents

Niederwald was home to famous hotelier César Ritz, who is buried in the local cemetery.

References
  1. "Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeitskategorie Geschlecht und Gemeinde; Provisorische Jahresergebnisse; 2018". Federal Statistical Office. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. Blitzingen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  3. Grafschaft in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  4. Biel (VS) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  5. Ritzingen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  6. Selkingen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  7. Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (in German) accessed 19 July 2011
  8. Münster in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  9. Geschinen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  10. Niederwald in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  11. Reckingen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  12. Gluringen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  13. Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
  14. "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  15. Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, 1850-2000 (in German) accessed 27 April 2016
  16. "Kantonsliste A-Objekte". KGS Inventar (in German). Federal Office of Civil Protection. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
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