# Alette > commune in Pas-de-Calais, France **Wikidata**: [Q844085](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q844085) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alette) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alette ## Summary Alette is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the northern French region of Hauts-de-France. Situated at coordinates 50.518°N latitude and 1.828°E longitude, this small rural municipality operates under the administrative framework of the French Republic and maintains its own municipal website at https://alette.fr. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Alette - **Country**: France - **Department**: Pas-de-Calais (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Administrative Status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789) - **Canton**: Hucqueliers (until March 2015) - **Arrondissement**: Montreuil - **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.518055555556°N, Longitude 1.8280555555556°E - **Population**: Approximately 365-387 inhabitants (various census years) - **Website**: https://alette.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Alette - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France - **Sitelink Count**: 50 ## FAQs **What region and department is Alette located in?** Alette is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department, which is situated in the northern French region of Hauts-de-France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Montreuil and was historically part of the canton of Hucqueliers until administrative redistricting in March 2015. **What type of administrative area is Alette?** Alette is classified as a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. This administrative status has existed since 1789 during the French Revolution, when communes replaced the previous system of parishes and municipalities. **What are the geographic coordinates of Alette?** Alette is located at latitude 50.518055555556° North and longitude 1.8280555555556° East, placing it in the northern part of France within the Pas-de-Calais department near the coast of the English Channel. **How many people live in Alette?** The population of Alette has been recorded at various levels ranging from 365 to 387 inhabitants across different census years, indicating a small rural community typical of the agricultural regions of northern France. **What is the administrative history of Alette's canton?** Alette was part of the canton of Hucqueliers until March 2015, when French administrative reforms restructured the canton system. The commune is now part of the arrondissement of Montreuil, which serves as the administrative center for this area of Pas-de-Calais. ## Why It Matters Alette represents the foundational unit of French local government, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes the French Republic. As one of the approximately 34,970 communes in France, Alette participates in the country's unique system of municipal governance where each commune, regardless of size, operates with its own elected municipal council and mayor. This structure dates back to the French Revolution of 1789, making it one of the oldest continuous systems of local administration in the world. The commune's location in Pas-de-Calais places it in a region of significant historical importance. This department has been the site of numerous pivotal events throughout French and European history, including various conflicts during the Hundred Years' War, the Wars of Religion, and both World Wars. The region's proximity to the English Channel has made it strategically vital for centuries. For researchers and those studying French demographics, Alette exemplifies the small rural communes that constitute much of France's territorial landscape. With population figures in the 300s, it represents the numerous municipalities that form the backbone of French rural life, contributing to agricultural production and maintaining traditional communities that have existed for generations. ## Notable For - **Historical Administrative Structure**: Part of the French commune system established in 1789, one of the oldest municipal governance systems in Europe - **Location in Pas-de-Calais**: Department with significant historical importance dating back to at least 1790 - **Canton History**: Formerly part of Hucqueliers canton until the 2015 French administrative reorganization - **Municipal Website**: Maintains an official online presence at https://alette.fr, indicating modern municipal services - **Rural Character**: Small population commune representing the agricultural heritage of northern France ## Body ### Geography and Location Alette is situated in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, one of the five departments that make up the Hauts-de-France region. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 50.518055555556° North latitude and 1.8280555555556° East longitude. This positioning places Alette in the interior of the Pas-de-Calais department, away from the direct coastline but within reasonable distance of the English Channel. The commune occupies a position within the arrondissement of Montreuil, an administrative division that serves as the organizational center for this portion of the department. The landscape of Alette and its surrounding areas is characteristic of the agricultural plains of northern France, with fertile farmland supporting the region's agricultural economy. ### Administrative Structure Alette operates as a commune, which is the fundamental unit of local government in France. The French commune system traces its origins to the revolutionary period of 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the previous feudal administrative divisions and established communes as the basic territorial, administrative, and political units of France. This system has remained largely intact for over two centuries, making it one of the world's oldest continuously operating systems of local government. As a commune, Alette is governed by a municipal council elected by residents and headed by a mayor. The commune possesses legal personality and financial autonomy, allowing it to manage local affairs, maintain public spaces, and provide basic services to residents. The municipal government operates under the broader framework of the French Republic's laws and regulations while maintaining discretion over local matters. ### Historical Administrative Context The department of Pas-de-Calais, within which Alette is located, was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department was formed from historical provinces, including Artois and portions of Picardy, and was named after the prominent Pas-de-Calais strait that separates France from England. Prior to the 2015 administrative reforms, Alette was part of the canton of Hucqueliers. Cantons in France serve as electoral districts for elections to the General Council (Conseil Général) and, since 2015, the Departmental Council (Conseil Départemental). The 2014-2015 territorial reforms in France led to the restructuring of many cantons, with the canton of Hucqueliers being dissolved and its communes redistributed to new administrative configurations. ### Demographics and Population Alette represents the typical profile of a small rural French commune, with a population that has been recorded at various levels ranging from 365 to 387 inhabitants across different census periods. This population size is characteristic of the numerous small municipalities that dot the French agricultural landscape, particularly in the northern regions where farming communities have maintained their presence despite broader urbanization trends. The population figures, while modest, reflect a stable community with residents engaged primarily in agricultural activities and related rural occupations. Small communes like Alette often face challenges related to demographic evolution, including aging populations and limited economic development opportunities, while also preserving traditional community structures and local cultural practices. ### Regional Context Alette's location within the arrondissement of Montreuil places it within an administrative framework that coordinates services and representation at the sub-departmental level. Montreuil serves as the principal urban center for this area, providing administrative services, educational institutions, and commercial facilities that serve the surrounding rural communes. The Pas-de-Calais department as a whole is characterized by its rich agricultural land, its historical significance in European conflicts, and its proximity to the United Kingdom. The department has experienced significant historical events, from medieval conflicts to the industrial revolution and both World Wars, with numerous towns and villages bearing the marks of this tumultuous history. ### Municipal Services and Modern Administration Despite its small size, Alette maintains an official municipal website (https://alette.fr), reflecting the modern approach to local government communication and service delivery adopted by French municipalities. This digital presence allows residents to access information about local services, municipal decisions, community events, and administrative procedures. The commune operates within the broader French administrative system, coordinating with departmental and regional authorities on matters ranging from urban planning and infrastructure to social services and educational provision. This multi-level governance structure allows for both local autonomy and regional coordination, ensuring that small communes like Alette remain connected to broader policy frameworks while maintaining control over local affairs. ### Connection to French Administrative Hierarchy Alette exemplifies the precise hierarchical structure of French territorial administration. At the top sits the nation-state, followed by the region (Hauts-de-France), then the department (Pas-de-Calais), the arrondissement (Montreuil), and finally the commune (Alette). This hierarchical organization, combined with the principle of decentralization, allows for efficient governance while respecting local particularities. The commune of France classification identifies Alette as part of this extensive network of municipalities that together cover the entire territory of metropolitan France and overseas territories. With approximately 34,970 communes, France maintains one of the highest densities of local administrative units in the world, a legacy of the revolutionary principle that each community should have direct representation and administration. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. OpenStreetMap 5. répertoire géographique des communes 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Annuaire de service-public.fr 8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 9. Populations légales 2016 10. Populations légales 2017 11. Populations légales 2018 12. Populations légales 2019 13. Populations légales 2020 14. Populations légales 2021 15. Populations de référence 2022 16. Populations de référence 2023 17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 18. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 19. GeoNames 20. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 21. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z) 22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)