Colombes

[kaw-lawnb]

Colombes, city (1990 pop. 79,058), Hauts-de-Seine dept., N central France, on the Seine River. An industrial suburb of Paris, Colombes has fuel refineries, foundries, and tire plants. A 16th-century church and a sports arena are in the city.

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La Garenne-Colombes

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.

Geography

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

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.

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.

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").

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.

Economy

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.

The tertiary activity

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

Peugeot study offices
Boston Scientific International
France's Fox Kids
RATP's Charlebourg center

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.

Urbanism

The city

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.

Green ways

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

two public squares
two gardens
four parks

Commonly known places

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)

Administration

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

Twin cities

Education

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.

Life in La Garenne-Colombes

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.