Firminy
Commune
Coat of arms
Location of Firminy
Firminy Show map of France Firminy Show map of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Coordinates: 45°23′20″N 4°17′16″E / 45.3889°N 4.2878°E / 45.3889; 4.2878
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Loire
Arrondissement	Saint-Étienne
Canton	Firminy
Intercommunality	Saint-Étienne Métropole
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Julien Luya[1]
Area 1	10.45 km2 (4.03 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	17,137
• Density	1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	42095 /42700
Elevation	446–800 m (1,463–2,625 ft) (avg. 468 m or 1,535 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Firminy (French pronunciation: [fiʁmini]; Occitan: Frominiu) is a commune in the Loire department in central France.

It lies on the river Ondaine, 13 km southwest of Saint-Étienne by rail.

History

The ancient name of the town was Firminiaco or Firminiacus (lit. "place of Firmin"). The name was first recorded in a 971 charter by the King of Burgundy.

Firminy had historically important coalmines known since the 14th century and extensive manufactures of iron, steel, and aluminum goods, including railway material, machinery and cannon. Fancy woolen hosiery was also manufactured.^[3]

Population

Sights

Two historic churches from the 12th and 16th centuries are located here. The architect Le Corbusier designed a group of modern buildings, called "Firminy Vert", which includes the Saint-Pierre Church, a stadium, a cultural center, and an Unité d'Habitation.