# Colombes

> commune in Hauts-de-Seine, France

**Wikidata**: [Q174002](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174002)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombes)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colombes

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: Colombes
- **Location**: Northwestern suburbs of Paris, in the arrondissement of Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine department, France
- **Area**: 7.81 square kilometers
- **Population**: 91,053 (as of January 1, 2023, census)
- **Coordinates**: 48.9236°N, 2.2522°E
- **Elevation**: Ranges from 23 meters (lowest point) to 44 meters (highest point), with a mean elevation of 34 meters above sea level
- **Postal Code**: 92700
- **INSEE Municipality Code**: 92025 (since January 1, 1968)
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00 (standard time), UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time)
- **UN/LOCODE**: FRCLB
- **Current Mayor**: Patrick Chaimovitch (since 2020)
- **Twin Towns**: Frankenthal (Germany, since 1958), Salfit (Palestine, since 2024)
- **Official Website**: https://www.colombes.fr

## FAQs
**What administrative divisions does Colombes belong to?**
Colombes is located in the Hauts-de-Seine department within the Île-de-France region. It is part of the arrondissement of Nanterre and serves as the capital of two cantons: Colombes-1 and Colombes-2, a role it has held since March 22, 2015. Historically, it was part of the former Seine department from 1790 until 1968.

**What is the demographic profile of Colombes?**
As of the 2023 census, Colombes has a population of 91,053. The population has been steadily increasing from 84,577 in 2013 to the current figure. In 2017, the male population was recorded at 40,918 and the female population at 44,259.

**Who governs Colombes?**
The city is led by Mayor Patrick Chaimovitch, who took office in 2020. Previous mayors include Philippe Sarre (2008-2014) and Nicole Goueta (2001-2008, and briefly in 2014). The head of government holds the official title of Mayor of Colombes.

**What are the neighboring communes of Colombes?**
Colombes shares borders with Nanterre, Bezons, Argenteuil, Gennevilliers, and Asnières-sur-Seine. Historically, it also bordered Bois-Colombes and La Garenne-Colombes, which became separate communes on March 17, 1896.

## Why It Matters
Colombes is a significant suburban commune in the northwestern part of the Paris metropolitan area. Its population growth, from under 85,000 in 2013 to over 91,000 in 2023, reflects its increasing importance as a residential and economic hub within Grand Paris. As the capital of two cantons and a member of the Paris attraction area and *unité urbaine*, it plays a crucial role in the regional administrative and economic landscape. The city's historical evolution, including its administrative restructuring from the Seine department to Hauts-de-Seine in 1968 and the separation of parts of its territory to form Bois-Colombes and La Garenne-Colombes in 1896, illustrates the dynamic nature of urban development in the Paris region. Its twin-town relationships with Frankenthal (Germany) and Salfit (Palestine) underscore its engagement in international cooperation and cultural exchange.

## Notable For
- Being the capital of two cantons: Colombes-1 and Colombes-2.
- A steadily growing population, exceeding 91,000 residents in 2023.
- Hosting the administrative center for the cantons of Colombes-Nord-Est, Colombes-Nord-Ouest, and Colombes-Sud.
- A member of the "Concours des villes et villages fleuris," a competition recognizing cities and villages for their floral displays and green spaces.
- Its location along the Seine River, providing both scenic and strategic value.
- A rich history documented in sources like the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947).
- Strong international ties through its twin-town partnerships with Frankenthal (Germany) since 1958 and Salfit (Palestine) since 2024.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Colombes is a commune situated in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It covers an area of 7.81 square kilometers and lies within the Hauts-de-Seine department, specifically in the arrondissement of Nanterre. The city's coordinates are 48.9236°N latitude and 2.2522°E longitude. The elevation varies from a low of 23 meters to a high of 44 meters above sea level, with a mean elevation of 34 meters. The Seine River flows along its boundary.

### Administration
Colombes has undergone several administrative changes. It was part of the Seine department from March 4, 1790, until December 31, 1967, after which it became part of the newly created Hauts-de-Seine department on January 1, 1968. The INSEE municipality code was changed from 75025 to 92025 at that time.

The city serves as the capital (*chef-lieu*) of two cantons: Colombes-1 and Colombes-2, a status confirmed in 2015. Previously, it was the capital of the cantons of Colombes-Nord-Est, Colombes-Nord-Ouest, and Colombes-Sud.

The current mayor is Patrick Chaimovitch, who assumed office in 2020. His predecessors include Philippe Sarre (2008–2014) and Nicole Goueta (2001–2008, and briefly in 2014). The official title for the head of government is the Mayor of Colombes.

### Demographics
The population of Colombes has shown consistent growth over the past decade:
- 2011: 85,102
- 2013: 84,577
- 2015: 85,199
- 2016: 85,368 (census), 86,050 (Jan 1)
- 2017: 85,177 (Jan 1, census); Male: 40,918, Female: 44,259
- 2018: 86,052 (Jan 1, census)
- 2019: 86,534 (Jan 1, census)
- 2020: 86,775 (Jan 1, census)
- 2021: 88,870 (Jan 1, census)
- 2022: 90,692 (Jan 1, census)
- 2023: 91,053 (Jan 1, census)

### History and Notable Events
On March 17, 1896, parts of Colombes' territory were separated to form the new communes of Bois-Colombes and La Garenne-Colombes. The city is described in historical sources such as the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947).

### International Relations
Colombes maintains two active town twinning partnerships:
- **Frankenthal, Germany**: Established on October 26, 1958.
- **Salfit, Palestine**: Established on March 7, 2024.

### Culture and Media
The city's official website is https://www.colombes.fr. It maintains a presence on social media platforms including Twitter (handle: VilleColombes, since 2015), Facebook (VilleColombes), and LinkedIn (mairie-de-colombes). The city's municipal archives are held at the "archives municipales de Colombes." Colombes is also a member of the "Concours des villes et villages fleuris," a national competition that awards cities and villages for their floral and landscape designs.

### Representation in Knowledge Bases
Colombes is documented in numerous national and international knowledge systems:
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n89615938
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID**: 152802561
- **GND ID**: 4457756-4
- **VIAF ID**: 140845635
- **GeoNames ID**: 3024266
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 69c149a8-23d0-4a82-9371-fef869d31abd
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Colombes
- It has Wikipedia articles in over 60 languages, including French, English, German, Spanish, and many others.

### Infrastructure and Services
The city uses the postal code 92700. Its UN/LOCODE is FRCLB. The main phone number for the municipality is +33-1-47-60-80-00. The contact page for the city is https://www.colombes.fr/contact-9.html. Colombes has a FINESS ID (920807658), used for health and social establishments in France.

### Points of Interest
- The city's coat of arms is available via Wikimedia Commons.
- Images of the city hall (Hôtel de Ville) and entrance signs are publicly available.
- A locator map shows the city's position within the region.
- The main category for media related to Colombes on Wikimedia Commons is "Category:Colombes," with sub-categories for maps, people born/died there, and views of the city.

## References

1. French National Directory of Representatives
2. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/----0010)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
6. INSEE code
7. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/4316069)
8. Lingua Libre
9. [Source](https://data.iledefrance.fr/explore/dataset/villes_idf_label_vvf/download?format=csv)
10. répertoire géographique des communes
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. Annuaire de service-public.fr
13. MusicBrainz
14. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
15. Populations légales 2016
16. Populations légales 2017
17. Populations légales 2018
18. Populations légales 2019
19. Populations légales 2020
20. Populations légales 2021
21. Populations de référence 2022
22. Populations de référence 2023
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
24. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
25. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
26. GeoNames
27. BBC Things
28. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
29. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/fr.htm)
30. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
31. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
32. Quora
33. (1) Mairie de Colombes: Overview | LinkedIn. LinkedIn
34. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
35. HAL