Somain () is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the Nord department in northern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. The former commune of Villers-Campeau was absorbed by Somain in 1947.INSEE commune file
/ref> The town was known for its extensive mining industry.

Mining

Most nearby mines were operated by either the Aniche Mining Company or the Anzin Mining Company. The Renaissance mine was the first mine. It was opened in the south of the town in 1839. It was soon followed by the St Louis mine, which opened in 1843, and was located a few hundred yards south of the Renaissance mine. The Renaissance mine closed in 1890, and the St Louis mine in 1925. In 1856, the Anzin Mining Company opened the Casimir Périer mine in the South East of the town, near Fenain and Abscon. Coal extraction ceased at the Casimir Périer mine in 1935, but the mine remained open to allow access to another local pit, the Saint Mark mine. The Aniche mining company opened the De Sessavalle mine in 1902. The mine closed in 1970.

Transport

Somain was previously served by the following rail lines: Somain - Péruwelz, Aubigny-au-Bac - Somain, Somain - Halluin via Orchies, Somain - Douai (Nord), and Somain - Douai (Sud).

Population

Politics

Since 1912, the town has had the following mayors: * 1912–1945: Victor Bachelet * 1945–1947: Eugène Dutouquet * 1947–1952: Victor Bachelet * 1952–1964: Achille Fleury * 1964–1977: Marc Demilly * 1977–??: Jean-Claude Quennesson * 2020–present: Julien Quennesson (incumbent)

Education

Primary schools

There are various primary schools in Somain: *École primaire Louis-Aragon, located in De Sessevalle. *École primaire Marie-Curie, located in the town center. *École primaire Désiré-Chevalier, located in Villers-Campeau. *École primaire Henri-Barbusse, located near the Cheminots estate. *École primaire Sainte-Anne (private school).

Colleges

Somain has three colleges: *Collège Victor-Hugo, located in the town center. *Collège Louis-Pasteur, located near the Cheminots estate. *Collège Sainte-Anne, a private college located near the city center. There are plans to renovate Collège Victor-Hugo to meet HQE standards.

Lycées

There are two lycées in Somain: *Lycée général et technologique Louis-Pasteur, located near the Cheminots estate. *Lycée Hélène-Boucher, a private college located in De Sessevalle.

Notable people

* Emmanuel Broutin (1826–1883), fencing master * Michel Sanchez (1957–), musician

References

Communes of Nord (French department) French Hainaut {{Nord-geo-stub