# Assenay

> commune in Aube, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1085489](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1085489)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assenay)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/assenay

## Summary

Assenay is a commune located in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of north-central France. Situated at coordinates 48.1825°N latitude and 4.0591666666667°E longitude, this small municipality falls within the arrondissement of Troyes and was historically part of the canton of Bouilly until March 2015. As a commune of France, Assenay operates as a territorial subdivision within the French administrative system, representing one of the smallest units of local government in the country.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Assenay is situated in the Aube department (inception: March 4, 1790) in the Grand Est region of France
- **Administrative divisions**: Arrondissement of Troyes; formerly canton of Bouilly (until March 2015)
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 48.1825°N, Longitude 4.0591666666667°E
- **Type of entity**: Commune of France (French territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Wikipedia title**: Assenay
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Aube, France
- **Sitelink count**: 46
- **Population history**: 159, 150, 148, 146, 148, 46, 64, 63, 77, 95, 142, 151, 145, 143, 140, 137, 133 (various census years)

## FAQs

**What region is Assenay located in?**

Assenay is located in the Aube department, which is part of the Grand Est region in north-central France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Troyes.

**What type of administrative area is Assenay?**

Assenay is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local government.

**What were the administrative divisions of Assenay?**

Assenay was part of the canton of Bouilly until March 2015. It is now part of the arrondissement of Troyes in the Aube department.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Assenay?**

Assenay is located at 48.1825 degrees north latitude and 4.0591666666667 degrees east longitude.

**When was the Aube department established?**

The Aube department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

## Why It Matters

Assenay matters as an example of the granular administrative structure that defines French local governance. While as a small commune it may not be widely known internationally, it represents the thousands of municipalities that form the backbone of France's decentralized administrative system. The commune structure in France, dating back to 1789, allows for local administration that is closer to citizens than regional or national government, enabling tailored local governance despite France's status as a unitary state.

The presence of Assenay within the Aube department situates it in a region with historical significance, as the department was created during the foundational reorganization of French territory during the Revolution. Its location in the arrondissement of Troyes places it within an area that has developed its own local identity, economy, and community structures.

For those studying French administrative geography or local governance models, Assenay serves as a data point illustrating how France manages its territorial organization through a hierarchy of regions, departments, arrondissements, cantons, and communes—each with specific administrative functions and historical origins.

## Notable For

- Being part of the historic Aube department established during the French Revolution in 1790
- Located in the Grand Est region, one of France's 18 administrative regions
- Situated within the arrondissement of Troyes, maintaining administrative connections to the city of Troyes
- Representing the French commune system, which provides local governance to approximately 35,000 municipalities across France

## Body

### Geography and Location

Assenay is geographically positioned at coordinates 48.1825°N latitude and 4.0591666666667°E longitude, placing it in the north-central part of France. The commune is located in the Aube department, which is situated in the Grand Est region of France. This area of France is characterized by a mix of agricultural land and historical towns, with Troyes serving as the principal urban center of the surrounding area.

### Administrative History

The commune system in France, to which Assenay belongs, was established in 1789 during the French Revolution as part of the broader reorganization of French territorial administration. This system created municipalities as the lowest level of administrative division, replacing the previous feudal system of parishes and lordships.

The Aube department itself was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into departments. The department was named after the Aube River that flows through the region. Assenay falls within the arrondissement of Troyes, which serves as an intermediate administrative level between the department and the commune.

Prior to March 2015, Assenay was part of the canton of Bouilly. Cantons in France serve as electoral districts for elections to the General Council (departmental council) and also have some administrative functions, though their importance has diminished with administrative decentralization reforms.

### Population and Demographics

While specific population figures for Assenay are limited in the source material, the population data provided shows fluctuation over various census years, with figures ranging from 46 to 159 residents. This pattern is consistent with many small rural communes in France, where population can vary due to factors including birth rates, migration, and economic opportunities.

Small communes like Assenay are typical of the French rural landscape, where many municipalities have populations under 500 residents. These communities often serve as residential areas for people working in nearby larger towns or in agricultural sectors.

### Relationship to Larger Administrative Entities

Assenay is connected to several larger administrative entities that illustrate the French territorial hierarchy:

- **France**: The nation-state, a semi-presidential republic and unitary state with significant global influence as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and founding member of the European Union
- **Aube department**: One of France's 96 metropolitan departments, created in 1790, with its capital at Troyes
- **Arrondissement of Troyes**: An administrative division within the Aube department
- **Canton of Bouilly**: The historical canton to which Assenay belonged until 2015
- **Commune of France**: The category of territorial subdivision to which Assenay belongs, with approximately 35,000 communes across France

### Context Within France

France's administrative system represents a highly centralized structure that has been progressively decentralized since the 1980s. The country is divided into 18 regions (12 metropolitan and 6 overseas), which are further divided into departments (101 total), then arrondissements, cantons, and finally communes.

The Grand Est region, where Assenay is located, was created in 2016 from the merger of the former Champagne-Ardenne, Alsace, and Lorraine regions. This reorganization was part of France's territorial reform efforts to create larger, more competitive administrative regions.

The Aube department, with its capital Troyes, has a population of approximately 310,000 residents and is known for its agricultural production, particularly in cereals and champagne grapes (being on the southern edge of the Champagne region). The department covers an area of approximately 6,004 square kilometers and is characterized by a predominantly flat or gently rolling landscape.

## 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 communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
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)