Nord (department) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nord
Department
Prefecture building of the Nord department, in Lille.
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Nord in France
Country	France
Region	Hauts-de-France
Département	4 March 1790
Prefecture	Lille
Subprefectures	Avesnes-sur-Helpe, Cambrai, Douai, Dunkirk, Valenciennes
Area
• Total	5,742.8 km2 (2,217.3 sq mi)
Population  (2014)
• Total	2,603,472
• Density	453.345/km2 (1,174.159/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Nordistes
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	FR-59
Arrondissements	6
Cantons	41
Communes	648

Nord is a department in the very north of France. It's called 'Nord' because that means 'North' in French, and it's right at the top of the country! The main city and capital of Nord is Lille.

History of Nord

Nord is one of the first 83 departments created in France. This happened during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Back then, Douai was its first capital city.

The department was first split into eight smaller areas called districts. Later, in 1800, these districts were changed into six arrondissements, which are like bigger administrative zones.

A few years later, in 1803, the capital of Nord moved from Douai to Lille. This made Lille the most important city in the department. Over time, some of the arrondissements changed their names or were combined. For example, the arrondissement of Valenciennes was created in 1824.

Geography of Nord

Nord is part of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It covers an area of about 5,743 square kilometers (2,217 square miles).

The department has some interesting neighbors! To the north, it touches the North Sea and Belgium. To the south, it borders the Aisne department. To the southwest, it has a short border with the Somme department. And to the west, it's next to the Pas-de-Calais department.

	North Sea	Belgium
	Pas-de-Calais		Belgium
		Nord
	Somme	Aisne

The highest point in Nord is in a town called Anor. It's about 271 meters (889 feet) high, which is like climbing a very tall building! Several rivers flow through Nord, including the Scheldt, Yser, Lys, Scarpe, and Sambre. These rivers are important for the region's landscape and history.

Climate in Nord

The climate in Nord is known as an "Oceanic climate". This means it's similar to the weather you might find near an ocean, with mild temperatures and rain throughout the year.

In Lille, the average rainfall for the year is about 645 millimeters (25.4 inches). October usually gets the most rain, while February is the driest month.

The average temperature in Lille for the whole year is about 10.8°C (51.4°F). July is usually the warmest month, with temperatures around 18.6°C (65.5°F). January is the coolest, with an average temperature of 3.6°C (38.5°F).

How Nord is Governed

Nord is managed by the Departmental Council of Aisne in Lille. This council helps make decisions for the department and is part of the larger Hauts-de-France region's government.

Administrative Divisions

Nord is divided into several administrative areas to help manage it. There are 6 main arrondissements (like large districts), 41 cantons (smaller areas for elections), and 648 communes (individual towns and villages).

People of Nord

The people who live in Nord are called Nordistes in French. In 2014, Nord had a population of over 2.6 million people. This means it's a very populated area, with many people living close together.

The arrondissement of Lille is the most populated area within Nord. It has over 1.2 million inhabitants!

Here are the 10 largest towns and cities in Nord, based on their population in 2014:

Images for kids

• 

  Lille cathedral.

• 

  Dunkirk town hall.

• 

  Overview of Douai.

• 

  Valenciennes town hall.

• 

  Place Verte, Valenciennes.