Saints () is a former commune in the

Seine-et-Marne Seine-et-Marne () is a department in the Île-de-France region in Northern France. Named after the rivers Seine and Marne, it is the region's largest department with an area of 5,915 square kilometres (2,284 square miles); it roughly covers its ...

department in the

Île-de-France The Île-de-France (; ; ) is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France, with an official estimated population of 12,271,794 residents on 1 January 2023. Centered on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the cou ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

in north-central

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Beautheil-Saints.Arrêté préfectoral
3 July 2018 .

History

Saints appears on early maps as ''Sanz''. It is an agricultural village perched above the Petit Aubetin River. For a short period of time, this village became the operating base of almost the entire US Air Service, the predecessor of the

US Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

. The 1st Pursuit Group was based in Saints for just short of two months— from July 8 to September 1, 1918 out of the seven months it saw combat. And for two weeks before that, the 1st Observation Group's 1st and 12th Aero Squadrons were based there. Two adjacent villages—

Mauperthuis Mauperthuis () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. The village is famous for having produced five Musketeers including d'Artagnan, who was made famous in Alexandre Dumas, père's ...

and

Touquin Touquin () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Demographics Inhabitants of Touquin are called ''Touquinois''. See also *Communes of the Seine-et-Marne department The following ...

—also play a role in the lives of these men and the US Air Service. The men were based in Touquin from the end of June until July 8, when they moved to Saints. And the men were lodged in Mauperthuis, half a mile from Saints, while they were flying out of Saints. Quentin Roosevelt was based here when he was shot down and killed.

Industry

The village has one small factory - the Tuilerie Thibault. Other than that there are some small farms and one large one - Les Aulnois - which serves as a banquet hall. Les Aulnois had once been a Templar's relay station.

Education

There is single boys and girls school in the village which serves elementary school children.

Geography

The village lies on the right bank of the Aubetin, which flows westward through the southern part of the commune.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Saints are called ''Saintois''.

Administration

The Mayor (as of March, 2008) is Monsieur Bernard Jacotin. Past mayors include André Louvet, Guy Fahy, Robert Thibault, Joseph Pratte, Emile Pradier, Louis Emile Vion and Henri Thibault.

References

*"Saints", Dr. Yves Richard

External links

1999 Land Use, from IAURIF (Institute for Urban Planning and Development of the Paris-Île-de-France région)
*
July 14, 2008 - 90th anniversary Commemoration of United States Air Service in FranceRobert Thibault - French Soldier/Soldat Francais and former Mayor of Saints
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saints, Seine-Et-Marne Former communes of Seine-et-Marne 2019 disestablishments in France Populated places disestablished in 2019