Raon-aux-Bois

Raon-aux-Bois
region	Grand Est
Department	Vosges
Arrondissement	Epinal
Canton	Remiremont
Community association	Epinal
Coordinates	48 ° 3 ' N , 6 ° 31' E Coordinates: 48 ° 3 ' N , 6 ° 31' E
height	385-591 m
surface	24.05 km 2
Residents	1,237 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	51 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	88220
INSEE code	88371
	; Mairie Raon-aux-Bois

Raon-aux-Bois is a French commune with 1237 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Vosges department in the Grand Est region . It belongs to the Arrondissement Épinal and the municipal association Épinal .

geography

Location of the municipality of Raon-aux-Bois
in the Vosges department

The 24 km² large municipal area of Raon-aux-Bois is located in the eastern corner of the Vôge plateau , about 18 kilometers south of the town of Épinal and eight kilometers northwest of Remiremont . The Niche flows through on its way to the Moselle the municipality from south to north and in the process several streams on whose valleys form itself as the Nichetal settlement and transport routes. At 591 meters above sea level, the highest point is reached in the east of the community area.

Forests cover half of the municipality, especially in the east and south. The agricultural land is limited to approx. 200 hectares in the northwest and some clearing islands in the southwest.

While Raon-aux-Bois grew from a core around the church, the district of La Racine has a very relaxed settlement character. In addition to the elongated district of Raon Basse , the hamlets of La Chaoteuse and Le Pransieux also belong to Raon-aux-Bois.

Neighboring communities of Raon-aux-Bois are Arches in the north, Pouxeux in the north-east, Saint-Nabord in the east and south, Bellefontaine and Xertigny in the south-west and Hadol in the west and north-west.

history

Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the area around Raon-aux-Bois was repopulated from Bellefontaine after it was probably desolate for over 100 years.

The individual hamlets in today's municipality belonged partly to the chapter in Remiremont , to the Ban of Arches and to Dommartin . The municipality of Raon-aux-Bois, newly created during the French Revolution, was part of the canton of Éloyes from 1790 to 1801 .

In the nineteenth century, industrialization also found its way into this area, which had previously lived on forest and pasture farming. The number of inhabitants was around 2000 at that time. A spinning mill and a starch factory were located in Raon-aux-Bois until the 1950s.

Population development

year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2007	2017
Residents	541	630	598	820	1061	1010	1154	1237
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

Attractions

Saint-Amé church with an 18th century altar classified as a monument historique

Tower and nave of the Church of St. Amé in Raon-aux-Bois

Economy and Infrastructure

In Raon-aux-Bois there are 15 farms (grain, vegetable and fruit growing, dairy farming, breeding of horses, cattle and poultry) as well as small craft and service companies. The wood industry has a very long tradition in the village. One company has specialized in cutting wood for modern log cabins. Many residents commute to the industrial areas of the nearby Moselle valley.

The community is a primary school and kindergarten location and has a post office and a bank branch.

Raon-aux-Bois is connected to Hadol and Remiremont via Départementsstraße 34 . Other road connections lead to Arches on the Moselle and Bellefontaine .