Roubaix is a common French located in the department of the Northern and the area Nord-Pas-de-Calais. For the etymology of the name, two versions are opposed: a Latin version would retain Robacum which means brook in the plain , Germanic version Rosbach for brook with the reeds .

Its inhabitants is called Roubaisiens.

History

One sees a reference to Roubaix for the first time on charts of the 9th century. Roubaix then is attached to évêché of Tournai. The city passed from the statute of simple village to that of important city under the reign of the lord Pierre of Roubaix to the 15th century.

At the 19th century, Roubaix was a world capital of the Textile, sheltering even the purse of the wool (which is located today in Australia). Its industrialization was very strong, with many factories distributed on all the city. The city was even called city with the thousand chimneys . Today few of these vestiges remain, but the last chimneys still upright all are protected.

The town hall of Roubaix testifies to the very great prosperity, passed, of the city. On its pediment the various trades exerted in the city at the 19th century are represented.

Geography

Roubaix is located not far from the Belgian border at the east of Lille and the south of its rival , Tourcoing. The channel of Roubaix crosses part of the city; it will be given in navigation in 2008 (program Blue Links ).

Demography

Starting from the figures of 2005, it does not act any more censuses but of estimates.

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The Urbanisation led to the formation of a continuous Agglomération between Roubaix and its most populated neighbors, Lille and Tourcoing, without counting tens of less populated communes of the Urban community.

The city had its development with the industry Textile, whose activity decreased much thereafter. Paining to reconvert itself, she saw starting from many inhabitants (her population exceeded: 120000 inhabitants in first half of the 20th century). Today there remains the National school of arts and industries textile (ENSAIT), textile school of engineers.

Roubaix was very a long time, until 2004, the commune of France the most populated with being neither chief town of department nor chief town of district. It is now the second behind Montreuil.

It is also the commune of France with the strongest proportion of Moslems (nearly 50%).

Administration

Town hall

List cantons

The town of Roubaix belongs to the Arrondissement of Lille and its communal territory is concerned with four cantons:

List Districts

  • Cartigny is the district located at the north of the loop of the channel of Roubaix, crossed by the street of Algiers, including/understanding vast the Cimetière of Roubaix and the important industrial influences (the Wool one, Pennel and Flipo).

  • the Top-Fields gave their name to the group Auchan
  • the districts of Epeule of the Lark and of Trichon are gathered in a district committee
  • Frenoy Mackellerie is separate in the north of the city by the way of railroad, located against Tourcoing
  • the Three Bridges is a district only made up of bar HLM and has worst economic figures the of the city
  • the Pile is popular quarters located between the downtown area and the Three Bridges
  • the district of Barbieux, which draws its name from the Parc Barbieux, separates into two the town of Croix. It is one of the most crested districts of the city

Economy

Textile

  • Production:
Roubaix is called the “Manchester French” at the 19th century, competing and even exceeding the English textile power.

The workshops Textile S develop much with 18th and 18th centuries…
Il creates for itself true dynasties of merchant-manufacturers roubaisiens of which remains today “Schlumberger” of NCS in the districts bordering with Tourcoing.

In 1820, the Steam engine makes its appearance; in 1843, they are the “self-acting mule mules” thanks to Louis Mound-Bossut allowing the development of the large machine shops.

At the end of the 19th century, the operating range of the city extends to the whole world, and with the World Fair of 1889 to Paris, eight houses roubaisiennes are represented.

In 1911, Roubaix is the European center of the textile, and receives the visit of the president Armand Fallières. It is the apotheosis: the city lodges the International exhibition of the textile and the Town hall, works of Victor Laloux built with the glory of textile industry, is inaugurated.

In 1914, it is the Guerre; four years of occupation leave Roubaix naked and emaciated. All stocks, all the tools, much from men disappeared, besides one counts 75 victims of the school of arts and textile industries ENSAIT Roubaix.

Textile industry is bloodless. However, in 1929, Roubaix found its place of capital of the textile. The crisis of 1929 occurs, then the Grève S of 1931 - 1932.

This great economic prosperity partly related to the Industrial revolution is not without generating difficult work conditions.

Starting from 1970, the difficulties accumulate on textile industry roubaisienne.

The leaders did not really invest in the synthetic fibers; the material of production is too old to support a new race with profitability.

One starts to feel the competition of the workshops of the countries of the Tiers-monde where the companies do not support the social contributions for a cheap labor.

The textile factories close in Roubaix as of 1975 and their material is often sold in these countries. The city is inserted in stagnation and the Chômage. The Wool of Roubaix employing more 10  000 people still with the beginnings of the year 1970 will definitively close with the whole beginning of the year 2000.

  • Sale:

If the page of the production is closed, of the companies are still based on Roubaix and make sale.

The sale is ensured by networks Logistique spread out over the four corners of the World.

Let us quote: Redoute, the 3 Swiss, Camaieu.

Insurances

The seat of the insurance broker Vespieren is in Roubaix.

Trade

For the 20 last years of the 20th century, the town of Roubaix has tried with the image of Troyes to become an important place of tourism of purchase. The precursor of this movement is the Factory , located in an old factory, it from now on is joined by the center Mc Arthur Glen.

Culture

Since 2001, the town of Roubaix is classified town of art and history.

Structure

  • Religious: church Saint-Joseph (classified building), Saint Martin's day church, living room of the Goblins, mosque Eyüp Sultan, mosque of Sunna, mosque Abou Bakr, Laotian pagoda, pagoda raksmeysamaki, pagoda Ho Quoc of the South-East Asia community of the North of France.
  • Industrial: castles of industry, courées, the houses 1930
  • Art déco: the Swimming pool, work of Albert Baert transformed into museum of Art and Industry by Jean-Paul Philippon.
  • Inheritance: the town hall, works of the architect Victor Laloux.

Museums

  • Museum of contemporary art: the Swimming pool, Museum of art and industry.

Public records

Others

  • the Park Barbieux
  • the Ballet of North or national choreographic Center of Roubaix, currently directed by Carolyn Carlson, (artistic director)
  • the public Condition, one of the Houses madnesses of Lille 2004
  • large the Cemetery of Roubaix representative one time marked by the influence of the industrial big families

Education

Roubaix shelters:

  • the 3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of arts and textile industries
  • the college Jean Rostand whose characteristic is to give pointed trainings concerning the trades of the audio-visual one.
  • the college Maxence Van Der Meersch located near the Park cycle-racing track, comprises a sporting section cycling classified high level Préparation and a section classifies high level dance, in partnership with the school of dance of the national choreographic Center of Roubaix.
  • Campus CEPRECO of the schools of higher formation of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Lille Metropolis.

Sport

  • Football: Roubaix shone in Football in professional division when its clubs knew to be linked with those of Tourcoing: CORT.

However before war (1933), the final of the Coupe de France of football opposed 2 clubs roubaisiens: the Excelsior Athlétic Club of Roubaix against the Racing Club of Roubaix. Excelsior gained to 3 against 1.
  • Cyclisme: The bicycle club of Roubaix east one of the large formative clubs of cycling (track and road), of many French Olympic champions made there their formation like Arnaud Turning. The club is the organizer of traditional Paris-Roubaix, whose arrival is played cycle-racing track of Roubaix.

Famous people born in Roubaix

Twinnings

  • since 1969
  • since 1969
  • since 1969
  • since 1973
  • since 1981
  • since 2000

External bonds

  • Official site of the town of Roubaix
  • Site of the tourist office of Roubaix
  • Directory of the sites roubaisiens on DMOZ

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