# Aubvillers

> commune in Somme, France

**Wikidata**: [Q45640](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45640)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubvillers)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aubvillers

## Summary

Aubvillers is a commune located in the Somme department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated in the arrondissement of Montdidier, this small rural municipality sits at coordinates 49.713888888889°N latitude and 2.4822222222222°E longitude. The commune has a historical connection to military recognition, having been awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its suffering and losses during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Aubvillers is situated in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France region, northern France
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Montdidier
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 49.713888888889°N, 2.4822222222222°E
- **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (municipal territorial subdivision)
- **Commune of France Inception**: Established in 1789
- **Somme Department Inception**: March 4, 1790
- **Population History**: 142, 140, 142, 148, 153, 159, 162, 167, 170 (across recorded periods)
- **Military Recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration awarded April 2, 1915)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Aubvillers
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Somme, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 43

## FAQs

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

Aubvillers is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, representing the fundamental unit of local government in the French administrative system.

**Where exactly is Aubvillers located in France?**

Aubvillers is located in the Somme department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Montdidier. Geographically, it sits at latitude 49.713888888889°N and longitude 2.4822222222222°E.

**What is Aubvillers' historical significance?**

Aubvillers was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, recognizing the suffering and losses the commune endured during World War I. This decoration indicates that the area experienced significant damage or casualties during the conflict, common throughout the Somme department, which was the site of major battles including the Battle of the Somme.

**What is the relationship between Aubvillers and the Somme department?**

Aubvillers is one of the communes within the Somme department, which was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. The Somme department is located in the Hauts-de-France region and is historically significant for being the site of the Battle of the Somme, one of the deadliest battles in World War I.

## Why It Matters

Aubvillers represents the quintessential small French commune that forms the backbone of France's administrative structure. While numerically small in population, communes like Aubvillers are essential to understanding France's decentralized governance system and rural heritage. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its participation in and suffering through one of the most devastating conflicts in European history. The Somme department, where Aubvillers is located, was heavily contested during World War I, and the region's villages bore the scars of trench warfare. Today, these communes preserve France's rural character and agricultural traditions while maintaining their place in the nation's administrative framework. The commune system in France, with over 35,000 such entities, represents a unique approach to local governance that dates back to 1789, and Aubvillers is an example of this enduring organizational structure.

## Notable For

- **Croix de guerre 1914–1918**: Awarded for World War I military suffering and losses
- **Historical Administrative Status**: One of the communes established in 1789 during the French Revolution
- **Somme Department Location**: Part of the department that witnessed the Battle of the Somme, one of WWI's most significant campaigns
- **Arrondissement of Montdidier**: Part of this administrative division in northern France

## Body

### Geography and Location

Aubvillers is geographically positioned at coordinates 49.713888888889°N latitude and 2.4822222222222°E longitude, placing it in the northern French department of Somme within the Hauts-de-France region. The commune is located in the arrondissement of Montdidier, one of the administrative divisions within the Somme department. This area of northern France is characterized by relatively flat terrain, agricultural land, and a climate typical of the Picardy region.

### Administrative History

The commune of Aubvillers was established in 1789, coinciding with the French Revolution and the reorganization of France's administrative divisions. This was part of a systematic restructuring that replaced the old provinces and feudal divisions with a uniform system of departments, arrondissements, and communes. The Somme department, within which Aubvillers is located, was created on March 4, 1790, making it one of the original departments formed during this period.

### Population and Demographics

While specific population figures for Aubvillers are limited in the source material, the population data points provided (142, 140, 142, 148, 153, 159, 162, 167, 170) suggest a relatively small commune with fluctuating population levels across different time periods. This pattern is consistent with many rural French communes that experienced population declines during the 20th century due to urbanization, followed by potential stabilization or modest growth in more recent decades.

### Military History and Recognition

Aubvillers was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration created on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and suffering during World War I. This award was given to French municipalities that experienced significant damage or casualties during the conflict. The Somme department was the site of the Battle of the Somme, which began in July 1916 and became one of the largest and deadliest battles in military history. The region saw intense fighting, and numerous communes throughout the area received this decoration in recognition of their suffering.

### Relationship to Administrative Entities

Aubvillers exists within a hierarchy of French administrative divisions:

- **Country**: France
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Department**: Somme (created March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Montdidier
- **Commune**: Aubvillers (established 1789)

This hierarchical structure represents the standard French administrative organization, with communes forming the base level, grouped into arrondissements, which are themselves contained within departments, which are finally organized into regions.

### Cultural and Historical Context

As a commune in the Somme department, Aubvillers is situated in a region with profound historical significance. The Somme valley was the site of numerous battles throughout French history, but none more significant than the First World War battles. The department's name became synonymous with the trench warfare and industrial-scale slaughter of modern warfare. The Croix de guerre awarded to Aubvillers places it among the thousands of French communities that contributed to and suffered through the Great War.

### Modern Status

Today, Aubvillers maintains its status as a commune of France, operating as a unit of local government. With a Wikidata sitelink count of 43, the commune has a modest but established digital presence. The commune continues to be represented within the French administrative system, participating in the broader governance structure that has remained fundamentally stable since the revolutionary period.

## 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. Populations légales 2016
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
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. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)