# Versam

Versam is a former municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The municipalities of Valendas, Versam, Safien and Tenna merged on 1 January 2013 into the new municipality of Safiental.

## History

Versam is first mentioned in 1050 as a valle Versamia.

## Geography

Versam had an area, as of 2006, of 16.8 km$^2$ (6.5 sq mi). Of this area, 16.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 70.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (10.6%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).
The former municipality is located in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district. It is located above the Vorderrhein canyon at the entrance to the Safien Valley. It consists of the linear village of Versam and the hamlets of Versam-Station, Arezen, Calörtsch and Sculms.
| Hay field in Versam | Rafting from Ilanz to Versam |

## Demographics

As of 2011, Versam had a population of 226. The historical population is as follows:
| year | population |
| 2000 | 255 |
| 1950 | 354 |
| 1900 | 316 |
| 1850 | 396 |
| 1803 | 357 |
As of 2008, 4.0% of the population was made up of foreign nationals.
As of 2000:
* most of the population speaks Swiss German (98.0%), with Romansh being second most common ( 1.6%) and Spanish being third ( 0.4%).
* the gender distribution was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.
* the age distribution was as follows:
| Age group | Population | % of total |
| Children (0-9yrs) | 35 | 13.7% |
| Teenagers (10-19yrs) | 33 | 12.9% |
| Adults (20-29yrs) | 12 | 4.7% |
| Adults (30-39yrs) | 41 | 16.1% |
| Adults (40-49yrs) | 36 | 14.1% |
| Adults (50-59yrs) | 25 | 9.8% |
| Seniors (60-69yrs) | 29 | 11.4% |
| Seniors (70-79yrs) | 25 | 9.8% |
| Seniors (80-89yrs) | 15 | 5.9% |
| Seniors (90-99yrs) | 4 | 1.6% |

### Education

In Versam about 78.9% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). The nearest fachhochschules to Versam are in Chur, such as the Chur University of Applied Sciences and Fachhochschule Graubünden.

### Politics

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 42.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SP (30.7%), the FDP (16.7%) and the CVP (9.1%).

## Economy

As of 2005, Versam has an unemployment rate of 0.52%. Employment and businesses were organized as follows:
| Sector | People Employed | Businesses Involved |
| Primary (raw materials) | 41 | 17 |
| Secondary (manufacturing) | 7 | 3 |
| Tertiary (service) | 52 | 9 |

## Transportation

Versam-Safien station, on the line of the Rhaetian Railway that links Chur and Disentis, is located and some 250 metres (820 ft) lower than the village of Versam, and about 3.6 km (2.2 mi) to the north. To solve this, a PostAuto bus service provides a direct connection between the railway station and the village, as well as to Thalkirch and Tenna.
Versam was connected to Tenna in 1994 with the completion of the Aclatobel Tunnel.
| Versam-Safien station on the valley floor | PostAuto departing from Versam-Safien station | Acla Road (Tenna to Versam) |

## Gallery

* Ruinaulta canyon as seen from Islabord bus stop
* Versam's church as seen from a PostAuto trip
* Chalets in Versam
* Safien Valley from Versam
* Chur from Versam