Saint-Ghislain

Saint-Ghislain
Municipality
Saint-Ghislain: the former town hall (1752), the new church, and the tower of the old church (16th century)

Flag
Coat of arms
Saint-Ghislain
Location in Belgium
Location of Saint-Ghislain in Hainaut
Coordinates: 50°27′N 03°49′E / 50.450°N 3.817°E / 50.450; 3.817Coordinates: 50°27′N 03°49′E / 50.450°N 3.817°E / 50.450; 3.817
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Hainaut
Arrondissement Mons
Government
 • Mayor Daniel Olivier
 • Governing party/ies PS
Area
 • Total 70.18 km2 (27.10 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)[1]
 • Total 23,207
 • Density 330/km2 (860/sq mi)
Postal codes 7330-7334
Area codes 065
Website www.saint-ghislain.be

Saint-Ghislain (French pronunciation: ​[sɛ̃ ɡilɛ̃]; Picard: Sint-Guilin) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 22,466 inhabitants. The total area is 70.18 square kilometres (27.10 sq mi), giving a population density of 320 inhabitants per square kilometre (830/sq mi).

History

The town is named after Saint Ghislain. In the 7th century, with two unknown disciples Ghislain made a clearing in the vicinity of Castrilocus (now Mons), later taking up his abode at a place called Ursidongus, where he built an oratory or chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Ursidongus was later named after him.

Economy

Google chose Saint-Ghislain in 2007 to host its new major European datacenter. As of October 2011 Google currently has 12 people employed full-time.

People born in Saint-Ghislain

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2017 (XLS; 397 KB)


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