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Saint-Ghislain

Saint-Ghislain
Municipality
Saint-Ghislain: the former town hall (1752), the new church, and the tower of the old church (16th century)
Saint-Ghislain: the former town hall (1752), the new church, and the tower of the old church (16th century)
Flag of Saint-Ghislain
Flag
Coat of arms of Saint-Ghislain
Coat of arms
Saint-Ghislain is located in Belgium
Saint-Ghislain
Saint-Ghislain
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°27′N 03°49′E / 50.450°N 3.817°E / 50.450; 3.817Coordinates: 50°27′N 03°49′E / 50.450°N 3.817°E / 50.450; 3.817
Country Belgium
Community French Community
Region Wallonia
Province Hainaut
Arrondissement Mons
Government
 • Mayor Daniel Olivier
 • Governing party/ies PS
Area
 • Total 70.18 km2 (27.10 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
 • Total 23,085
 • Density 330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Postal codes 7330-7334
Area codes 065
Website www.saint-ghislain.be

Saint-Ghislain (Picard: Sint-Guilin) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 22,466 inhabitants. The total area is 70.18 km², giving a population density of 320 inhabitants per km².

The town is named after Saint Ghislain. In the 7th century, with two unknown disciples Ghislain made a clearing in the vicinity of Castrilocus (now Mons), later taking up his abode at a place called Ursidongus, where he built an oratory or chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Ursidongus was later named after him.

Google chose Saint-Ghislain in 2007 to host its new major European datacenter. Google currently has 12 people employed full-time as of 13 October 2011.



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Wikipedia

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