On 1 January 2018 the municipality had 23,335 inhabitants. The total area is 70.18 square kilometres (27.10sqmi), giving a population density of 333 inhabitants per square kilometre (860/sqmi).
The town is named after Saint Ghislain. In the 7th century, with two unknown disciples Ghislain made a clearing in the vicinity of Castrilocus (now Mons), later taking up his abode at a place called Ursidongus, where he built an oratory or chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Ursidongus was later named after him.
Economy
Google chose Saint-Ghislain in 2007 to host its new major European datacenter.
↑"Jumelages — Ville de Saint-Ghislain". saint-ghislain.be. Ville de Saint-Ghislain. Retrieved June 11, 2024. En 2005, lors des festivités de l'Ascension, les liens d'amitié avec la Ville de Sierakowice en Pologne ont été officialisés à Saint-Ghislain.