Communauté urbaine
Encyclopedia
In France, urban communities are the most integrated form of intercommunality in France
. An urban community is composed of a city (commune) and its independent suburbs (independent communes).
The first urban communities were created by the French Parliament on December 31, 1966. Originally there were only four, found in the metropolitan areas of Bordeaux
, Lille
, Lyon
and Strasbourg
. Later, others were created in other metropolitan areas. The purpose of the urban communities was to achieve cooperation and joint administration between large cities and their independent suburbs. This step often followed failed attempts to merge the communes within a metropolitan area. The status of the urban communities was modified by the Chevènement
Law of 1999.
Unlike agglomeration communities and commune communities, communes cannot leave an urban community freely.
As of January 1, 2009, there are 16 urban communities in France (all in metropolitan France
), with a combined population of 7.47 million inhabitants (as of Jan. 2006 census, in 2009 limits). All of the urban areas in France with more than half a million inhabitants are urban communities, except for Paris
. The Île-de-France
, which is one of the regions of France
, effectively provides a combined administrative unit covering the Paris urban area. Some urban communities are relatively small; smaller than many agglomeration communities.
The Urban communities are administrated by a council called "conseil communautaire" (council of community), composed by a proportional representation of members of municipal councils of member towns. The council is headed by an executive composed by a president and vice-presidents elected by the council. The president may be in often cases the mayor of the main city, or the most populated city. The mayors of the others cities are often also vice-presidents of the executive, the deputies-mayors are often members of the council, also composed by members of the towns councils.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. An urban community is composed of a city (commune) and its independent suburbs (independent communes).
The first urban communities were created by the French Parliament on December 31, 1966. Originally there were only four, found in the metropolitan areas of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Later, others were created in other metropolitan areas. The purpose of the urban communities was to achieve cooperation and joint administration between large cities and their independent suburbs. This step often followed failed attempts to merge the communes within a metropolitan area. The status of the urban communities was modified by the Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement
Jean-Pierre Chevènement is a French politician. He was Minister of Defense from 1988 to 1991 and Minister of the Interior from 1997 to 2000. He was a presidential candidate in 2002 and since 2008 has been a member of the Senate....
Law of 1999.
Unlike agglomeration communities and commune communities, communes cannot leave an urban community freely.
As of January 1, 2009, there are 16 urban communities in France (all in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica...
), with a combined population of 7.47 million inhabitants (as of Jan. 2006 census, in 2009 limits). All of the urban areas in France with more than half a million inhabitants are urban communities, except for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
, which is one of the regions of France
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
, effectively provides a combined administrative unit covering the Paris urban area. Some urban communities are relatively small; smaller than many agglomeration communities.
The Urban communities are administrated by a council called "conseil communautaire" (council of community), composed by a proportional representation of members of municipal councils of member towns. The council is headed by an executive composed by a president and vice-presidents elected by the council. The president may be in often cases the mayor of the main city, or the most populated city. The mayors of the others cities are often also vice-presidents of the executive, the deputies-mayors are often members of the council, also composed by members of the towns councils.
List of the 16 urban communities
(ranked by population as January 2006 census, in 2009 limits)- Urban Community of LyonUrban Community of LyonThe Urban Community of Lyon , also known as Grand Lyon or by its former acronym COURLY, is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Lyon and some of its suburbs....
(Grand Lyon, or COURLY) – 1,253,179 inhabitants - Urban Community of Lille MétropoleUrban Community of Lille MétropoleThe Urban Community of Lille Métropole is the intercommunal structure gathering the commune of Lille and that part of the Lille metropolitan area that lies in France....
– 1,107,861 - Urban Community of Marseille Provence MétropoleUrban Community of Marseille Provence MétropoleThe Urban Community of Marseille Provence Métropole is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Marseille and some of its suburbs....
– 1,023,972 - Urban Community of BordeauxUrban Community of BordeauxThe Urban Community of Bordeaux , also known by its French initials CUB, is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Bordeaux and some of its suburbs....
(CUB) – 702,522 - Urban community of Greater Toulouse – 651,584
- Urban Community of NantesUrban Community of NantesThe Urban Community of Nantes , also known as Nantes Métropole, is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Nantes and some of its suburbs.It includes 24 communes:...
(Nantes Métropole) – 579,131 - Urban community of Nice Côte d'Azur – 512,160
- Urban Community of StrasbourgUrban Community of StrasbourgThe Urban Community of Strasbourg , also known by its French initials CUS, is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Strasbourg and some of its suburbs....
(CUS) – 467,376 - Urban Community of Greater NancyUrban Community of Greater NancyThe Urban Community of Greater Nancy is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Nancy and some of its suburbs.-Member communes:* Art-sur-Meurthe* Dommartemont* Essey-lès-Nancy* Fléville-devant-Nancy* Heillecourt* Houdemont...
(Grand Nancy) – 258,526 - Urban Community of BrestUrban Community of BrestThe Urban Community of Brest is the intercommunal structure gathering the city of Brest and some of its suburbs.-Member communes:* Bohars* Brest* Gouesnou* Guilers* Guipavas* Plougastel-Daoulas* Plouzané* Le Relecq-Kerhuon...
(Brest Métropole Océane) – 210,117 - Urban Community of Dunkerque (Dunkerque Grand Littoral) – 200,417
- Urban Community of Le Mans Métropole – 184,958
- Urban Community of ArrasUrban Community of ArrasThe Communauté urbaine d’Arras was created on December 31, 1998 and is located in the Pas-de-Calais département, in northern France.-Composition:It is composed of the following 24 communes:*Achicourt*Agny*Anzin-Saint-Aubin*Arras*Athies...
– 91,438 - Urban Community of Creusot MontceauUrban Community of Creusot MontceauThe Urban Community of Creusot-Montceau is the intercommunal structure gathering the cities of Le Creusot and Montceau-les-Mines and some of its suburbs.-Member communes:* Les Bizots* Le Breuil* Blanzy* Ciry-le-Noble* Le Creusot* Écuisses...
– 90,406 - Urban Community of Cherbourg – 85,588
- Urban Community of Alençon – 49,634