Esneux

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  Esneux
 
Location on map of Belgium
Coat of arms Location of Esneux in Liège province
Geography
Country Belgium
Region Flag of Wallonia Wallonia
Community Flag of Wallonia French Community
Province Flag of Liège (province) Liège
Arrondissement Liège
Coordinates 50°32′N 05°34′E / 50.533, 5.567Coordinates: 50°32′N 05°34′E / 50.533, 5.567
Area 34.05 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population
– Males
– Females
- Density
13,072 (January 1, 2006)
48.45%
51.55%
384 inhab./km²
Economy
Unemployment rate 15.31% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income 13,999 €/pers. (2003)
Government
Mayor Laura Iker (MR)
Governing parties MR, PS
Other information
Postal codes 4130
Area codes 04
Web address www.esneux.be

Esneux is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Esneux had a total population of 13,072. The total area is 34.05 km² which gives a population density of 384 inhabitants per km².

Esneux is constituted of a series of villages : Esneux, Mery Hony and Tilff. They are all to be found in the valley of the Ourthe river south of Liège. A railway line links the 4 villages (and then continues further south to Luxembourg). Esneux and Tilff have seem to interests tourists, mainly for the local restaurants, the Esneux and Tilff castle, the bee-museum, and several parks. Most of these only have a local interest.

Tilff has a traffic problem, as the highway exit links to a round-about with a lot of traffic coming from both the south (Esneux) and the west (Boncelles, Angleur, ...). The local socialist parti (PS) wanted to solve this problem by a new stretch of road and a new bridge over the Ourthe river. Many inhabitants however ferar that this project is of too large a scale and that the local atmosphere might change. The village now has fierce defenders of the 'new bridge', and an equally determined action committee against the plans. This last group wants the present bridge over the Ourthe river to be replaced, but without any new large scale infrastructure. These controversies might have a led to a change of coalition after the 2006 municipal elections : the PS lost some votes, the Christian democrats gained some and the liberals where stable.

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