La Garenne-Colombes

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Coordinates: 48°54′36″N, 2°14′47″E

Commune of La Garenne-Colombes

La Garenne-Colombes train station in the town centre
Location
Paris and inner ring départements
Coordinates 48°54′36″N, 2°14′47″E
Administration
Country France
Region Île-de-France
Department Hauts-de-Seine
Arrondissement Nanterre
Intercommunality none as of 2005
Statistics
Elevation 41 m (avg.)
Land area¹ 1.78 km²
Population²
(July 1, 2005 estimate)
(March 8, 1999 census)

27,500
24,067
 - Density 15,449/km² (2005)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 92035/ 92250
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

La Garenne-Colombes is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 9.6 km. (6 miles) from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.

Contents

[edit] Geography

La Garenne-Colombes is usually simply called "La Garenne", and nicknamed "petit Neuilly".

[edit] Surroundings

Four towns surround La Garenne-Colombes: Colombes (North), Bois-Colombes (East), Courbevoie (South) and Nanterre (West). The city is quiet small compared with the other cities in the Hauts-de-Seine, it is more or less as small as the first arrondissement of Paris. Very close to La Garenne-Colombes are La Défense and the Île de la Jatte island.

[edit] Transport

La Garenne-Colombes is served by two stations on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line: La Garenne-Colombes and Les Vallées (this last station is located at the border between the commune of La Garenne-Colombes and the commune of Bois-Colombes, on the Bois-Colombes side of the border). The train has been used there since 1837.

In 1935, five Tramway lines crossed La Garenne-Colombes.

Many RATP Bus lines also cross the city: lines 73, 161, 163, 164, 176, 178, 262, 272, 278, 358 and 378.

Two RATP Noctilien night Bus lines cross the city: N24 and N152.

In 2012, the line 2 of the Parisian Tramway will cross La Garenne-Colombes, with two stations: Les Fauvelles and Belgique-Charlebourg.

[edit] History

The commune of La Garenne-Colombes was created on May 2, 1910 by detaching its territory from the commune of Colombes. Yet, it was urbanised much earlier. This entity was already mentioned in 1240 as "La Garenne dépendant de Colombes" ("La Garenne depending on Colombes").

[edit] Demography

Demographic evolution
1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2005
14 534 18 512 20 545 23 167 24 734 24 080 26 753 27 341 26 562 24 038 20 990 21 754 24 067 27 500 (est.)
Since 1962 : Population without double counting

As the commune's territory is entirely built up, population can only grow if buildings are distructed and replaced by buildings containing more people (higher, less gardens). Thereby the population will grow certainly over the 30,000 after many reconstructions in the "Champs-Philippe" neighbourhood, with a density over 17,000 inhabitants per square kilometers.

According to the stats, La Garenne-Colombes is an average city of the Hauts-de-Seine department (Paris region), which is one of the richest places in Europe.

[edit] Economy

La Garenne-Colombes is very close to Paris business center La Défense
La Garenne-Colombes is very close to Paris business center La Défense

There used to be many workshops in La Garenne-Colombes, as in a large part of the Hauts-de-Seine department. Today, it mainly is a residential city. However, some 1200 business units are there.

[edit] The tertiary activity

A little street near the station
A little street near the station

The service is paramount in the economy of La Garenne-Colombes. The proximity of La Défense increases this phenomenon. There is :

The arrival of the Tramway in 2009 results in a redevelopment of a part of the city. It should bring a new breath to the local economy.

[edit] Urbanism

[edit] The city

Bloc of flats, built in 1903
Bloc of flats, built in 1903

In spite of the proximity of La Défense and Paris which has applied a strong pressure, no big buildings were built in La Garenne. Residential uses (detached homes and apartment buildings) account for the majority of the building stock in La Garenne-Colombes and many of the town's residential buildings were constructed in the early 1900s. In a large part of the town, new constructions are limited to 4 floors.

The district of the place de Belgique and National boulevard, which is the entry of La Défense, is being redeveloped.

[edit] Green ways

Eight green ways are in La Garenne-Colombes, exactly:

  • two public squares
  • two gardens
  • four parks

[edit] Commonly known places

Fountain plaza
Fountain plaza
  • Place de la Liberté (Freedom square), know under the name of place du marché (market) or place de l'Eglise (church)
  • Place du Général Leclerc, known under the name of place de la Fontaine (Fountain plaza)
  • Place de Belgique (Belgium square)
  • Rond-point du Souvenir français, known under the name of place Jean Baillet
  • Rond-point de l'Europe (Europe's plaza)

[edit] Administration

[edit] Mayors List

  • 1910-1933: Jean Bonal
  • 1934-1943: Docteur Charles Jubert
  • 1944: Maurice Godaux
  • 1944-1945: André Crimet
  • 1945-1947: Gaston Sourrisseau
  • 1947-1955: Louis Jean
  • 1955-1971: René Guest
  • 1971-1975: Albert Fabbi
  • 1975-2001: Docteur Max Catrin
  • since 2001: Philippe Juvin

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] Education

Ernest Renan primary school
Ernest Renan primary school
  • Primary schools: René Guest, André Marsault, Ernest Renan (built in 1905), Sainte Geneviève, Sagot Voltaire
  • Junior high school: Les Vallées
  • Professional senior high school: La Tournelle
  • In 2009, a new primary school: Edelweiss, for handicapped and autistic children (first school of the kind in France)
  • In 2009, a new junior high school

The city own a castle in Normandy where they send the scholars for class-holidays.

[edit] Life in La Garenne-Colombes

Saint-Urbain Church from a little street, downtown
Saint-Urbain Church from a little street, downtown

According to statistics published by the Figaro newspaper, La Garenne-Colombes is the Hauts-de-Seine's city with the lowest crime rate, without forgetting that the Hauts-de-Seine is a very quiet part of the Paris region.

[edit] People linked to La Garenne

[edit] Born in La Garenne-Colombes

[edit] Lived in La Garenne-Colombes

[edit] Died in La Garenne-Colombes

[edit] External links