Roubaix

Roubaix, a town in the north of France (dept. Nord), 6 miles by rail NE. of Lille. It rose into importance during the 19th century. Here cloth for men's clothing, shawls, stuffs for furniture and ladies' dresses, velvet and similar textiles, chiefly of wool, cotton, and silk, are manufactured to the annual value of £16,000,000. Besides these things, thread, sugar, beer, spirits, machinery, &c. are produced, and there is a very active trade in these manufactured goods. Pop. (1810) 9000; (1876) 74,946; (1891) 105,191.