Chêne-Bourg
Coat of arms: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Origin of the name Chêne-Bourg
The place first appears in 1270 in the Latin form « Quercus ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Chêne-Bourg
Nobody knows who founded the place. It began as a street village stretched along the road from Genève to Moillesulaz, on land that belonged to Chêne. The Treaty of Turin of 1754 split Chêne by giving the left bank of the Seymaz to Savoy: the village was attached to the parish of Thônex, and the Protestant church of Chêne, on the left bank, was destroyed. Having become Genevan together with Thônex in 1816, it was still part of the municipality of Chêne-Thônex in 1850. But the two places were unlike: the village of craftsmen and radicals, Thônex farming and Catholic conservative. In 1869 the villagers won a municipality of their own.[1]
History of Chêne-Bourg
1270. First mention, in the form « Quercus ».[1]
1754. The Treaty of Turin gives the left bank of the Seymaz to Savoy. The village, which had been part of Chêne, is attached to the parish of Thônex.[1]
After 1754. The Protestant temple of Chêne, on the left bank of the Seymaz, is destroyed.[1]
1765. Consecration of a church dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales.[1]
1792. Thônex becomes a French municipality.[1]
1816. The municipality is « reunited » with the canton of Geneva.[1]
1850. Chêne-Bourg is part of the municipality of Chêne-Thônex.[1]
1869. The inhabitants of the village obtain the creation of the municipality of Chêne-Bourg, which separates from Thônex. The municipality would be closely involved in the unrest of the Kulturkampf.[1]
1876. Chêne-Bourg is linked to Genève by the Carouge-Moillesulaz tram line.[1]
1888. Opening of the Eaux-Vives-Annemasse railway line.[1]
Early 20th century. The municipality begins to become almost completely urbanised.[1]
1914. Demolition of the church of 1765.[1]
1930. Construction of the present church.[1]
1983. Closure of the railway station.[1]
Population of Chêne-Bourg
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1850 | 1'375 (then in the municipality of Chêne-Thônex) |
| 1869 | 1'125 |
| 1900 | 1'179 |
| 1950 | 2'477 |
| 1970 | 5'737 |
| 1980 | 5'305 |
| 2000 | 7'221 |
| 2025 | 9'770 |
Historic sites in Chêne-Bourg
Former street village. The old village centre, a former street village along the road from Genève to Moillesulaz, is surrounded by dense residential development of villas and small apartment buildings.[1]
Church of Saint-François-de-Sales. The present church dates from 1930. It replaces a church dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales, consecrated in 1765 and demolished in 1914.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chêne-Bourg » (Christiane Genequand)
- Office cantonal de la statistique (OCSTAT), Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2026, tableau Population résidante par commune, en 2025
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, service de recherche geo.admin.ch (coordonnées)
Other villages near Chêne-Bourg
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