Schmitten Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Schmitten / Ferrera 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 municipality of Schmitten (Romansh: Ferrera) is in the Albula Region and the Graubünden canton. It includes the linear village of Schmitten which is located at an elevation of 1,280 m (4,200 ft) on the right side of the Albula valley.

Schmitten (as of 2006) has an area of 11.3 km² (4.4 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 25.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 57.1% - forested
 * 1.7% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 16.2% - non-productive

History
In 1447, Schmitten was first mentioned by the name of Schmiten. Before 2017, Schmitten (Romansh: Ferrera) was in the Belfort sub-district of the Albula District and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Schmitten became part of the Albula Region.

The population history of Schmitten is: 1623 - 170 inhabitants 1850 - 205 inhabitants 1900 - 249 inhabitants 1950 - 329 inhabitants 1960 - 248 inhabitants 1970 - 233 inhabitants 1980 - 208 inhabitants 1990 - 252 inhabitants 2000 - 244 inhabitants 2020 - 222 inhabitants

The parish church of Inner-Belfort, dedicated to Saint Lucius, was located in Schmitten and then later in Alvaneu. The church of Tous-les-Saints was constructed in 1470-1490. Since 1718, Schmitten has had its own parish. Only until 1608, a Protestant parish existed.

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.

Catholic
Schmitten was part of the parish of Alvaneu until it became an independent parish in 1718. Church records begin in 1690. Earlier records may be found in Alvaneu. The following volumes are only available on microfilm at the Graubünden State Archives::
 * Baptisms 1690-1837; marriages, burials 1718-1837; confirmations 1724-1835
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Schmitten:
 * 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 Schmitten 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)