Russin
Origin of the name Russin
The village appears as « Russino » and « Rucins » around 1100, then « Russins » in 1217. The name is said to derive from the Latin personal name Ruscius with the suffix -anum, designating an estate owned by a person of that name.[1]
Founding of Russin
Remains of a villa dating from around the 1st-2nd centuries and tombs attesting Burgundian settlement show early occupation. It is not known who founded the village. Around 1100 the church of Saint-Laurent was given to the priory of Saint-Victor in Genève, which set up a priory there, attested in 1217 and gone by the 14th century. The territory was divided between the priory of Saint-Victor, the bishop of Genève, the lords of Malval and the lords of Gex with their vassals (La Corbière, Châteauvieux, Grésy, Livron). After the Reformation, this division caused conflicts between the Republic of Genève, heir to the rights of the bishop and the priory, and the lords of the Pays de Gex, until the Treaty of Paris of 1749, which ceded Russin to Genève. The municipality was created in 1798 under French rule.[1]
History of Russin
1st-2nd centuries. A Roman villa occupies the territory, according to remains dated to around the 1st-2nd centuries.[1]
around 1100. First mentions in the forms « Russino » and « Rucins ». The church of Saint-Laurent is given to the priory of Saint-Victor in Genève, which sets up a priory there.[1]
1217. The priory is attested; mention in the form « Russins ».[1]
14th century. The priory disappears.[1]
1412. The village has 40 hearths.[1]
1518. The village has 30 hearths.[1]
1536. The parish, Catholic until then, becomes Protestant with the Reformation. Bern intervenes in the conflicts between Genève and the lords of the Pays de Gex.[1]
1544. Creation of the Reformed parish of Dardagny-Malval-Russin.[3]
1564. The Duke of Savoy intervenes in the jurisdictional conflicts.[1]
1601. The King of France intervenes in the jurisdictional conflicts.[1]
1685. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the parish becomes Catholic again.[1]
1749. The Treaty of Paris cedes Russin to Genève; the parish becomes bi-confessional.[1]
1798. Creation of the municipality under French rule, with a mayor and two deputies.[1]
1889. Creation of the Catholic parish of Dardagny-Russin, whose church is at La Plaine.[3]
late 19th century. Industrial activity begins with the working of the Rhône quarries.[1]
1937-1944. Construction of the Verbois hydroelectric dam, at the place called Verbois.[2]
early 21st century. About 97 % of the territory is farmland or woodland (agriculture, viticulture, fruit growing). Russin belongs with Dardagny and Satigny to the Protestant parish of the Mandement and the Catholic parish of La Plaine.[1]
2005. The primary sector provides 34 % of jobs and the secondary sector 46 %.[1]
Population of Russin
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1412 | 40 hearths (households) |
| 1518 | 30 hearths (households) |
| 1850 | 283 |
| 1900 | 280 |
| 1950 | 313 |
| 2000 | 392 |
| 2025 | 560 |
Historic sites in Russin
Church of Saint-Laurent. Church given around 1100 to the priory of Saint-Victor in Genève, which founded a priory at Russin, attested in 1217 and gone by the 14th century. The parish turned to the Reformation in 1536, became Catholic again in 1685 and bi-confessional in 1749.[1]
Verbois dam. Hydroelectric scheme built from 1937 to 1944 at the place called Verbois to meet rising demand for electricity. It belongs to the Services industriels genevois. In the early 21st century it has a capacity of 100 MW, produces an average of 466 GWh a year, and its reservoir holds 13 million m³.[2]
Remains in Russin
Roman villa and Burgundian tombs. The territory has yielded the remains of a villa dating from around the 1st-2nd centuries and tombs attesting Burgundian settlement.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Russin » (Sandra Coram-Mekkey), version du 29.05.2012
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Verbois » (Jacques Barrelet)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Dardagny (commune) » (Jacques Davier) (paroisses de 1544 et 1889)
- Office cantonal de la statistique (OCSTAT), Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2026, tableau Population résidante par commune, en 2025
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (coordonnées)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Russin
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