Saint-Nicolas-de-Macherin (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ nikɔla də maʃʁɛ̃]) is a commune in the Isère department within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in southeastern France. The area of the commune is 1,060 hectares and the altitude lies between 447 and 952 meters.

The town is located 5 km from Voiron, which is the seat of the canton. It is 28 km north-west of Grenoble, 90 km from Lyon, and 510 km from Paris.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 643 —     1821 701 +0.31% 1846 857 +0.81% 1872 687 −0.85% 1901 514 −1.00% 1926 435 −0.67% 1946 420 −0.18% 1962 384 −0.56%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1968 380 −0.17% 1975 389 +0.33% 1982 518 +4.18% 1990 615 +2.17% 1999 782 +2.71% 2009 888 +1.28% 2014 893 +0.11% 2020 966 +1.32%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2020)

In 2020, the commune had 966 inhabitants, an 8.8% increase since 2009.

As of 2020, 89.6% of households live in single-family houses, compared to 10.4% in apartments. 93.5% of housing are main residences, 2.2% are second homes and the rest being vacant. 19% of housing was built before 1919, while 55% was built between 1971 and 2005.

• Château de Hautefort - the oldest building in the town, now divided into apartments.
• Pied Barlet - ruins of the ancient fortress from the 13th century.
• Chapel of Hautefort castle
• Church of Saint Nicolas, rebuilt between 1885 and 1889, designed by architect Jean-Francois Pichat.

In 2020, 4.3% of the active population was unemployed. This is low in comparison to the department unemployment rate of 10.4% for the same period.

The SITPM (Société Industrielle des Tissages Paul Merle) employs 58 people and manufactures fabrics. This factory was created in 1853 under the name of Usine de Tissage de Sainte-Marie d'Hautefort. The site covers 15,000m² and has more than 130 automated looms.

The town is part of the geographical area of production and transformation of Bois de Chartreuse, the first AOC of the wood sector in France.

List of successive mayors

Period		Identity	Label	Quality
2020	Current	Freddy Rey
2001	2020	Roland Grambin	None
1989	2001	Marcel Descombes	None
1965	1989	Jean Tabeling	None
1945		Paul Merle
1944	1945	Jean Marcoz		(Provisional municipal council)
1943	1944	Joseph Gaillard		(Deputy mayor following the resignation of Louis Fauchon)
1925	1943	Louis Fauchon
	1925	Liguori Vial
1892		Remy Fagot
1883	1892	Francois Guilligay
1868	1883	Antoine Fagot-Mallot
1863	1868	Joseph Vial
1811	1813	Jean Tivollier
1807	1811	Jean Vial

• Paul Picard - deputy for Isère, born and died in the town.
• Amédée de Foras - politician and diplomat, married and lived in the town at the Château de Hautefort.
• Family of Mourand de Jouffrey - descendants of Jean-Antione Morand de Jouffrey, who worked in Lyon (1727-1794) and created the 6th arrondissement (Brotteaux). A bridge, as well as a car park, still bear his name. His son, Antoine Morand de Jouffrey, was appointed the attorney general of the king at the Lyon finance office in 1785.

• Communes of the Isère department