Lers

Lers was built on the site of drained swamps. Due to its location, it has always been a kind of shield on the way to France, so its main symbol, along with the mill, are the keys located on the coat of arms of the city.

In 1779, a new border between France and the Holy Roman Empire was drawn directly through Lers, dividing it into two parts, so still most of it, retaining the name Lers, belongs to France, and the smaller, called Lers-Nord, is part of Belgium .

In 1870, Edouard Mott, a large textile industrialist from Roubaix, opened a factory in Lerse, which worked until 1982, and the Mott-Bossue Tower is still the most significant city building.

Employment structure:

• agriculture - 0.5%
• industry - 14.6%
• construction - 5.2%
• trade, transport and services - 60.0%
• state and municipal services - 19.7%

The unemployment rate ( 2013 ) is 11.1% (France as a whole - 12.8%, the Nor department - 17.2%).
The average annual income per person, Euro ( 2013 ) - 21 455 (France as a whole - 25 140, Department of Nor - 18 575).

Population dynamics, people

Since 2016, the Lers administration has been led by Jean-Philippe Andriès. In the 2014 elections, the right-wing bloc led by Jean-Claude Van Belle, who served as mayor of the city since 2001, won. In May 2016, van Belle passed away, and André was elected mayor.

•   Juhen , Germany
•   Rebesgruen , Germany
•   Estempuy , Belgium

• Commons of Nor Department

• National Institute of Statistics
• 2014 municipal election results

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  Mill in Lers