# Illkirch-Graffenstaden

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q22660](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22660)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illkirch-Graffenstaden)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/illkirch-graffenstaden

## Summary
Illkirch-Graffenstaden is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin administrative district of France. It serves as the headquarters for the French Army's 2nd Armored Brigade and hosts the International Space University, a specialized institution for space education. The town is part of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg and the canton of Illkirch-Graffenstaden.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Commune in Bas-Rhin, France.
- **Coordinates**: 48.524722° N, 7.714444° E.
- **Aliases**: Illkirch-Grafenstaden, Illkirch, Grafenstaden.
- **Website**: http://www.illkirch.eu.
- **Administrative Status**: Commune of France (inception: 1789).
- **Current Arrondissement**: Arrondissement of Strasbourg (since 2015).
- **Former Arrondissement**: Arrondissement of Strasbourg-Campagne (1800–1879 & 1919–2015).
- **Intercommunality**: Eurometropolis of Strasbourg (inception: 1966).
- **Canton**: Canton of Illkirch-Graffenstaden (inception: 2015).
- **Historical Region**: Formerly part of Unterelsaß (1871–1918), the central district of Alsace-Lorraine in the German Empire.
- **Notable Institution**: International Space University (ISU), founded in 1987 by Todd B. Hawley.
- **Military Installation**: Headquarters of the 2nd Armored Brigade (French Army), established in 1970.
- **Sports Club**: FA Illkirch-Graffenstaden (football club), founded in 1911.
- **Transportation**: Serviced by the Strasbourg tramway.
- **Population Figures**: Recorded populations include 26,455; 26,605; 27,505; 26,780; 26,830; 26,698; 27,087; 27,118; 27,339; and 27,872.

## FAQs
**Where is Illkirch-Graffenstaden located?**
Illkirch-Graffenstaden is situated in the Bas-Rhin department of France, within the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg. It lies at coordinates 48.524722° N latitude and 7.714444° E longitude.

**What is the International Space University?**
The International Space University (ISU) is an academic institution located in Illkirch-Graffenstaden that provides specialized education for the space sector. Founded in 1987 by Todd B. Hawley, it operates as an association under French law and is a member of the Orbital Reef University Advisory Council.

**What military unit is stationed in Illkirch-Graffenstaden?**
The 2nd Armored Brigade of the French Army has its headquarters in Illkirch-Graffenstaden. This armored brigade was established in 1970.

**What is the administrative history of the commune?**
Historically, Illkirch-Graffenstaden was part of the Unterelsaß district from 1871 to 1918 during the period of Alsace-Lorraine in the German Empire. It is currently part of the arrondissement of Strasbourg (since 2015) and the canton of Illkirch-Graffenstaden (since 2015), having previously been part of the arrondissement of Strasbourg-Campagne.

**How is the commune connected to the surrounding region?**
The commune is integrated into the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg and is serviced by the Strasbourg tramway, which provides transportation links to the city of Strasbourg and the broader metropolitan area.

## Why It Matters
Illkirch-Graffenstaden serves as a significant node in the European aerospace and defense sectors. By hosting the International Space University, the town functions as a global hub for space education, fostering international collaboration and training professionals for the future of the space industry. The presence of the 2nd Armored Brigade further underscores its strategic importance within the French military's infrastructure. Geographically and administratively, its location within the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg ties it to one of Europe's most important political and economic centers, while its history as part of Unterelsaß highlights the complex shifting borders and governance between France and Germany in the Alsace region.

## Notable For
- **International Space University**: Hosts the only university dedicated specifically to higher education for the space sector, founded in 1987.
- **Military Headquarters**: Serves as the base for the 2nd Armored Brigade of the French Army.
- **Historical Transition**: Was part of the German Empire's Unterelsaß district (1871–1918) before returning to French administration.
- **Sports Heritage**: Home to the FA Illkirch-Graffenstaden football club, established in 1911.
- **Transport Integration**: Connected to the regional transport network via the Strasbourg tramway.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Illkirch-Graffenstaden is a commune in France, classified as a territorial subdivision for municipalities. It is located within the Bas-Rhin administrative district, which was established on March 4, 1790. The commune operates under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Strasbourg, a status it has held since January 1, 2015, following the dissolution of the former arrondissement of Strasbourg-Campagne (which existed from 1800–1879 and 1919–2015).

Administratively, the commune is part of the canton of Illkirch-Graffenstaden, which was established on March 22, 2015. It is also a member of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, a French urban community created on December 31, 1966. Historically, between 1871 and 1918, the area was known as part of Unterelsaß, the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire.

The geographic coordinates for the commune are 48.524722° N and 7.714444° E. It is known by the aliases Illkirch-Grafenstaden, Illkirch, and Grafenstaden. The official website for the commune is http://www.illkirch.eu.

### National Context: France
As a commune in France, Illkirch-Graffenstaden is part of a semi-presidential republic and a unitary state with a decentralized administration. France is a founding member of the European Union (since March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). The country possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960, and is a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949).

The national capital is Paris, and the country uses the Euro (EUR) as its currency in metropolitan France. France drives on the right, uses the metric system, and operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00). The country's motto is "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," and the national anthem is "La Marseillaise."

### Education and Space Industry
Illkirch-Graffenstaden is notably home to the International Space University (ISU). This institution, founded in 1987 by Todd B. Hawley, is dedicated to further education focused on space. It operates as an association under the French law of 1901 and is also known by its native French label, Université Internationale de l'Espace.

The ISU is located at coordinates 48.521448° N and 7.73871° E within the commune. It is a member of the Orbital Reef University Advisory Council, connecting it to commercial space station development projects. The university maintains a digital presence via its website (https://isunet.edu) and various social media channels, including Twitter (@ISUnet), Instagram (@spaceuniversity), and YouTube.

### Military Presence
The commune hosts the headquarters of the 2nd Armored Brigade, an armored brigade of the French Army. This military unit was established in 1970 and contributes to the strategic defense infrastructure of the region.

### Sports and Culture
The local sports culture is represented by the FA Illkirch-Graffenstaden, a French association football club founded in 1911. The club is headquartered within the commune.

### Demographics and Population
Recorded population figures for Illkirch-Graffenstaden show fluctuations over recent years, with data points including:
- 26,455
- 26,605
- 27,505
- 26,780
- 26,830
- 26,698
- 27,087
- 27,118
- 27,339
- 27,872

### Infrastructure
Transportation in the commune is supported by the Strasbourg tramway, which services Illkirch-Graffenstaden as well as the city of Strasbourg and its metropolitan area. This connectivity facilitates the movement of residents and workers within the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg.

## References

1. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/A---0030)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q781081)
7. répertoire géographique des communes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Annuaire de service-public.fr
10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
11. Populations légales 2016
12. Populations légales 2017
13. Populations légales 2018
14. Populations légales 2019
15. Populations légales 2020
16. Populations légales 2021
17. Populations de référence 2022
18. Populations de référence 2023
19. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
20. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
21. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
22. GeoNames
23. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
24. [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)
25. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
26. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
27. YouTube API