# Autigny-la-Tour > commune in Vosges, France **Wikidata**: [Q510202](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q510202) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autigny-la-Tour) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/autigny-la-tour ## Summary Autigny-la-Tour is a commune located in the Vosges department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. Situated at coordinates 48.399444°N latitude and 5.759444°E longitude, this small French municipality belongs to the arrondissement of Neufchâteau and the canton of Coussey. As a commune of France, it represents one of the country's fundamental territorial subdivisions for municipalities, a system established during the French Revolution in 1789. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Grand Est region, Vosges department, arrondissement of Neufchâteau, canton of Coussey - **Country**: France - **Coordinates**: 48.399444°N latitude, 5.759444°E longitude - **Department Inception**: Vosges department established March 4, 1790 - **Commune System Inception**: French commune system established in 1789 - **Population Data**: 174, 166, 170, 159, 154, 149, 145, 141, 136, 144 (recorded across multiple census years) - **Aliases**: Autigny - **Wikipedia Title**: Autigny-la-Tour - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Vosges, France - **Sitelink Count**: 41 ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Autigny-la-Tour?** Autigny-la-Tour is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. This administrative status dates back to 1789 during the French Revolution, when the country was reorganized into communes as the fundamental unit of local government. **Which department and region is Autigny-la-Tour located in?** Autigny-la-Tour is situated in the Vosges department, which was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department is part of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Neufchâteau and the canton of Coussey. **What are the geographical coordinates of Autigny-la-Tour?** The commune is located at 48.399444 degrees north latitude and 5.759444 degrees east longitude, placing it in the northeastern portion of France within the Vosges mountain region. **How is Autigny-la-Tour connected to the French administrative system?** As a French commune, Autigny-la-Tour operates under the unitary system of France. It is part of a hierarchical administrative structure that includes the region (Grand Est), department (Vosges), arrondissement (Neufchâteau), and canton (Coussey). The commune system, established in 1789, serves as the fundamental level of local government throughout France. ## Why It Matters Autigny-la-Tour represents the foundational unit of French local government, embodying the democratic principles established during the French Revolution. As one of France's approximately 35,000 communes, it serves as the most immediate level of governance for French citizens, handling local affairs, municipal services, and community organization. The commune system is integral to France's unitary state structure, distinguishing it from federal systems found in other nations. The commune's location in the Vosges department places it within a region known for its mountainous terrain, forests, and historical significance. The Vosges, one of France's oldest mountain ranges, has played a strategic role in French history, particularly during conflicts with neighboring Germany. The department's establishment in 1790 reflects the revolutionary reorganization of France's administrative divisions, moving away from the historical provinces toward a more rational, uniform territorial structure. Understanding Autigny-la-Tour provides insight into how France administers its territory through communes—entities that combine administrative, political, and community functions. This system allows for localized governance while maintaining the centralized character of the French state. ## Notable For - Part of the historic Vosges department established during the French Revolution - Located in the canton of Coussey, representing traditional French cantonal organization - Situated in the arrondissement of Neufchâteau, maintaining the Napoleonic-era administrative division system - Represents the French commune system dating to 1789 - Coordinates place it within the scenic Vosges mountain region of northeastern France ## Body ### Geography and Location Autigny-la-Tour is positioned at coordinates 48.399444°N latitude and 5.759444°E longitude, situating it in the northeastern French department of Vosges. The commune lies within the Grand Est region, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of the former Champagne-Ardenne, Alsace, and Lorraine regions. The Vosges department is named after the Vosges mountain range, which forms a natural boundary between the Rhine valley and the rest of France. ### Administrative Structure Autigny-la-Tour operates within France's hierarchical administrative system. At the local level, it functions as a commune—the smallest administrative division in France. The commune belongs to the canton of Coussey, which serves as a constituency for elections to the departmental council. Above the cantonal level, the commune is part of the arrondissement of Neufchâteau, an administrative division that groups several communes together for certain governmental functions. The arrondissement of Neufchâteau represents one of the administrative divisions within the Vosges department. This system of arrondissements was established during the French Revolution and refined under Napoleon, creating an intermediate level between the commune and the department. ### Historical Context The Vosges department was established on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary government's effort to replace the old provinces with uniform administrative divisions based on rational principles. This reorganization eliminated the historical feudal territories and created departments named after geographical features—in this case, the Vosges mountain range. The French commune system, to which Autigny-la-Tour belongs, was also established in 1789. This revolutionary creation replaced the previous system of parishes and municipalities with a uniform structure of local government. Each commune operates under the authority of a mayor and municipal council, handling local affairs ranging from civil registration to local infrastructure maintenance. ### Population and Demographics The population data for Autigny-la-Tour shows fluctuation across multiple census years, with recorded figures of 174, 166, 170, 159, 154, 149, 145, 141, 136, and 144 residents. These numbers reflect the demographic trends common to many rural French communes, particularly in regions like the Vosges where depopulation has affected smaller municipalities due to urbanization and migration to larger cities. ### Relationship to Connected Entities Autigny-la-Tour exists within a network of administrative and geographical relationships. As a commune of France, it is subject to French national laws and policies while maintaining local autonomy in certain matters. The commune is connected to the broader French administrative structure through its membership in the canton of Coussey, the arrondissement of Neufchâteau, and the department of Vosges. The department of Vosges encompasses 515 communes and covers an area of approximately 5,874 square kilometers. The department's capital is Épinal, and it is known for its production of Vosges cheese, including the famous Munster cheese, as well as its textile industry and winter sports resorts in the mountainous areas. ### Regional Significance The Grand Est region, in which Autigny-la-Tour is located, represents one of France's largest regions by area. This region encompasses diverse landscapes ranging from the Champagne plains to the Alsace vineyards and the Vosges mountains. The region has been shaped by its position at the crossroads of Western Europe, having changed hands between France and Germany multiple times throughout history. The arrondissement of Neufchâteau represents a traditional administrative division that groups communes together for certain governmental functions, including some judicial and administrative services. This system allows for efficient coordination of resources and services across multiple smaller municipalities. ### Cantonal Organization Autigny-la-Tour's membership in the canton of Coussey reflects the French system of cantons as electoral constituencies for departmental elections. The canton serves as an intermediate level of administration between the commune and the department, allowing for representation of local interests at the departmental level while grouping together municipalities with shared characteristics or interests. ## 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)