Hinterrhein Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy

Description: Guide to Hinterrhein / Valragn 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 Hinterrhein (Romansh: Valragn) is in the Rheinwald sub-district of the Hinterrhine district and the Graubünden canton. It is located on the northern portal of the San Bernardino tunnel and the start of the river Hinterrhein/Rein Posteriur. The Hinterrhein muniipality includes a haufendorf (unplanned and closely packed village built around a central square).

Hinterrhein has an area of 48.4 km² (18.7 square miles). The land use is divided up as follows:
 * 22.7% - agricultural purposes
 * 7.6% - forested
 * 1.2% - settled (buildings or roads)
 * 68.5% - non-productive

History
In 1219, Hinterrhein was first mentioned by the name of de Reno. Hinterrhein (Romansh: Valragn) is in the Hinterrhine district and the Graubünden canton. After 2017, Hinterrhein became part of the Viamala Region.

Hinterrhein merged into the Rheinwald municipality on 1 January 2019. Other municipalities merged include:
 * Nufenen
 * Splügen

The population history of Hinterrhein is: 1781 - 171 inhabitants 1850 - 163 inhabitants 1900 - 147 inhabitants 1950 - 94 inhabitants 1960 - 86 inhabitants 1970 - 77 inhabitants 1980 - 75 inhabitants 1990 - 68 inhabitants 2000 - 105 inhabitants 2010 - 71 inhabitants 2018 - 61 inhabitants 2020 - 61 inhabitants

In 1219, the Saint-Pierre church was mentioned.

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.

Reformed
Hinterrhein is an old Reformed parish; the first pastor was established in 1551. The filial of Nufenen became independent in 1696. Church records begin in 1751. Earlier records are found under Nufenen Parish, Graubünden, Switzerland Genealogy. The following volumes are available on FamilySearch:
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1751-1836
 * Baptisms, marriages, burials 1837-1875

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

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