The origin of the name dates back to Celtic Cranves or to Ligurian Cranava or Cranavis, which comprises Caran (oak) and Ava (water), and describing the "torrent of oaks. As for the name of Sales may refer to Germanic sala, which means a place inhabited an area.
The territory is inhabited Cranves-Sales for a very long prehistory having seen successive waves of people coming either from Geneva Switzerland plateau or mountains of the Valais, from southern France through the Rhone Valley. However, unfortunately, no evidence except the memory of a dolmen which was demolished in 1863 and which we know only the approximate location between the capital and the Bergue. Note that a similar building "the dolmen of the Cellar of the fairies" are still in St. Cergues, common borders Cranves-Sales at the hamlet of Cabouet.
The common Cranves-Sales located on the side of the massive Voirons is part of the great metropolitan Annemasse-Genève it benefits from the infrastructure (airports, TGV, Autoroute Blanche?) And facilities (hospitals, clinics, museums, schools, colleges? ).
Its location in the heart of the department puts him within reach of Lake Geneva and Lake Geneva, Italy via the Mont Blanc tunnel and all the resorts (Annecy, Evian, Thonon?) Or winter (Morzine -Avoriaz, Les Gets, Flaine and Grand Massif?).
With 5433 inhabitants in an area of 1361 hectares, which ranged between 445 m altitude along the river Menoge 1457 m summit of the massif of Voirons, Cranves-Sales a predominantly residential character that combines the charms of the countryside to those the nearby town.
Over the past 30 years the town has grown quite large, its population increasing from 1060 inhabitants in 1962 to 5230 in 2005. Today Cranves-Sales with 5433 inhabitants is a common peri urban residential character marked although it still ten farms.
Its unique location on the side of Voirons and its equipment can offer its people, including more than 30% under 20 years, quality of life particularly appreciated: the presence of many sports and cultural associations, creation of municipal services Youth, school groups (grades kindergarten and elementary) school, shops and services.