Fourchambault
Commune
The centre of Fourchambault
The centre of Fourchambault
Coat of arms of Fourchambault
Coat of arms
Location of Fourchambault
Map
Fourchambault is located in France
Fourchambault
Fourchambault
Fourchambault is located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Fourchambault
Fourchambault
Coordinates: 47°01′10″N 3°05′08″E / 47.0194°N 3.0856°E / 47.0194; 3.0856
CountryFrance
RegionBourgogne-Franche-Comté
DepartmentNièvre
ArrondissementNevers
CantonFourchambault
IntercommunalityCA Nevers
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Alain Herteloup[1]
Area
1
4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
4,037
 • Density890/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
58117 /58600
Elevation162–181 m (531–594 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Fourchambault (French pronunciation: [fuʁʃɑ̃bo]) is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.[3]

Geography

Fourchambault lies on the right, eastern bank of the river Loire, about 7 km northwest of Nevers. Fourchambault station has rail connections to Nevers, Cosne-sur-Loire and Paris. The A77 autoroute (Montargis–Nevers) passes east of the town.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 6,279—    
1975 6,625+0.77%
1982 5,850−1.76%
1990 5,037−1.85%
1999 4,828−0.47%
2007 4,711−0.31%
2012 4,787+0.32%
2017 4,229−2.45%
Source: INSEE[4]

Industrial history

In 1819 Boigues & Fils, iron merchant in Paris, and M. Labbé, decided to find a new site on the Loire for their iron foundry to which it would be easier to transport coal, and decided on Fourchambault. A dock was built for cargo boats, and the Loire provided water for the steam engines.[5] Construction of the factory at Fourchambault began in 1821. The Charbonnières Raveaux and Cramain furnaces became annexes to the new building, and Boigues & Fils collected several furnaces from Nivernais and Berry. Manufacturing began in 1822. Almost 3,000 workers from the surrounding countryside were employed in the cast iron foundry.[6]

The Société de Commentry, Fourchambault et Decazeville was formed in 1853 through a merger of the Fourchambault foundry, Imphy (Nièvre) steelworks, Montluçon (Allier) foundry and Commentry (Allier) colliery.[7] In 1954 the company was renamed the Société métallurgique d'Imphy. In 1968 it was merged with the Société des forges et aciéries du Creusot, which in 1971 became Creusot-Loire.[7] The combined company was in turn absorbed by Creusot-Loire (Saône-et-Loire) in 1971. The Creusot-Loire group was liquidated in December 1984.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Dassé 2006, p. 2.
  6. ^ a b Dassé 2006, p. 3.
  7. ^ a b Société de Commentry - Fourchambault – industrie.lu.

Sources

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