# Surava

Surava is a former municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. On 1 January 2015 the former municipalities of Alvaschein, Mon, Stierva, Tiefencastel, Alvaneu, Brienz/Brinzauls and Surava merged to form the new municipality of Albula/Alvra.

## History

Surava is first mentioned about 1580 as Surraguas.

## Geography

Before the merger, Surava had a total area of 7.0 km$^2$ (2.7 sq mi). Of this area, 10.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 78.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (6.8%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).
The former municipality is located in the Belfort sub-district of the Albula District. It consists of the linear village of Surava on the right bank of the Albula river. In 1883 the municipality of Brienz-Surava split into Brienz/Brinzauls and Surava.

## Demographics

Surava had a population (as of 2013) of 196. As of 2008, 7.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -22%.
As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 52.8% male and 47.2% female. The age distribution, as of 2000, in Surava is; 9 people or 12.0% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 6 people or 8.0% are 10 to 14, and 7 people or 9.3% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 4 people or 5.3% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 10 people or 13.3% are 30 to 39, 14 people or 18.7% are 40 to 49, and 10 people or 13.3% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 4 people or 5.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 3 people or 4.0% are 70 to 79, there are 7 people or 9.3% who are 80 to 89, and there are 1 people or 1.3% who are 90 to 99.
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the CVP which received 43.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (32.6%), the FDP (18.6%) and the SPS (5.1%).
In Surava about 66.2% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).
Surava has an unemployment rate of 0.67%. As of 2005, there were 8 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 3 businesses involved in this sector. 22 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 7 businesses in this sector. 35 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 8 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
| 1725 | 89 |
| 1850 | 159 |
| 1900 | 148 |
| 1950 | 203 |
| 1960 | 136 |
| 1970 | 93 |
| 1980 | 62 |
| 1990 | 73 |
| 2000 | 150 |

## Language

Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (78.4%), with Romansh being second most common (10.8%) and Albanian being third ( 2.8%).
Languages in Surava :
| Languages | Census 1980 | Census 1980 | Census 1990 | Census 1990 | Census 2000 | Census 2000 |
| Languages | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| German | 116 | 60.42% | 161 | 76.67% | 196 | 78.40% |
| Romanish | 66 | 34.38% | 45 | 21.43% | 27 | 10.80% |
| Italian | 10 | 5.21% | 2 | 0.95% | 4 | 1.60% |
| Population | 192 | 100% | 210 | 100% | 250 | 100% |