An important concern for the Genevans was the leprosy hospital that occupied part of the commune; it is only when this illness was defeated around the 16th century that Chêne-Bougeries really started to develop.

In 1801, however, it was able to regain the autonomous commune status, while Chêne-Thônex and Chêne-Bourg remained unified.

In 1816, Chêne-Bougeries, as many of other neighboring communes, became part of a newly Swiss Geneva.

Incidentally, Chêne-Thônex was subsequently called Thônex when dissensions led to a new separation with Chêne-Bourg in 1869.

The three communes are still referred today as Trois-Chêne and close ties are still in place.

Work on social security, medical assistance, cultural offerings and sport infrastructure, to name a few, are operated in close cooperation between the three.

While it used to be an agricultural commune for most of its history, Chêne-Bougeries, due to its close position to the city of Geneva, became essentially residential, attracting middle to very high revenue families.

Chêne-Bougeries has an area, as of 2009[update], of 4.13 square kilometers (1.59 sq mi).

Of the rest of the land, 3.44 km2 (1.33 sq mi) or 83.3% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.04 km2 (9.9 acres) or 1.0% is either rivers or lakes.

It borders the city of Geneva which is connected by three major roads as well as tram and bus lines.

The municipality of Chêne-Bougeries consists of the sub-sections or villages of Boucle-de-Conches, Conches - La-Petite-Paumière, Conches - Vert-Pré, Bougeries - Clos-du-Velours, Bougeries - Chapeau, Chevillarde - Ermitage, Grange-Canal, Gradelle, Grange-Falquet, Rigaud - Montagne, Chêne-Bougeries - village.

[5] The name of Chêne-Bougeries derives from a massive oak that used to limit the build land with the forestry camps, called the Bougeries.

[9] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks French (7,631 or 78.2%), with English being second most common (584 or 6.0%) and German being third (481 or 4.9%).

[9] The historical population is given in the following chart:[3][13] The Grange Falquet and the Temple are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

In the federal election, a total of 3,026 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 53.0%.

[19] In the 2009 Grand Conseil election, there were a total of 5,745 registered voters of which 2,673 (46.5%) voted.

[9] There were 4,361 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 45.2% of the workforce.

In the tertiary sector; 197 or 8.8% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 29 or 1.3% were in the movement and storage of goods, 76 or 3.4% were in a hotel or restaurant, 53 or 2.4% were in the information industry, 20 or 0.9% were the insurance or financial industry, 154 or 6.9% were technical professionals or scientists, 558 or 24.9% were in education and 959 or 42.7% were in health care.

[9] From the 2000 census[update], 3,441 or 35.3% were Roman Catholic, while 2,178 or 22.3% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

The education system in the Canton of Geneva allows young children to attend two years of non-obligatory kindergarten.

The canton's school system provides two years of non-mandatory kindergarten and requires students to attend six years of primary school, with some of the children attending smaller, specialized classes.