Imphy

Imphy (French pronunciation: [ɛ̃fi]) is a commune in the Nièvre department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.^[3]

Imphy
Commune
The Imphy bridge across the Loire
Location of Imphy
Imphy Show map of France Imphy Show map of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Coordinates: 46°55′45″N 3°15′43″E
Country	France
Region	Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department	Nièvre
Arrondissement	Nevers
Canton	Imphy
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Régine Roy[1]
Area 1	16.62 km2 (6.42 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	3,175
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	58134 /58160
Elevation	176–262 m (577–860 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Industrial history

Imphy is known in particular for its steel-works, renowned for their special steels which were useful in particular for the north foot of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.^[4] The Société de Commentry, Fourchambault et Decazeville was formed in 1853 through a merger of the Fourchambault foundry, Imphy steelworks, Montluçon (Allier) foundry and Commentry (Allier) colliery.^[5] The Imphy steelworks was detached from the company and combined with the Saint-Seurin steelworks. They were adapted to use the Bessemer process. In 1869 the two steelworks were reunited with the company.^[6] In 1954 the company was renamed the Société métallurgique d'Imphy. In 1968 it was merged with the Société des forges et aciéries du Creusot, which in 1971 became Creusot-Loire.^[5] The combined company was in turn absorbed by Creusot-Loire (Saône-et-Loire) in 1971. The Creusot-Loire group was liquidated in December 1984.^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	5,183	—
1975	4,678	−1.45%
1982	4,930	+0.75%
1990	4,478	−1.19%
1999	4,015	−1.21%
2007	3,764	−0.80%
2012	3,637	−0.68%
2017	3,345	−1.66%
Source: INSEE[7]

The fall in population since the 1990s is attributed to a decline in industrial activities in the area. At one time the factories of Imphy employed up to 3,000 workers. Today, they (ArcelorMittal and Aubert&Duval) employ only about 1,000 workers.

Notable personalities

• Hubert Bourdot (Imphy, 30 October 1861 – 30 September 1937) was a French Roman Catholic priest and mycologist
• Charles Cliquet (Imphy, 21 January 1891 - Paris, 27 March 1956), member of French Resistance, Compagnon de la Libération
• Stéphane Faye (Imphy, 10 May 1867 - Saint-Avé, 15 November 1947), writer

Imphy in the cinema

In Luc Moullet's short film, Imphy capitale de la France (1995), Moullet proposed making the town of Imphy the new capital of France, being ideally situated at the geographic centre of France.

See also

• Communes of the Nièvre department
• Treasure of Imphy