Gray (Haute-Saône)
Gray is a commune located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in the Haute-Saône department in eastern France. About 6,000 people live there.
Gray | ||||||||
Administration | ||||||||
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Country | France | |||||||
Region | Free County | |||||||
Department | Haute-Saône | |||||||
Arrondissement | Vesoul | |||||||
Canton | Gray | |||||||
Statistics | ||||||||
Elevation | 187–249 m (614–817 ft) | |||||||
Land area1 | 20.26 km2 (7.82 sq mi) | |||||||
INSEE/Postal code | 70279/ 70100 | |||||||
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
History
It was, since the Middle Ages, an important river port, an important trading center in Franche-Comté.
Gray is believed to have got its name from an old landed estate in its area owned by a family with Gallo-Roman origins having the name "Gradus", cognate with the Celtic "Grady" meaning "illustrious" or "noble".
Geography
Gray is situated on the banks of the river Saône. It is the last major town in Haute-Saône before the Saône flows into Côte-d'Or.