Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department facts for kids
In France, a "department" is like a large region or county. These departments are divided into smaller areas called arrondissements. You can think of an arrondissement as a district or a borough.
The main town of an arrondissement is known as a subprefecture. If the main town of the entire department is located within an arrondissement, that town serves as both the department's capital (prefecture) and the arrondissement's subprefecture.
Arrondissements are further divided into even smaller areas called communes. These are like local towns or villages.
The Charente-Maritime department has 5 arrondissements. They help organize the different parts of the department.
Contents
The Arrondissements of Charente-Maritime
Here are the 5 arrondissements in the Charente-Maritime department:
| INSEE code |
Arrondissement | Capital | Population (2014) |
Area (km²) |
Density (Inh./km²) |
Communes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | Jonzac | Jonzac | 56,973 | 1,529.9 | 37.2 | 129 |
| 172 | Rochefort | Rochefort | 187,843 | 1,527.5 | 123.0 | 82 |
| 173 | La Rochelle | La Rochelle | 210,151 | 817.7 | 257.0 | 58 |
| 174 | Saintes | Saintes | 128,786 | 1,546.5 | 83.3 | 89 |
| 175 | Saint-Jean-d'Angély | Saint-Jean-d'Angély | 53,336 | 1,442.2 | 37.0 | 111 |
History of Charente-Maritime's Arrondissements
The Charente-Maritime department has changed its structure over time.
Early Days: 1790
The department was first created in 1790. It was originally named Charente-Inférieure. It had seven districts: Marennes, Montlieu, Pons, Rochefort, La Rochelle, Saintes, and Saint-Jean-d'Angély. The main capital of the department was Saintes.
Changes in 1800
In 1800, the districts were reorganized into arrondissements. Jonzac was added, while Montlieu and Pons were removed. This created the arrondissements of Jonzac, Marennes, Rochefort, La Rochelle, Saintes, and Saint-Jean-d'Angély.
Later Changes: 1926 and 1943
In 1926, the arrondissements of Marennes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were removed. However, Saint-Jean-d'Angély was made an arrondissement again in 1943. The department's name also changed from Charente-Inférieure to Charente-Maritime in 1941.
See Also
Images for kids
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Map of arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department.
