L’évolution sociodémographique des villes moyennes de 1968 à 2006

Abstract

At the end of the 60s, the age distribution and the socio-economic composition of French middle-sized towns were comparable to those of bigger cities. They are not anymore today. Between 1968 and 2006, the ageing of population in middle-sized towns was far above the national average. During the same period of time, the increase of the management personal and intermediate occupations proportion in those towns was less important than the national average. So now, the average socio-demographic composition of middle-sized towns is close to smaller towns one. But, all middle-sized towns didn’t follow the same development. They can be classified into 6 groups. The type of activity on which their economy was based at the end of the 60s and their location (in relation to major roads, to cities, to coastline, etc.) are among the main factors for this diversity of evolutions.

Keywords

• middle-sized towns
• France
• evolution between 1968 and 2006
• age distribution
• socio-economic structure