Praz, La

Geschichte

La Praz is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.HistoryLa Praz is first mentioned in 1276 as li Pra.GeographyLa Praz has an area, of 5.1km2. Of this area, 2.34km2 or 45.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.61km2 or 51.0% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.17km2 or 3.3% is settled (buildings or roads).Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 1.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.6%. Out of the forested land, 48.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.9% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 11.3% is used for growing crops and 18.9% is pastures and 15.0% is used for alpine pastures.The municipality was part of the Orbe District until it was dissolved on 31 August 2006, and La Praz became part of the new district of Jura-Nord Vaudois.The municipality consists of the linear village of La Praz.Coat of armsThe blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent, a cross Sable, overall crossed in saltire a key and sword Gules.DemographicsLa Praz has a population of., 3.9% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1999–2009 ) the population has changed at a rate of 26.9%. It has changed at a rate of 23.8% due to migration and at a rate of 2.3% due to births and deaths.Most of the population speaks French (111 or 94.9%), with German being second most common (5 or 4.3%) and English being third (1 or 0.9%).