Saxon | ||
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Saxon tower, above the village
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Coordinates: 46°9′N 7°10′E / 46.150°N 7.167°ECoordinates: 46°9′N 7°10′E / 46.150°N 7.167°E | ||
Country | Switzerland | |
Canton | Valais | |
District | Martigny | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Léo Farquet | |
Area | ||
• Total | 23.23 km2 (8.97 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 533 m (1,749 ft) | |
Population (Dec 2015) | ||
• Total | 5,534 | |
• Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) | |
Postal code | 1907 | |
SFOS number | 6141 | |
Surrounded by | Bagnes, Charrat, Fully, Riddes, Saillon, Vollèges | |
Twin towns | Bouliac (France) | |
Website |
www SFSO statistics |
Saxon is a municipality, in the district of Martigny, in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland.
Saxon is first mentioned in 1153 as de Saxone
Saxon has an area, as of 2011[update], of 23.2 square kilometers (9.0 sq mi). Of this area, 31.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 50.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 9.3% is settled (buildings or roads) and 8.1% is unproductive land.
The municipality is located in the Martigny district, along the left bank of the Rhone. It stretches from the Pierre-à-Voir (2,476 metres [8,123 ft]) down to the Rhone. It consists of the villages of Saxon and Gottefrey and scattered hamlets.
The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a trefoil branch Argent
Saxon has a population (as of December 2015[update]) of 5,534. As of 2008[update], 28.8% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010 ) the population has changed at a rate of 29.8%. It has changed at a rate of 33.9% due to migration and at a rate of 1.3% due to births and deaths.
Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks French (2,845 or 85.9%) as their first language, Portuguese is the second most common (154 or 4.6%) and Albanian is the third (112 or 3.4%). There are 56 people who speak German, 61 people who speak Italian and 1 person who speaks Romansh.