town, northern suburb of Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis département, Paris région, north-central France, on the Seine River. Épinay originated from a Gallic-Roman settlement called Spinogelum (Place of Thorns and Gorse), and in the Middle Ages it was the site of La Brache, a castle of the Frankish kings. During the Franco-German War a battle was fought there (Nov. 30, 1870). The town has a chemical industry and film studios. Pop. (1999) 46,409; (2005 est.) 49,800.