Ners

Ners
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Coat of arms of Ners Coat of arms
Ners
Location within Languedoc-Roussillon region Ners
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Alès
Canton	Vézénobres
Intercommunality	Région de Vézénobres
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Patrice Pupet
Area1	4.96 km2 (1.92 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	672
• Density	140/km2 (350/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	30188 / 30360
Elevation	79–181 m (259–594 ft) (avg. 123 m or 404 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Ners is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.

History

Ners is part of a territory inhabited long before the Roman presence in the region.

The village is located along the ancient road 'voie Régordane' going from Saint-Gilles to Puy-en-Velay. Along this road traders, pilgrims, crusaders and knights crossed the river Gardon.

In 1211 Ners is first time reported as a place of residence with the "castrum nercium" - a watchtower of the twelfth century. This tower was probably constructed as an outpost to the village of Vezenobres as well as to protect the few inhabitants of the village. The tower was gradually expanded and in 1480 it retained its castle walls and is to be considered the oldest building in the village.

Etymology

Etymologically the name can be derived from "Nertius", a Gallo-Roman person with great prestige in ancient times. A manuscript from 1247 mentions the name "Nercium" and in 1547 "Ners".

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1789	425	—
1856	561	+32.0%
1901	403	−28.2%
1954	354	−12.2%
1962	347	−2.0%
1968	357	+2.9%
1975	362	+1.4%
1982	473	+30.7%
1990	544	+15.0%
1999	618	+13.6%
2008	672	+8.7%

See also

• The village of Ners
• Communes of the Gard department

References

• INSEE