Saint-Pons-de-Thomières

Saint-Pons-de-Thomières (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ pɔ̃s də tɔmjɛʁ]; Languedocien: Sant Ponç de Tomièiras) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France.

Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Commune
A general view of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Saint-Pons-de-Thomières Show map of France Saint-Pons-de-Thomières Show map of Occitanie
Coordinates: 43°29′22″N 2°45′39″E
Country	France
Region	Occitania
Department	Hérault
Arrondissement	Béziers
Canton	Saint-Pons-de-Thomières
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	André Arrouche[1]
Area 1	40.99 km2 (15.83 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	1,735
• Density	42/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	34284 /34220
Elevation	273–1,026 m (896–3,366 ft) (avg. 301 m or 988 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

It is named after its patron saint, Saint Pontius of Cimiez (Pons de Cimiez in French), martyr under Emperor Valerian, who is venerated throughout the diocese of Montpellier.

The Abbey of St-Pons was founded in 936 by Raymond, Count of Toulouse, who brought to it the monks of Saint Gerald of Aurillac.

By a papal bull of 18 February 1318, Pope John XXII raised the abbey to an episcopal see.

A Brief of 16 June 1877 authorized the bishops of Montpellier to call themselves bishops of Montpellier, Béziers, Agde, Lodève, and Saint-Pons, in memory of the different dioceses united in the present Diocese of Montpellier.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1962	2,900	—
1968	3,267	+12.7%
1975	3,117	−4.6%
1982	2,733	−12.3%
1990	2,566	−6.1%
1999	2,287	−10.9%
2008	2,121	−7.3%

See also

• Communes of the Hérault department

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
2. "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Montpellier". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.