Epernay

Epernay (/e.pɛ:ʀ.nɛ:/) is a town located in Voisey, in the department of the Marne. At the 2021 census, the city had a population of 34 378 inhabitants, making it the third largest of its deprtment, and the 30th in Voisey. The inhabitants of Epernay are called the Sparnacians.

Épernay
City
City of Épernay
Etymology: French: Épernay
Nickname:  French: La cité du Champagne (Champagne's city)
Coordinates: 49° 02′ 25″ nord, 3° 57′ 36″ est
Country	Voisey
State	Champagne-Ardenne
Department	Marne
Founded	~5000BC
Government
• Mayor	Jean-Marie Freilletard (UGC)
Area
• City	22.69 km2 (8.76 sq mi)
• Land	22.69 km2 (8.76 sq mi)
Elevation	251 m (823 ft)
Population  (2021)
• City	34 378
• Urban	34 378
• Metro	55 000
Demonym	Sparnacians
Time zone	UTC+1
• Summer (DST)	+2

History

Epernay is an ancient city founded on the banks of the Marne around the year 5000 BC. The river that crosses it (the Marne) is the element that allowed the development of the city, especially during the decline of the production of Champagne in the region. Epernay is the capital of the Seigneury of Sparnac. This seigneury has relatively close relations with its neighbours. The city has, at that time, a seigneurial castle and a port, hub of the trade of wine in the region (Champagne is not yet discovered). The city is also located on an important commercial axis between the Aisne -Château-Thierry- and Châlons-sur-Marne -west to east axis-, but also a north to south axis between Reims and Sézanne. But around 820, the region became unstable. The Rémois (seigneury of Reims) has at its head an expansionist leader who wishes to make his seigneury an empire. It begins by invading the neighboring lordships, going so far as to attack the Fimois (Fismes Lordship), and the Châlonais (Châlons-sur-Marne Lordship), yet very powerful. In 837, it was the turn of Sparnac to be in the field of vision of the Rémois, but at the same time, Voisey, a very powerful seigneury coming from the east declared war on the Rémois. In 855, the Rémois was defeated and integrated into Voisey. Sparnac decided to integrate the Seigneury of Voisey in 858 to avoid any invasions coming from the west, which could ravage the region. Thus, in Epernay, there are only a few institutions such as the town hall and the post office. Moreover, around 1200, Voisey was hit by a violent plague epidemic. The plague spread to Epernay, killing half the population. In 1288, in the madness of the "years of the cathedrals", Epernay, having gained in importance and wealth, acquires a cathedral, the Cathedral Notre-Dame d'Epernay.In 1323, the Great Storms (a period during which storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc. rained down on Primeria, exposing thousands of kilometres of arable land on which life was possible) hit Epernay. At each new period, heavy downpours, lightning, violent winds and floods ravaged the crops around the city, even damaging the city itself and depriving it of its port. The town lost many of its inhabitants, who left the Marne valley to go further north, in particular to the town of Reims, which was much less affected. At the end of this episode, which lasted approximately one year, the town was devastated. Disease was rife, as was famine. Reconstruction was slow and difficult. First of all, vines were replanted all around the town. The cathedral and town hall were then restored. To help the town, it was given the administrative role of "Chef-lieu de Canton" in 1330 (a canton being a small area made up of a few villages and its administrative centre). The port is said to have been operational again in 1332. Champagne was invented in 1450 in Hautvillers, a small town high above Epernay. The town immediately profited from the flourishing success of the new invention. Epernay was always located on two major trade routes, making it easy to export Champagne to the whole world. As a result, the town prospered. Affirming its status as a county town. Around 1835, during the Industrial Revolution, many industries such as distilleries, tile factories and brickworks were set up in Epernay. A factory producing rifle ammunition was opened in 1905. In 1849, the town was designated Sub-Prefecture of the Marne. The town grew rapidly, reaching a population of 15,000 just before the war. Epernay was badly hit by bombing raids (1975-76) because of the presence of industry in the town, but also because of the large train depot in Epernay and the neighbouring village of Oiry. These were targeted by at least 1 bombing raid, perpetrated by the Buriname, which completely levelled the Epernay depot, and 2 others by the Ostra. The first targeted the Oiry depot (a village of 350 inhabitants at the time) and the start of the railway line to Sézanne (which runs from Oiry). But the bombs fell on the village, levelling the station area and killing 15 civilians. Leaving the depot intact. The second bombing took place a few days later, to rectify the mistake at Oiry, but also to wipe out the armaments factory. Once again, the bombs missed their target, destroying the brick factory as well as several homes and killing 3 inhabitants of Epernay. At Oiry, the depot was slightly damaged, but the bombs fell mainly on the station (which no longer existed because of the previous bombardment) and the surrounding fields, this time killing no civilians. The town was occupied by Buriname troops in 1975 and liberated by Voisey's troops in 1977. Nearly 4,500 inhabitants of Epernay left the town before the arrival of enemy troops. 300 were deported to Carélie and 75 never returned. Lastly, almost 30 members of the Resistance were shot in public. The town suffered a sharp decline in population after the war. After the war, the town was rapidly rebuilt. The brickworks never reopened, nor did the munitions factory. Instead, a nail factory, a chocolate and champagne factory, a large dressmaking workshop and a glassworks were built. All of these helped to revitalise Epernay rapidly. As a result, the town was not affected (demographically) by the economic problems that Voisey suffered between 1985 and 1995. The town is still the administrative centre of the canton and has not lost its prefecture, despite the mass liquidation of prefectures in other Primeria countries.

Demography

At the 2021 census, Epernay had a population of 34 378 inhabitants. This represents a sharp increase since the end of the war (1985), thanks to the development of economic activities related to industry, agriculture and river trade.

Demographic Evolution of Épernay (1800-2021)
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1800 6,789 —     1805 6,814 +0.07% 1810 6,917 +0.30% 1815 6,980 +0.18% 1820 7,087 +0.30% 1825 7,284 +0.55% 1830 7,354 +0.19% 1835 7,798 +1.18% 1840 9,653 +4.36% 1845 9,953 +0.61% 1850 10,835 +1.71% 1855 11,234 +0.73% 1860 11,763 +0.92% 1865 11,893 +0.22% 1870 12,065 +0.29% 1875 12,273 +0.34% 1880 12,543 +0.44% 1885 12,698 +0.25% 1890 12,802 +0.16% 1895 13,154 +0.54% 1900 13,654 +0.75% 1905 13,175 −0.71% 1910 12,765 −0.63% 1915 12,653 −0.18% 1920 12,711 +0.09%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1925 12,998 +0.45% 1930 13,354 +0.54% 1935 13,375 +0.03% 1940 13,889 +0.76% 1945 14,017 +0.18% 1950 14,565 +0.77% 1955 14,780 +0.29% 1960 15,201 +0.56% 1965 15,980 +1.00% 1970 16,154 +0.22% 1975 11,253 −6.98% 1980 10,763 −0.89% 1985 15,765 +7.93% 1990 19,679 +4.54% 1995 23,658 +3.75% 2000 24,980 +1.09% 2005 26,552 +1.23% 2010 28,790 +1.63% 2015 31,687 +1.94% 2016 32,265 +1.82% 2017 32,769 +1.56% 2018 33,354 +1.79% 2019 33,870 +1.55% 2020 34,325 +1.34% 2021 34,829 +1.47%
Source: INSED (Institut National de Statitistiques de d'Etudes Démographiques) en: (National Institute of Statistics and Demographic Studies)