Saint-Chamond is a commune in the Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France. The town dates to the Roman period.It lies in an iron and coal region, which were the basis of industrial growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. As many of the mines and factories closed in the late 20th century due to restructuring, there was a loss of jobs and population; by 2010 the population had declined to about 35,000 from a high of more than 40,000 in 1982.Location and populationSaint-Chamond is located in the Gier valley between the Monts du Lyonnais to the north and Mont Pilat to the south. The peak of Perdrix, at is the highest in the Pilat massif. The "Saut du Gier" waterfall is in the Pilat Regional Natural Park. The peak of Œillon provides a magnificent view of the Rhone valley, and sometimes of the Mont-Blanc massif.The city developed on both sides of the Gier River, which source is on Mont Pilat. The river flows east down the Gier valley for before entering the Rhone at Givors. The river was covered over within the city.Saint-Chamond is named after Saint Annemund, a seventh-century saint. It is the largest town in the Vallée du Gier conurbation and the third-largest population center in the Loire department, after Saint-Étienne and Roanne. In 1800 the town had about 5,000 inhabitants. With development of the coal and iron industries, the population rose steadily, peaking at more than 40,000 in 1982. Since then, many factories have closed. By 2010 the town had about 35,000 inhabitants.