Arrondissements of the Moselle department facts for kids
Arrondissements are like smaller administrative areas within a larger region, similar to how a big city might have different boroughs or districts. In France, a "department" is a main region, and these departments are split into smaller parts called arrondissements. You can think of them as "districts" or "boroughs."
The main town or city of an arrondissement is called a subprefecture. If the main city of the whole department is located in an arrondissement, then that city serves as both the department's capital and the arrondissement's capital.
Arrondissements are further divided into even smaller areas called communes, which are like local towns or villages.
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The Arrondissements of Moselle
The Moselle department in France has 5 main arrondissements. Here's a look at them:
| INSEE code |
Arrondissement | Capital | Population (2014) |
Area (km²) |
Density (Inh./km²) |
Communes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 573 | Forbach-Boulay-Moselle | Forbach | 245,222 | 1,283.3 | 191.1 | 169 |
| 575 | Sarrebourg-Château-Salins | Sarrebourg | 93,481 | 1,966.9 | 47.5 | 230 |
| 576 | Sarreguemines | Sarreguemines | 99,772 | 935.9 | 106.6 | 83 |
| 577 | Thionville | Thionville | 264,858 | 941.5 | 281.3 | 105 |
| 579 | Metz | Metz | 341,821 | 1,088.7 | 314.0 | 140 |
History of Moselle's Arrondissements
The Moselle department has a long and interesting history, especially concerning how its administrative areas have changed over time.
How Moselle Was First Formed
Moselle was one of the first 83 departments created in France during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Back then, it was divided into nine "districts." These districts were Metz, Bitche, Boulay, Briey, Longwy, Morhange, Sarreguemines, Sarrelouis, and Thionville. The main city, or capital, for the entire Moselle department was Metz.
Changes in the 1800s
In 1800, a new system was introduced in France, creating arrondissements. The nine old districts of Moselle were reorganized into four new arrondissements: Metz, Briey, Sarreguemines, and Thionville.
Moselle's Changes After 1871
In 1871, parts of the Moselle department became part of Germany. The remaining areas of Moselle were then combined with another department called Meurthe to form a new department, Meurthe-et-Moselle. This meant the Moselle department, as it was known, temporarily stopped existing.
Moselle Reappears in 1919
After some time, in 1919, a new Moselle department was formed. This new department started with nine arrondissements.
Modern Moselle: Five Arrondissements
More recently, in 2015, some changes were made again. Four of the arrondissements were removed, and their areas were added to the remaining five. This is why today, the Moselle department has five arrondissements: Forbach-Boulay-Moselle, Metz, Sarrebourg-Château-Salins, Sarreguemines, and Thionville.
See Also
Images for kids
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Map of arrondissements of the Moselle department.
