Demography of the Franche-Comté

Two Centuries of Evolution

At the beginning of the 19th century the Franche-Comté was mainly rural. The department more populated was the the Jura with 290 300 inhabitants followed by the Haute-Saône with 284 400 inhabitants, of the Doubs with 230 250 inhabitants and finally of the future Territory of Belfort with 37 750 inhabitants. In almost two centuries, between 1801 and 1999 the inhabitant of Franche-Compt3e population increased 274 400 inhabitants, is an increase in 32% only whereas the French population increased by 82% during this same interval. Demographic balances within the area were upset.

Broadly from a phase of growth before 1851 one passes to a phase of demographic decline until 1946, which constitutes the low point. After the Baby-boom which is observed until 1975 the population believes in a moderate way until in the Nineties. The progression is marked since 1999 but remains however much lower than the progression national average. Until 1851 the growth of the population is about identical in the four departments although an episode of famine marks the Haute-Saône in 1817. About the middle of the 19th century the economic crisis and agricultural starts the demographic decline and a phase of emigration for the Inhabitants of Franche-Comté. The inhabitant of Franche-Compt3e metallurgy misses the passage to the coke. A serious epidemic of Choléra crosses the area in 1853-1854. It is in reaction that an effort will be made as from this time on public equipment in fountains and laundrettes. The war of 1870 causes a new fall of the population followed by a short clearing.

As of the end of the 19th century, the population starts again to drop and the evolutions are very different in the four departments comtois. The Territory of Belfort is reinforced with a strong immigration of Alsatian following the passage of the Alsace and the Lorraine under the control of the Germany. Industrial development will condition then the population growth. The most rural departments like the Haute-Saône and the Jura lose inhabitants, Doubs maintains his population. The population growth begins again as from 1946 and benefits the urban areas primarily from Doubs and the Territory from Belfort.

On the period of 1990 to 1999, the migratory deficit like the natural surplus reduced compared to the Eighties.

Doubs

Haute-Saône

The Jura

Territory of Belfort

Current population

The recent period shows an increase in the population growth in Franche-Comté 0,37% per annum between 1999 and 2006 but which is still far from the average growth of the population observed in Metropolitan France 0,64% per annum over this same period. The Franche-Comté presents, from a demographic point of view, very strong contrasts. On a side we have his traditional image, it acts of the châlets lost in the mounts of the the Jura, of the plates of the High Doubs, or of the villages which very strew the basins with the Haute-Saône… In spite of this image sympathetic nerve, which does of the Franche-Comté one of the greenest areas of France, it has large little recognized and considerable basins of population. High Doubs, the plates of the Jura and the Haute-Saône are little populated and punctually present urban boroughs such as Saint-Claude or Pontarlier. There exists in these areas of many villages which tend to be depopulated and which reach seldom more than 500 inhabitants. This report is even more striking in the High Saone where the campaigns are flee. Only Vesoul (third demographic basin of Frank County) escapes this rule.

Demographic concentrations

The first demographic pole of Frank County is its North-eastern part, that of the urban surface Belfort Montbeliard Héricourt Delle which counts more than 300.000 inhabitants. The second urban pole is that of Besancon in the center of the Franche-Comté and regional capital. Its demographic basin counts 220.000 inhabitants. Arrive in third position of the demographic basins of equivalent size, it acts of Vesoul, Pontarlier and Dole (approximately 80.000 inhabitants). There still exists of other basins, but those are too small to be quoted as large demographic basins. |valign=" top" style=" make-size: 90%" |

the Jura

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Territory of Belfort

Outlines

To note that the large demographic basins (urban surface and Besancon) are located on the major axes of communication of Franche-Comté (A36, railway line, Canal of the Rhone in the Rhine). It will be all the more true with the nearest appearance of TGV in the urban surface and to Besancon, as well as the doubling of RN19 of Langres (Burgundy) to Delle (urban surface) which will join Paris to the Swiss capital (Bern) in fast track, as well as the highway Besancon Poligny (the Jura, connection to the A39) which will bring closer Strasbourg and the Germany of Lyon and the Spain.

References

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