Bessèges

Bessèges
Former railway station
Bessèges
Administration
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Alès
Canton	Bessèges
Mayor	Bernard Portales (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	146–492 m (479–1,614 ft) (avg. 170 m or 560 ft)
Land area1	10.32 km2 (3.98 sq mi)
Population2	3,233  (2008)
- Density	313 /km2 (810 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	30037/ 30160
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.

Bessèges is a commune in the Gard department in France. It is situated on the Cèze river.

History

Historically Bessèges was a hamlet of Robiac. Its importance began with the opening of a coalmine in 1809, followed by an iron and steel plant in 1833, and eventually the railway reached it in 1857. The commune was created in 1858 from several neighboring districts.

At its peak in the late 19th century, the population was over 11,000. However, during the 20th century it declined and eventually the mine was abandoned, in 1964, and the steel-works in 1987. Today its economy is based on tourism.

Population

Historical population of Bessèges

Year	1856	1861	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896
Population	2739	7055	8671	8908	10,668	11,404	10,653	8673	7962

Year	1901	1906	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946	1954	1962
Population	9040	8219	8030	6368	7062	6357	5425	5648	5823	5720

Year	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2008
Population	5421	5255	4352	3635	3137	3233

Events

Bessèges is home to the Étoile de Bessèges road bicycle race.

See also

• Communes of the Gard department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website (in French)