Rossa Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Rossa 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 Rossa is in the Moesa region and in the Graubünden canton. Before 2017, the municipality was situated in the Calanca sub-district of the Moesa district, after 2017 it was part of the Moesa Region. Rossa is the highest municipality of Val Calanca. Rossa (as of 2006) had an area of 58.9 km2 (22.7 sq mi). The land use was divided up as follows:
 * 9.1% - agricultural purposes
 * 40.8% - forested
 * 0.4% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 49.7% - unproductive land

History
In 1694, Rossa was first mentioned by the name of Rossa. The Rossa municipality is in the Graubünden canton. Before Rossa became an autonomous political municipality in 1851, it was included in the municipality of Calanca and 1796-1851 of the Inner Calanca. In 1982, the municipalities of Augio and Santa Domenica were merged with Rossa.

The population history of Rossa is: 1683 - 450 inhabitants 1773 - 331 inhabitants 1850 - 186 inhabitants 1900 - 181 inhabitants 1950 - 117 inhabitants 1980 - 109 inhabitants 1990 - 108 inhabitants 2000 - 132 inhabitants 2020 - 151 inhabitants

The parish church of S. Bernardo was constructed in 1677-84. Other chapels include:
 * S. Carlo al Sabbione built in 1694
 * S. Maria della Neve located in Valbella and built in 1683
 * S. Maria Maddalena al Calvario from 1691
 * Madonna del Sangue e della Madonna del Rosario from the 18th century
 * S. Rocco from 1725

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 church records are available on FamilySearch. These records have a restriction for use only at a FamilySearch center near you.

Catholic
The parish church was built in 1677. Church records begin in 1677. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:


 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1677-1783
 * Baptisms 1756-1845
 * Marriages, burials 1784-1837
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1838-1875
 * Family register 1772-1900

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

The following censuses are available from FamilySearch for Rossa:
 * 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 Rossa prior to 1875:

Related sources
The town's website (in Italian) can be found here.

Libraries and archives
State Archives of Graubünden

Societies
Rätische Vereinigung für Familienforschung (RVFF)

Società Genealogica della Svizzera italiana (SGSI)