Arrondissements of the Aisne department facts for kids
There are 5 arrondissements in the Aisne department in France. Think of a department like a large region or state. Arrondissements are smaller areas within these departments, a bit like districts or boroughs. Each arrondissement has a main town called a subprefecture. If the main town of the whole department (which is called a prefecture) is inside an arrondissement, then that town acts as both the prefecture for the department and the subprefecture for its arrondissement.
Arrondissements are further divided into even smaller areas called communes, which are like local towns or villages.
Arrondissements in Aisne
The Aisne department is divided into these five arrondissements:
| INSEE code |
Arrondissement | Capital | Population (2014) |
Area (km²) |
Density (Inh./km²) |
Communes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 021 | Château-Thierry | Château-Thierry | 73,188 | 1,193.2 | 61.3 | 108 |
| 022 | Laon | Laon | 165,489 | 2,461.3 | 67.2 | 244 |
| 023 | Saint-Quentin | Saint-Quentin | 130,918 | 1,071.2 | 122.2 | 126 |
| 024 | Soissons | Soissons | 103,840 | 1,242.8 | 83.6 | 166 |
| 025 | Vervins | Vervins | 66,348 | 1,400.6 | 47.4 | 160 |
History of Aisne's Arrondissements
The way the Aisne department is divided has changed a few times since it was first created:
- In 1790: The Aisne department was first set up. It had six districts: Saint-Quentin, Vervins, Laon, Chauny, Soissons, and Château-Thierry. The main city (capital) of the department was Laon.
- In 1800: The department was reorganized into five arrondissements: Laon, Château-Thierry, Saint-Quentin, Soissons, and Vervins.
- In 1926: The arrondissement of Château-Thierry was removed.
- In 1942: Château-Thierry was made an arrondissement again, bringing the total back to five.
See Also
Images for kids
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Map of arrondissements of the Aisne department.
