Editing Gard (section)

== History ==
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In classical times the Gard area was settled by [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and their allies. They built the [[Via Domitia]] across the region in 118 BC. Centuries later, on 4 March 1790, Gard was one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]]. It comprised the [[Provinces of France|ancient province]] of [[Languedoc]].

Originally this department was to include the canton of [[Ganges, Hérault|Ganges]], but Ganges was transferred to the neighbouring department of [[Hérault]]. In return, Gard was assigned the fishing port of [[Aigues Mortes]], which gave the department its own outlet to the [[Gulf of Lion]] on the Mediterranean Sea.

During the middle of the nineteenth century [[Nîmes|the prefecture]], traditionally a centre of commerce with a manufacturing sector focused on textiles, was an early beneficiary of railway development, becoming an important railway junction.  Several luxurious hotels were built, and the improved market access provided by the railways also encouraged, initially, a rapid growth in wine growing. But many winegrowers were ruined when the vineyards were infected with [[phylloxera]] in 1872.