# Annouville-Vilmesnil > commune in Seine-Maritime, France **Wikidata**: [Q282933](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q282933) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annouville-Vilmesnil) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/annouville-vilmesnil ## Summary Annouville-Vilmesnil is a commune located in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is a small rural municipality situated at coordinates 49.678333°N latitude and 0.433056°E longitude, historically part of the canton of Goderville until March 2015, and now administered within the arrondissement of Havre. The commune falls under the broader jurisdiction of France, a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union, which provides its constitutional and administrative framework. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Annouville-Vilmesnil - **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (municipality) - **Country**: France - **Administrative Region**: Normandy - **Department**: Seine-Maritime (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Arrondissement**: Havre - **Historical Canton**: Goderville (until March 2015) - **Coordinates**: Latitude 49.678333333333°N, Longitude 0.43305555555556°E - **Website**: http://www.mairie-annouville-vilmesnil.fr - **Aliases**: Annouville - **Wikipedia Title**: Annouville-Vilmesnil - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Seine-Maritime, France - **Population Data**: 549, 506, 491, 477, 471, 467, 461, 455, 449, 447 (multiple census years) - **Commune of France Inception**: 1789 (established during the French Revolution) ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Annouville-Vilmesnil?** Annouville-Vilmesnil is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. Communes are analogous to towns or parishes in other administrative systems and serve as the fundamental unit of local government in France, each with its own mayor and municipal council. **Which department and region is Annouville-Vilmesnil located in?** Annouville-Vilmesnil is situated in the Seine-Maritime department, which is located in the Normandy region of northern France. The department was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Havre, one of the administrative divisions within the department. **What is the historical administrative context of Annouville-Vilmesnil?** Prior to March 2015, Annouville-Vilmesnil was part of the canton of Goderville. Administrative reorganizations in France restructured cantonal boundaries, and the commune's cantonal affiliation changed as part of these reforms. The commune's existence as an administrative unit dates back to 1789, following the French Revolution's establishment of the commune system. **What are the geographical coordinates of Annouville-Vilmesnil?** The commune is located at latitude 49.678333333333 degrees north and longitude 0.43305555555556 degrees east, placing it in the northern French department of Seine-Maritime, not far from the coast of the English Channel. **What is the population of Annouville-Vilmesnil?** Annouville-Vilmesnil has a small population, with recorded figures of 549, 506, 491, 477, 471, 467, 461, 455, 449, and 447 residents across various census periods, indicating a modest-sized rural commune typical of the Normandy countryside. **What is the administrative structure above Annouville-Vilmesnil?** Annouville-Vilmesnil operates within a hierarchical French administrative structure: it is a commune, which belongs to the arrondissement of Havre, which is part of the Seine-Maritime department, which is within the Normandy region, all under the sovereign nation of France. France itself is a semi-presidential republic and a founding member of both the European Union and the United Nations Security Council. ## Why It Matters Annouville-Vilmesnil represents the foundational unit of local governance in France, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes the French political system. While small in population, such communes form the backbone of French local administration, providing essential public services, maintaining local infrastructure, and preserving community identity. The commune's location in Seine-Maritime places it in one of France's most historically significant regions—Normandy, known for its medieval architecture, agricultural productivity, and coastal communities. The administrative history of Annouville-Vilmesnil, particularly its former affiliation with the canton of Goderville and subsequent reorganization, illustrates the ongoing evolution of French local government to meet contemporary administrative needs while maintaining the historical commune system established during the Revolution of 1789. For researchers and those studying French administrative geography, Annouville-Vilmesnil serves as an example of how rural communes maintain their identity and governance within the larger framework of departmental and regional administration. ## Notable For - Historical membership in the canton of Goderville until March 2015 administrative reforms - Location in the Seine-Maritime department, one of France's original 83 departments created in 1790 - Part of the arrondissement of Havre, a significant administrative and economic center in Normandy - Representation within the commune system established during the French Revolution in 1789 - Official municipal website presence at http://www.mairie-annouville-vilmesnil.fr - Alias usage ("Annouville") demonstrating local naming variations ## Body ### Geography and Location Annouville-Vilmesnil is positioned at coordinates 49.678333333333°N latitude and 0.43305555555556°E longitude, placing it in the northern portion of France within the Seine-Maritime department. The commune's location in Normandy places it relatively close to the English Channel coast, within a region characterized by agricultural land, small villages, and historical towns. The geography of Seine-Maritime includes both coastal areas along the Channel and inland rural landscapes, with the commune situated in this varied terrain. ### Administrative History and Structure The commune system in France traces its origins to the French Revolution, with Annouville-Vilmesnil established as a commune in 1789. This revolutionary-era creation replaced the previous parochial and seigniorial divisions with a uniform system of municipalities. The commune operates under the constitutional framework of the French Republic, which is a semi-presidential republic with a unitary state structure. France itself was formally established through the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD (which created West Francia) and underwent various regime changes before establishing the Fifth Republic in 1958, whose constitution currently governs all French communes. Prior to March 2015, Annouville-Vilmesnil was part of the canton of Goderville, an administrative division used for elections to the departmental council. Following French administrative reforms that restructured cantonal boundaries, the commune's cantonal affiliation changed. The commune now falls within the arrondissement of Havre, one of the administrative arrondissements (subdivisions) of the Seine-Maritime department. Above this level, the commune is part of the Normandy region, one of France's 18 administrative regions. ### Departmental and Regional Context Seine-Maritime is one of France's original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790, during the early Revolutionary period. The department takes its name from the Seine River and the maritime influence from its coastal position along the English Channel. The department is part of the Normandy region, which encompasses both coastal and inland areas in northern France. The arrondissement of Havre serves as an administrative center, with the city of Havre itself being a major port city and economic hub. ### Population and Demographics Annouville-Vilmesnil maintains a small population typical of rural French communes. The recorded population figures across multiple census years show numbers ranging from 447 to 549 residents, indicating a modest-sized community. These figures reflect the commune's rural character and position within the agricultural and pastoral landscape of Normandy. Small communes like Annouville-Vilmesnil are common throughout France, where many municipalities have populations under 1,000 residents, maintaining traditional rural communities while benefiting from proximity to larger urban centers for employment and services. ### Local Governance and Services As a French commune, Annouville-Vilmesnil is governed by a mayor and municipal council, providing local administration and public services to residents. The commune maintains an official website at http://www.mairie-annouville-vilmesnil.fr, which serves as a point of contact for residents and visitors seeking information about local services, municipal decisions, and community matters. The municipal website follows the standard format for French commune websites, which typically include information about local government, community events, administrative procedures, and practical information for residents. ### Relationship to National Structures Annouville-Vilmesnil exists within France's hierarchical administrative system, which flows from the commune level up through arrondissements, departments, and regions to the national government. France, as the sovereign state encompassing Annouville-Vilmesnil, is a founding member of the European Union (since 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since 1945). The national government sets constitutional and legal frameworks that govern all French communes, including Annouville-Vilmesnil, while allowing for local autonomy in certain matters. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with the President as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government, and the country's official language is French, which is used in all official commune communications and documents. ### Historical Context The establishment of Annouville-Vilmesnil as a commune in 1789 places it within the revolutionary transformation of French administrative structures. Prior to the Revolution, France was divided into provinces and governed under a feudal system. The revolutionary government nationalized church lands and reorganized the territory into departments, arrondissements, and communes—a system that, while modified over time, remains the foundation of French administration today. The commune's continuity since 1789 demonstrates the stability of this administrative system, which has survived multiple regime changes, from the First French Empire (proclaimed in 1804) through the various republics to the current Fifth Republic established in 1958. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. répertoire géographique des communes 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. Annuaire de service-public.fr 7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 8. Populations légales 2016 9. Populations légales 2017 10. Populations légales 2018 11. Populations légales 2019 12. Populations légales 2020 13. Populations légales 2021 14. Populations de référence 2022 15. Populations de référence 2023 16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 18. GeoNames 19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 20. [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) 21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)