Gif-sur-Yvette

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Gif-sur-Yvette

Coat of arms
Gif-sur-Yvette
Coordinates: 48°42′06″N 2°08′02″E / 48.7018°N 2.1339°E / 48.7018; 2.1339Coordinates: 48°42′06″N 2°08′02″E / 48.7018°N 2.1339°E / 48.7018; 2.1339
Country France
Region Île-de-France
Department Essonne
Arrondissement Palaiseau
Canton Gif-sur-Yvette
Intercommunality Communauté d'agglomération du Plateau de Saclay
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Michel Bournat
Area
 • Land1 11.60 km2 (4.48 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Population2 21,248
 • Population2 Density 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 91272 / 91190
Elevation 57–172 m (187–564 ft)
(avg. 61 m or 200 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.
Town hall

Gif-sur-Yvette is a commune in the south-western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 22.9 km (14.2 mi) from the center of Paris.

Geography

The town is crossed by and named after the Yvette river. The total area is 11.60 km2 (4.48 sq mi) and 4.07 km2 (1.57 sq mi) is green spaces and woods.

Place names

The town of Gif-sur-Yvette is composed of sections:

  • in the valley: The Rougemonts, The Mérantaise, The Mairie, The Féverie, Coupières, Damiette, Courcelle, l'Abbaye, les Coudraies;
  • on the Moulon Plateau: The Moulon (uninhabited, aside from a research and educational institute);
  • on the Hurepoix Plateau: The Hacquinière, Belleville (created before the war) and Chevry (created in the 1970s, and equipped with infrustructure).

Also, the commune's territory includes many forests such as the Hacquinière Wood and the d'Aigrefoin Wood.

Commune's neighbors

The neighboring communes of Gif-sur-Yvette are : Villiers-le-Bâcle, Saint-Aubin, Saclay, Orsay, Bures-sur-Yvette, Gometz-le-Châtel, Gometz-la-Ville, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse.

History

The human presence on the Moulon Plateau originates in Neolithic times. Agriculture was developed, notably during the Roman era.

Between the 12th and the 18th century, an important Benedictine abbey was built in Gif.

In the 19th century, Gif remained very agricultural (in particular, operating mills).

In 1867, Gif was linked to the path of the Sceaux train (which later became the south branch of the RER B).

After the First World War, the Gif commune experienced an important demographic change. The town took the name Gif-sur-Yvette in 1930.

Just after the Second World War, Gif-sur-Yvette acquired an international scientific reputation, with the construction of the CNRS and of the CEA.

The town was extended in 1975, with the creation of the Chevry section, from areas ceded by the Gometz-la-Ville and Gometz-le-Châtel communes.

Main sights

The Saint-Rémi Church was constructed in the 12th Century and remained until the 15th Century, a structure of Roman and Gothic architecture. It was registered in 1938.

Some ruins remain of an Benedictine abbey which was built in the 12th Century and became a national property in 1789. It was officially registered in 1963.

Population

Historical population
Year Pop.  ±%  
1793 815—    
1800 810−0.6%
1806 800−1.2%
1821 738−7.8%
1831 733−0.7%
1836 712−2.9%
1841 717+0.7%
1846 818+14.1%
1851 815−0.4%
1856 790−3.1%
1861 769−2.7%
1866 753−2.1%
1872 691−8.2%
1876 732+5.9%
1881 702−4.1%
1886 849+20.9%
1891 734−13.5%
1896 776+5.7%
1901 814+4.9%
1906 887+9.0%
1911 991+11.7%
1921 997+0.6%
1926 1,240+24.4%
1931 1,513+22.0%
1936 1,508−0.3%
1946 1,649+9.4%
1954 2,678+62.4%
1962 4,058+51.5%
1968 7,298+79.8%
1975 12,945+77.4%
1982 17,166+32.6%
1990 19,754+15.1%
1999 21,352+8.1%
2006 21,816+2.2%
2007 21,736−0.4%

Inhabitants of Gif-sur-Yvette are known as Giffois.

Economy

Gif-sur-Yvette is situated in the "Science Valley" of the Yvette River. Numerous research organizations exist in this area, such as the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), the CEA (Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique), Supélec (École Supérieure d'Électricité), the LGEP (Laboratoire de Génie Électrique de Paris, associated with Supélec) and the Institute of Plant Biotechnology. Also, Gif is home to the Centre National d'Études and of the National Police Academy.

The CGT operates, since 1950, a permanent central college of Gif-sur-Yvette, the Benoît Frachon Center, situated along the Yvette River.

Transport

Gif-sur-Yvette is served by two stations on Paris RER line B: Gif-sur-Yvette and Courcelle-sur-Yvette. Like all the train stations on this line, one train goes towards/past Paris (Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV or Mitry-Claye) and the other goes towards the other end of the line : Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse. The trains arrive generally at 15 minute intervals.

People

Twin towns

  • Germany Olpe, Germany, since 2001

See also

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gif-sur-Yvette.
    Communes in the Metropolitan Area of Paris
    Population over 2 million
    Population over 100,000
    Population over 75,000
    Population over 50,000
    Population over 25,000
    Population under 25,000
    • 1,670 other communes
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