Courrières

Courrières
Courrières
Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region Courrières
Coordinates: 50°27′31″N 2°56′53″E / 50.4586°N 2.9481°E / 50.4586; 2.9481Coordinates: 50°27′31″N 2°56′53″E / 50.4586°N 2.9481°E / 50.4586; 2.9481
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Department	Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement	Lens
Canton	Courrières
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération d'Hénin-Carvin
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Christophe Pilch
Area¹	8.63 km² (3.33 sq mi)
Population (2004)²	10,682
• Density	1,200/km² (3,200/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	62250 / 62710
Elevation	22–38 m (72–125 ft) (avg. 25 m or 82 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.

Courrières is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.

Geography

An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of Lens, at the junction of the D46 and D919 roads and next to the A1 autoroute. The Lens canal and the canalized Deule river forms threequarters of the borders of the commune.

Nearest communes

Harnes (west)
Estevelles (northwest)
Carvin (north)
Oignies (east)
Dourges (southeast)
Montigny-en-Gohelle

History

The history of the area remains marked by the Courrières mine disaster which resulted in 1,099 deaths on 10 March 1906. All the regions' coalmines were closed by 1970.

Population

Historical population of Courrières
Year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2004
Population	7738	9296	12491	12612	11376	10588	10682
From the year 1962 on: No double counting—residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) are counted only once.