Almens Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Almens / Almen Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland, ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, parish census, civil census, family history, area history, and military records.



Geography
The former municipality of Almens (Romansh: Almen) is in the Domleschg sub-district of the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. It is located above the Hinterrhein on a terrace on the right bank. It included the village of Almens and the Mulegns hamlet. Almens (prior to 2015) has an area of 8.4 km² (3.2 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 33.9% - agricultural purposes
 * 45.5% - forested
 * 1.7% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 19.0% - non-productive

History
In early 9th century, Almens was first mentioned by the name of de Lemenne. Almens (Romansh: Almen) is in the Hinterrhein district and the Graubünden canton. Almens merged into the Domleschg municipality on 1 January 2015. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Paspels
 * Pratval
 * Rodels
 * Tomils

The population history of Almens is: 1803 - 201 inhabitants (this included Pratval until 1845) 1850 - 226 inhabitants 1900 - 217 inhabitants 1950 - 252 inhabitants 1960 - 195 inhabitants 1970 - 133 inhabitants 1980 - 179 inhabitants 1990 - 200 inhabitants 2000 - 217 inhabitants 2010 - 215 inhabitants 2013 - 228 inhabitants

Almens has been biconfessional since the Reformation in 1592. In 1410, the Saint-André church created a parish. In 1694, a temple was built in exchange for the the Saint-André church to the Catholics.

Church Records
Original church records are held in the local municipal archive or civil registration office. Microfilm copies are available at the Graubünden State Archives.

Digital images of some church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a family history center near you.

Catholic
The parish of Almens is ancient, and includes the municipalities of Pratval, Rodels, and Rothenbrunnen. Church records begin in 1629. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriage, and burials 1629-1765

The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1765-1837
 * Baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials 1838-1875

Reformed
The reformed parish of Almens was founded in 1645, likely from Thusis, and include the municipalities of Rodels and Rothenbrunnen. Records begin in 1738. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1738-1836

The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

Census
(See here for information regarding Graubünden census records.)

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Almens:
 * 1835
 * 1838
 * 1848
 * 1850
 * 1850, form C

Civil Registration
Civil registration began in 1876.

Duplicate civil registration registers are located at the Graubünden State Archives. The following records are available:
 * Both A and B registers are available through 1916-1917 and are open without restriction.
 * Family registers are available from at latest 1860 through 1910; these records are viewable but require permission to access. For more information, contact the State Archive.

Surnames
The following surnames held citizenship in Almens prior to 1875:

Related sources
The town's website (in Romansh and German) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Graubünden

Societies
Rätische Vereinigung für Familienforschung (RVFF)

Società Genealogica della Svizzera italiana (SGSI)