Les Acacias
Origin of the name Les Acacias
The name is borne by the path of the Acacias, which became a road in 1878. What the name means is not yet known.[2]
Founding of Les Acacias
Les Acacias is a district of the municipality of Genève, on the left bank of the Arve. It was part of the territory of the former municipality of Plainpalais, created in 1798 under French rule and joined to Genève in 1931. In the Middle Ages the left bank of the Arve came under the lordship of Lancy, then that of La Bâtie-Meillé. It was disputed between Savoy and Genève until the Treaty of Turin of 1754, which assigned it to the city. The area, isolated and prone to floods from the Drize and the Aire, was long given over to market gardening towards the Arve and to livestock towards La Praille. In the 20th century the development of neighbouring La Praille (goods station, channelling of the rivers, industrial zone created by the canton in 1950) made Les Acacias an industrial and craft district, which the Praille-Acacias-Vernets project is turning into a mixed district.[1][2]
History of Les Acacias
1317. The left bank of the Arve, apart from the strip of Les Vernets, passes from the lordship of Lancy to that of La Bâtie-Meillé.[1][2]
1754. The Treaty of Turin assigns to Genève the left bank of the Arve, until then disputed with Savoy.[1]
1798. Under French rule, the municipality of Plainpalais is created. Its territory includes Les Acacias.[1]
1878. The path of the Acacias becomes a road.[2]
1889. The tram crosses the Arve.[2]
1919. The canton and the SBB begin buying the land of La Praille, with a view to a goods station.[2]
1930-1931. In 1930 the inhabitants of Plainpalais accept the merger with Genève by 2'673 votes to 1'535. The municipality is joined to Genève in 1931.[1]
1935. Channelling of the Drize and the Aire begins. The embanking of the Aire puts an end to the floods.[2][3]
1950. The canton buys back the land of La Praille from the SBB, except that of the station, and creates an industrial zone whose plots are leased for 90 years.[2]
1960. Completion of the La Praille goods station.[2]
Late 2010s. The Praille-Acacias-Vernets (PAV) project begins turning the industrial zone into new districts spanning Genève, Carouge and Lancy.[2]
Historic sites in Les Acacias
Route des Acacias. Former path of the Acacias, which became a road in 1878.[2]
Praille-Acacias industrial zone. Zone created by the canton in 1950 on the land of La Praille, whose plots are leased for 90 years. It lies at the heart of the Praille-Acacias-Vernets project.[2]
Route des Jeunes. Road built during the development of La Praille. In 1942, 800 young volunteers built 450 metres of it in 139 days, hence its name.[3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Plainpalais » (Dominique Zumkeller)
- Ville de Genève, « Histoire et développement du quartier Acacias Bâtie »
- Ville de Genève, « Anecdotes du quartier Acacias Bâtie »
- Ville de Genève, « Découvrez votre quartier : les Acacias »
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, geo.admin.ch, nom local « Les Acacias (GE) - Genève »
Other villages near Les Acacias
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