Geography

Located 35 km north east of Lyon and 10 km south west Ambérieu-en-Bugey, the town is where the Dombes plateau meets the plain of the river Ain. Historically, Meximieux was part of the former province of Bresse. Over the centuries, its importance has developed from its location on the main route between Lyon and Geneva, and it now lies on the Autoroute 42 from Lyon. Meximieux—Pérouges station has rail connections to Lyon, Ambérieu-en-Bugey and Chambéry.

History

Records of Meximieux date back to Roman times when it home to a small farming settlement called Maximiacus.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 1,565 —     1800 1,691 +1.11% 1806 1,805 +1.09% 1821 1,765 −0.15% 1831 1,997 +1.24% 1836 2,065 +0.67% 1841 2,086 +0.20% 1846 2,286 +1.85% 1851 2,473 +1.58% 1856 2,439 −0.28% 1861 2,552 +0.91% 1866 2,559 +0.05% 1872 2,387 −1.15% 1876 2,363 −0.25% 1881 2,276 −0.75% 1886 2,250 −0.23% 1891 2,137 −1.03% 1896 2,138 +0.01%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 2,340 +1.82% 1906 2,104 −2.10% 1911 1,858 −2.46% 1921 1,796 −0.34% 1926 1,895 +1.08% 1931 2,037 +1.46% 1936 2,044 +0.07% 1946 2,089 +0.22% 1954 2,132 +0.26% 1962 2,392 +1.45% 1968 2,669 +1.84% 1975 3,457 +3.76% 1982 4,253 +3.00% 1990 6,230 +4.89% 1999 6,840 +1.04% 2007 7,383 +0.96% 2012 7,304 −0.21% 2017 7,743 +1.17%
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Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Its inhabitants are known as Meximiards.

International relations

The commune has developed a twin town agreement with:

• Denkendorf, Germany since 1986. Located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Personalities

The town was the birthplace of Claude Favre de Vaugelas, a 17th-century grammarian and man of letters.

Resistance

Meximieux is one of the 17 French cities to be awarded with the medal of resistance (Médaille de la Résistance). The French resistants of Meximieux fought with the allies in an outstanding collaboration with the U.S. army. This resulted in the victory against a German counter offensive on Meximieux the 1 and 2 September 1944. U.S. Army General, Michael S. Davison, became an honorary citizen of Meximieux.

See also

• Communes of the Ain department