La Grand-Croix (French pronunciation: [la ɡʁɑ̃ kʁwa]) is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Loire department in central France. It lies in the Gier valley.

The commune was the main town of the former canton of La Grand-Croix, arrondissement of Saint-Étienne.

It lies on the A47 autoroute. Lyon is 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the east, and Saint-Étienne is 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the west. The commune is close to the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat.

The river Dorlay, a tributary of the Gier that rises in Mont Pilat, forms the border between La Grand-Croix and Lorette.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1861 3,056 —     1866 3,664 +3.70% 1872 3,830 +0.74% 1876 4,299 +2.93% 1881 4,322 +0.11% 1886 4,478 +0.71% 1891 4,535 +0.25% 1896 4,765 +0.99% 1901 4,928 +0.67% 1906 4,824 −0.43% 1911 4,878 +0.22% 1921 5,049 +0.35% 1926 4,858 −0.77%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1931 4,711 −0.61% 1936 3,946 −3.48% 1946 4,141 +0.48% 1954 4,549 +1.18% 1962 5,040 +1.29% 1968 5,238 +0.64% 1975 5,088 −0.41% 1982 5,125 +0.10% 1990 4,983 −0.35% 1999 4,962 −0.05% 2007 5,027 +0.16% 2012 5,059 +0.13% 2017 5,136 +0.30%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Gustave Malécot (28 December 1911 – 1998), mathematician

La Grand-Croix is twinned with:

• Santa Cruz de la Zarza, Spain, since 1993

• Communes of the Loire department