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GeelColumbia Encyclopedia entry: Geel
Geelkhāl, commune (1991 pop. 32,487), Antwerp prov., N Belgium. It is famous for its large colony of mentally disabled persons, who live with private families rather than in institutions. The tradition of the town centers on St. Dymphna, a 6th-century Irish virgin martyr at whose shrine demoniacs are said to have been cured. The colony dates from the 14th cent. Located in Geel are a 17th-century town hall and a 16th-century church. The name is sometimes spelled Gheel.
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Wikipedia search results for: Geel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality acquired the status of a city rather recently.
It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : St-Amand, St-Dimfna, Holven and Elsum. Further on around the center are the parish-towns of Ten Aard, Sas 7, Bel, Winkelomheide, Stelen, Oosterlo and Zammel, Punt and Larum. On January 1 2006 Geel had a total population of 35,189. The total area is 109.85 km² which gives a population density of 320 inhabitants per km². Geel’s patron saint, the Irish Saint Dymphna, inspired the town’s unique method of care for the mentally ill. The city is also...more »
