Arrondissements of the Bas-Rhin department facts for kids
The Bas-Rhin department in France is divided into five main areas called arrondissements. You can think of an arrondissement like a large district or a borough. Each arrondissement has a main city, which is called a subprefecture. If the main city of the whole department (called the prefecture) is inside an arrondissement, then that city acts as both the prefecture and the subprefecture for that arrondissement.
Arrondissements are further divided into smaller areas known as communes. These are like local towns or villages.
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Bas-Rhin's Arrondissements
The Bas-Rhin department has five arrondissements. Here's a quick look at them:
| INSEE code |
Arrondissement | Capital | Population (2013) |
Area (km²) |
Density (Inh./km²) |
Communes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 672 | Haguenau-Wissembourg | Haguenau | 239,965 | 1,421.9 | 168.8 | 142 |
| 673 | Molsheim | Molsheim | 102,824 | 771.2 | 133.3 | 77 |
| 674 | Saverne | Saverne | 129,344 | 1,243.8 | 104.0 | 165 |
| 675 | Sélestat-Erstein | Sélestat | 154,943 | 980.5 | 158.0 | 101 |
| 678 | Strasbourg | Strasbourg | 482,384 | 337.6 | 1,428.9 | 33 |
History of Bas-Rhin's Arrondissements
The way Bas-Rhin is divided has changed quite a bit over time.
Early Divisions (1790-1800)
Bas-Rhin was one of the first 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was initially split into four districts: Haguenau, Benfeld, Strasbourg, and Wissembourg. Strasbourg was chosen as its capital city. Later, a new district called Sarre-Union was added, and Benfeld's district name changed to Sélestat.
Changes in the 1800s
In 1800, France introduced the idea of arrondissements. The five districts in Bas-Rhin became four arrondissements: Strasbourg, Barr, Saverne, and Wissembourg. The main city of Barr was later moved to Sélestat in 1806.
German Control and Return to France
In 1871, the Bas-Rhin department was removed from France when the area became part of Germany. However, in 1919, Bas-Rhin became a French department again. At this time, it had more arrondissements: Strasbourg-Ville, Strasbourg-Campagne, Erstein, Haguenau, Molsheim, Saverne, Sélestat, and Wissembourg.
Modern Changes (1974-2015)
- In 1974, the arrondissements of Sélestat and Erstein were combined. They formed the new arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein.
- More recently, in 2015, the Strasbourg-Campagne and Wissembourg arrondissements were removed. Their areas were added to the remaining arrondissements. This left Bas-Rhin with the five arrondissements we know today: Haguenau-Wissembourg, Molsheim, Saverne, Sélestat-Erstein, and Strasbourg.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Map of arrondissements of the Bas-Rhin department.
See also
In Spanish: Distritos del Bajo Rin para niños
