Fourmies, Nord

Fourmies

Coat of arms
Fourmies

Coordinates: 50°01′05″N 4°03′14″E / 50.0181°N 4.0539°E / 50.0181; 4.0539Coordinates: 50°01′05″N 4°03′14″E / 50.0181°N 4.0539°E / 50.0181; 4.0539
Country France
Region Hauts-de-France
Department Nord
Arrondissement Avesnes-sur-Helpe
Canton Trélon
Intercommunality Action Fourmies et environs
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Mickael Hiraux
Area1 22.98 km2 (8.87 sq mi)
Population (2013)2 12,581
 • Density 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 59249 / 59610
Elevation 174–247 m (571–810 ft)
(avg. 202 m or 663 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Fourmies is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. The inhabitants are called Fourmisiens.

Geography

Fourmies is situated in the Euroregion of Thiérache, a region of Northern France and Southern Belgium. It is 50 km (31 mi) from Valenciennes, 100 km (62 mi) from Lille, and 175 km (109 mi) from Paris. The city is surrounded by forests and ponds.

History

On May 1, 1891, the Fusillade de Fourmies occurred. It was the first French and international celebration of International Workers' Day on May Day. In Fourmies, troops shot at peaceful strikers: nine died, including 8 demonstrators under 21 years old, among whom, a young worker who will remain a symbol, Marie Blondeau. Thirty-five strikers were also wounded.[1]

The shooting of the 1st of May in Fourmies evoked strong emotions throughout France. It is regarded today as one of the founding events of the French Section of the Workers' International. Jean Jaurès visited Fourmies afterwards to make a speech there while George Clemenceau declared in front of the French Parliament that "it is the Fourth state which rose".

Heraldry

 The arms of Fourmies are blazoned :
Gules, 3 fesses argent (Croÿ) dimidiated with Bendy Or and gules (Avesnes)

Events

Sister cities

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fourmies.
  1. ↑ "The May Day Labour Demonstration". Guardian (UK). 6 May 1891. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Locations". medtronic.com.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.