Hénin-Beaumont

History

The commune came into existence in 1970, the result of a merger of the communes of Hénin-Liétard and Beaumont.

During World War I on the night of 3–4 October 1914, the Germans blew up the church of Saint-Martin, which was rebuilt in Greco-Byzantine style in 1932.

In the Second World War Hénin-Beaumont was liberated by the Allies, in September 1944.

Politics

In the 2009 election to replace the incumbent Socialist mayor who had resigned after a corruption scandal, the National Front took first place in the first round with 39% of the vote. A left-wing list was second with 20% of the vote. This led all other parties including the center-right Union for a Popular Movement to support the list led by the independent left-wing candidate, Daniel Duquenne in the second round runoff. Duquenne won the race 52%-48%.

In the first round of the 2012 presidential election, Marine Le Pen won in Hénin-Beaumont, with 35% of the vote, ahead of François Hollande (27%) and Nicolas Sarkozy (16%).

In 2014, the far right Front National won control of the city outright. FN politician Steeve Briois was elected mayor with 50.3 percent of the vote.

The town has been noted for its political control swinging from socialist to far-right.

Population

| graph-pos = bottom |1793 |998 |1800 |2248 |1806 |2462 |1821 |2807 |1831 |3006 |1836 |2839 |1841 |2993 |1846 |3091 |1851 |3142 |1856 |3280 |1861 |3850 |1866 |4561 |1872 |5029 |1876 |5491 |1881 |6546 |1886 |7848 |1891 |9467 |1896 |11984 |1901 |14327 |1906 |16016 |1911 |17827 |1921 |14035 |1926 |21454 |1931 |22631 |1936 |21946 |1946 |22552 |1954 |23673 |1962 |25527 |1968 |25067 |1975 |26405 |1982 |26037 |1990 |26257 |1999 |25178 |2007 |26031 |2012 |26482 |2017 |26022

Twin cities

Hénin-Beaumont is twinned with:

• POL Konin, Poland
• GER Herne, Germany
• GBR Wakefield, England, United Kingdom
• SEN Rufisque, Senegal
• USA Rolling Meadows, United States

References

References

1. (6 June 2023). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/62427-henin-beaumont INSEE commune file]
3. {{Base Mérimée. IA62000985. Eglise paroissiale Saint-Martin
4. (2009-06-29). "National Front in run-off to take northern French town hall". [[France 24]].
5. Steve Erlanger. (2009-07-06). "Left Wins French Local Election With Backing of Center-Right". [[New York Times]].
6. (23 March 2014). "France election: National Front makes gains". BBC News.
7. "French far-right triumphs in local polls that hammer ruling Socialists - Yahoo News".
8. (24 January 2017). "The French town that swung from socialist to far-right".
9. (2017-02-02). "The French town that's fallen for the National Front".
10. {{Cassini-Ehess. 16935. Hénin-Beaumont
11. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-62427#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
12. (2018-04-19). "La famille d'Arnaud Beltrame ne voudrait pas de rue à son nom dans les municipalités FN". Le Parisien.