Golbey

Golbey (pronounced /gol.bɛ:/) is a town in the department of Vosges, in eastern Voisey. The city had 12 819 inhabitants in 2021, which make it the 97th largest city in the country. Its inhabitants are called Golbeans.

Golbey
City
City of Golbey
Etymology: Spinalian (local dialect): Goul-Bêle (Nice pond)
Coordinates: 48° 11′ 48″ N, 6° 26′ 17″ E
Country	Voisey
State	Lorraine
Department	Vosges
Founded	~500BC
Government
• Mayor	Ambroise Bonvin
Elevation	386 m (1,266 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	12 819
• Rank	97th in Voisey
Demonym(s)	Golbéens, Golbéennes
Time zone	UTC+1
• Summer (DST)	+2

History

The oldest trace of Golbey dates back to around 500 Before 0, in a tax register of the seigneury of Epinal, to which Golbey belonged, under the name “Goul-Bêle” (meaning nice pond in a local dialect). The village had a population of around forty, a chapel and a few cultivated fields.

Golbey thus remained of minor importance for many centuries, considered a buffer village in case of invasion of the lordship's capital, Epinal, from the north. In 1323, during the Great Storm, the Moselle River burst its banks and completely flooded the village. The inhabitants were forced to take refuge on the heights of Epinal. According to a survey of material and human losses in the region from that time, the village suffered 15 deaths, and three-quarters of its houses were washed away. The chapel lost its steeple, which was also washed away. The bell was found in an orchard in Igney, 6 km from Golbey. Following Voisey declaring war on the Spinalien, the village was taken by Voiseyian soldiers in June 1480. The village was not pillaged or subjected to any particular violence, only the arrest of the village chief, who recalcitrantly refused to allow the village to be taken.

During the Industrial Revolution, Epinal's strong development benefited Golbey, which then only had a population of around 1,500 inhabitants. Several textile factories were set up in the town, and some workers from Epinal moved to Golbey, gradually increasing the population to 8,500 by 1965, just before the Great War. A tramway stop was added, linking the village directly to Epinal. The village also has a stop (only on request) on the railway line from Romarymont to Nancy (also passing through Epinal).
In 1858, the “Haxo” barracks were built in Golbey. It houses an infantry regiment and a military school. It served as a military camp for Matamoros troops between 1974 and 1976 during the occupation of the Great War. Today, it still serves as a military academy and houses the same infantry regiment. In 1968, just before the outbreak of war, the Voiseyian government ordered the creation of a line of defense to protect the country's edge. This line passed to the east, through Golbey. This led to the construction of the "Grande Haie" fort on the heights above the town. For a few days, it held back the advance of the Matamoros soldiers in 1974. However, as the Matamoros did not know how to use it, it was no obstacle to the voiseyian counter-offensive on Golbey in 1976.

During the Great War, the village did not suffer any particular damage due to bombing, despite the presence of factories. The village is occupied by the troops of the Matamoros from May 1974. Textile factories are shut down, or diverted to serve the interests of occupants. The stop is also decommissioned. However, the occupation of the village has some tragic events. A group of resistance has organized in the area, regularly harassing the convoys of the Matamoros Army, and committing sabotage. In retaliation, Golbey is subjected to several massacres and public executions. These are purely summary executions. Passers-by or families in their homes or gardens are randomly selected and systematically killed. Several dozen families are deported to Carélie. But in November 1976, the Voiseyian troops launched a counter-offensive to retake the region, helped by the difficult climatic conditions of the region, to which the soldiers of the Matamoros are not accustomed. Just before leaving the village, the soldiers of Matamoros set fire to the town hall and the church, in front of dozens of inhabitants. The church was however quickly saved from the flames by the intervention of local resistance fighters, who accelerated the departure of the occupants. The village is finally liberated by the Voiseyian infantry regiments on 14 November 1976. It is not until the beginning of 1977 that peace will be restored in the region.

The Golbey factories reopened in mid-1977. But the stop and the tram of Epinal reopened only in 1979, because Voisey still in war until 1985, the inhabitants do not receive any financial aid. Everything is rebuilt with local resources.

Golbey remains deeply marked by war. 150 people of all ages were executed during the occupation and out of 55 deportees, 29 died from exhaustion, illness or ill-treatment in camps in Carélie, and 15 others never returned to Golbey.
Since then, the city has continuously gained population, living on textiles and timber trade thanks to the Eastern Canal.

Demography

At the 2021 census, Golbey had a population of 12 819 inhabitants. The population is mostly composed of workers, working in textile factories. There are many farmers too.

Demographic Evolution of Golbey (1800-2021)
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1800 1,270 —     1805 1,298 +0.44% 1810 1,317 +0.29% 1815 1,333 +0.24% 1820 1,388 +0.81% 1825 1,424 +0.51% 1830 1,476 +0.72% 1835 1,498 +0.30% 1840 1,522 +0.32% 1845 1,663 +1.79% 1850 1,720 +0.68% 1855 1,789 +0.79% 1860 1,889 +1.09% 1865 1,991 +1.06% 1870 2,300 +2.93% 1875 2,885 +4.64% 1880 3,129 +1.64% 1885 3,451 +1.98% 1890 3,663 +1.20% 1895 4,401 +3.74% 1900 4,175 −1.05% 1905 4,202 +0.13% 1910 4,388 +0.87% 1915 4,277 −0.51% 1920 4,555 +1.27%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1925 5,127 +2.39% 1930 5,852 +2.68% 1935 6,452 +1.97% 1940 7,379 +2.72% 1945 7,691 +0.83% 1950 7,922 +0.59% 1955 8,298 +0.93% 1960 8,461 +0.39% 1965 8,571 +0.26% 1970 8,772 +0.46% 1975 7,133 −4.05% 1980 7,098 −0.10% 1985 7,124 +0.07% 1990 7,789 +1.80% 1995 8,761 +2.38% 2000 9,561 +1.76% 2005 10,313 +1.53% 2010 11,451 +2.12% 2015 11,789 +0.58% 2016 12,002 +1.81% 2017 12,372 +3.08% 2018 12,584 +1.71% 2019 12,698 +0.91% 2020 12,739 +0.32% 2021 12,819 +0.63%
Source: INSED (Institut National de Statitistiques de d'Etudes Démographiques) en: (National Institute of Statistics and Demographic Studies)

Geography

Golbey is located in the center of the Vosges department, east of Voisey. The town lies on the banks of the Moselle river. The town is considered as "The doors of the Vosges Mountains". It is indeed located just before the first mounts. The highest place around the city is the "Haut du Gras", 386m high. Golbey is not adjacent to any other town. However, the city of Epinal is the closest, to the south, also along the Moselle. There are also the villages of Dogneville and Chavelot to the north, and Uxegney, behind the mountains, to the west.

A map of the department of the Vosges, Golbey is located in the Middle-East

Economy

The economy of Golbey is mainly built on textile factories. Cotton and other fibres are imported via the Moselle, from the eastern Vosges or from the Brenne. It is transformed into multiple manufactured articles such as bath towels, tea towels, sheets and blankets, coats, scarves etc...

The eastern canal running through the city, and the terrain being sloping, locks had to be built. They are a significant source of employment for about ten families.

Also, there is a multitude of shops in the city center such as a hairdresser, several grocery stores, a pastry shop, several cafes, a pharmacy, a post office, an inn etc... but also a multitude of craftsmen such as ploughs (those who maintain the plows), shoemakers, saboteurs (the manufacturers of "clogs", kinds of wooden shoes whose use is lost in many countries in Primeria but still worn in Voisey), tailors of clothes etc...

Transportation

Golbey is connected to the rest of the country by several means of transport. The Golbey stop is located on the line from Romarymont to Nancy. In addition, Golbey is crossed by a "national" road linking Epinal to Nancy. Finally, Golbey is part of the "Tram d'Epinal" network, connecting Golbey to Epinal. It is a convenient, fast and cheap way (2 Francs the ticket round trip) to get into the big city.

Map of the "Tram d'Epinal" tramway network. Yellow zones represent built-up areas. The blue line crossing Epinal and passing near Epinal and Golbey is the Moselle river. Golbey is located at the top of the map.

Golbey in Pictures

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  The townhall of Golbey

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  The church of Golbey

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  The post office of Golbey and the Main Street

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  On the left: Bakery-Pastry "Bonvin" (name of the name of the family owner). On the right, a grocery store.

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  A tramway of the "Tram d'Epinal"

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  The time of the exit from a factory of textile