Fourmies, Nord

Fourmies
Fourmies
Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region Fourmies
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy
Department	Nord
Arrondissement	Avesnes-sur-Helpe
Canton	Trélon
Intercommunality	Action Fourmies et environs
Government
• Mayor (2001–2008)	Martine Roux
Area1	22.98 km2 (8.87 sq mi)
Population (1999)2	13,867
• Density	600/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
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.

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

• Every year, since 1928, the city hosts the Grand Prix de Fourmies, a professional cycle race.
• The music festival (fête de la musique)
• The traditional fun fair (traditionnelle fête foraine) attracts many people each summer.

Sister cities

• - Fridley, Minnesota, United States - Medtronic plc has an assembly plant in Fourmies.
• - Bernburg, Germany since 1967

See also

• Communes of the Nord department

References

• INSEE commune file