# Baron

> commune in Gard, France

**Wikidata**: [Q839995](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839995)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron,_Gard)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/baron-q839995

## Summary

Baron is a commune located in the Gard department in the Occitanie region of southern France, situated in the arrondissement of Nîmes and part of the canton of Saint-Chaptes. The small rural municipality sits at coordinates 44.049166667°N latitude and 4.2811111111111°E longitude. With a historical population that has fluctuated between approximately 154 and 368 residents across various census periods, Baron represents a modest rural community in the French Mediterranean interior.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Baron (also known as Baron, Gard or Dève-la-Montagne)
- **Location**: Gard department, Occitanie region, southern France
- **Administrative Division**: Arrondissement of Nîmes, Canton of Saint-Chaptes
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 44.049166667°N, 4.2811111111111°E
- **Website**: https://baron30700.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Baron, Gard
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Gard, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42
- **Population History**: 353, 357, 363, 356, 361, 165, 154, 201, 199, 229, 307, 335, 368, 358, 348, 338, 337 (various census years)
- **Territorial Classification**: Commune of France (subdivision inception: +1789)
- **Department Creation**: Gard established March 4, 1790

## FAQs

**What region and department is Baron located in?**

Baron is located in the Gard department, which is situated in southern France within the Occitanie region. The commune falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Nîmes and the canton of Saint-Chaptes.

**What type of administrative area is Baron in France?**

Baron is classified as a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. The French commune system was established in 1789, making Baron part of a decentralized administrative structure that organizes France into approximately 35,000 communes.

**How many people live in Baron?**

The population of Baron has varied across different census periods, with recorded figures including 154, 165, 199, 201, 229, 307, 335, 337, 338, 348, 353, 356, 357, 358, 361, 363, and 368 residents. These fluctuations reflect the demographic trends common in small rural French communes.

**What is the geographic position of Baron?**

Baron is positioned at latitude 44.049166667°N and longitude 4.2811111111111°E, placing it in the interior of southern France, away from the Mediterranean coast but within the broader Gard department known for its Roman heritage and Mediterranean climate.

**What is the website for Baron?**

The official website for the commune of Baron is https://baron30700.com, providing information about the local municipality and its services.

## Why It Matters

Baron matters as an example of the thousands of small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial administration. While modest in population, these communes represent the historical continuity of French municipal organization dating back to the French Revolution. The commune structure allows for local governance and maintains the connection between citizens and their municipal representatives. For researchers studying French demographic patterns, Baron's population fluctuations illustrate the challenges facing rural France, including aging populations and youth migration to urban centers. The commune's location in Gard, a department known for its Roman monuments, vineyards, and proximity to the Mediterranean, places it within a region of significant cultural and economic importance to France. Understanding Baron and similar communes provides insight into the decentralized nature of French governance and the country's commitment to maintaining local administrative units even in areas with very small populations.

## Notable For

- **Rural French Administration**: Represents the classic French commune structure in a rural Mediterranean department
- **Historical Territory**: Located in Gard, a department created during the French Revolution in March 1790
- **Online Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website (baron30700.com), uncommon for very small communes
- **Canton Membership**: Part of Saint-Chaptes, connecting it to a historical electoral district in the region

## Body

### Geography and Location

Baron is situated in the Gard department of the Occitanie region in southern France. The commune occupies coordinates 44.049166667°N latitude and 4.2811111111111°E longitude, positioning it in the interior highlands of Gard rather than on the Mediterranean coastal plain. The landscape of this area features the characteristic terrain of the southern French interior—rolling hills, garrigue (Mediterranean shrubland), and agricultural land typical of the region. Gard is bordered by several departments including Vaucluse, Ardèche, Lozère, Hérault, and the Bouches-du-Rhône, placing Baron within a network of Mediterranean France. The arrondissement of Nîmes serves as the administrative center for this portion of Gard, while the canton of Saint-Chaptes provides local electoral representation.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Baron operates as the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The commune system was formalized in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions. Each commune has its own mayor and municipal council, responsible for local services, urban planning, and community maintenance. Baron is part of the canton of Saint-Chaptes, which serves as an electoral district for elections to the Departmental Council. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Nîmes, which coordinates sub-prefectural functions and maintains administrative oversight of multiple communes within its jurisdiction. Gard itself is a department created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments, and it belongs to the Occitanie region established in 2016 following the merger of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures for Baron demonstrate significant variation across different census periods, with recorded numbers including 154, 165, 199, 201, 229, 307, 335, 337, 338, 348, 353, 356, 357, 358, 361, 363, and 368 residents. These figures reflect the demographic challenges facing many rural communes in France, where population can fluctuate based on economic opportunities, housing availability, and quality of life factors. Small communes like Baron often experience population decline as younger residents relocate to larger cities for education and employment, while some may see population increases as individuals seek rural lifestyles or affordable housing. The population density of Baron remains low, consistent with the rural character of the interior Gard region.

### Historical Context

The commune of Baron exists within the historical framework of French municipal organization that emerged from the Revolution of 1789. The department of Gard was created in 1790 as part of the rationalization of French administrative divisions, named after the Gardon river that flows through the region. The canton system, to which Baron belongs through Saint-Chaptes, developed as an electoral and administrative subdivision between the commune and the arrondissement levels. The arrondissement of Nîmes has served as an administrative center for this portion of southern France since the departmental system was established. This historical administrative structure has remained remarkably stable for over two centuries, providing continuity of governance and local identity for communities like Baron.

### Local Infrastructure and Services

As a functioning French commune, Baron maintains municipal infrastructure and services appropriate to its population size. The commune's website (baron30700.com) indicates active local governance and communication with residents. Small rural communes in France typically provide essential services including municipal administration, local road maintenance, and may participate in intercommunal arrangements for services like water management, waste collection, and economic development that individual small communes cannot efficiently provide independently. The Gard department is known for its Roman heritage, with Nîmes itself featuring the famous Roman arena and Maison Carrée, though Baron as a smaller commune does not share these major historical monuments.

### Regional Context

Baron's location in Gard places it within one of France's most historically rich regions. The department contains numerous examples of Roman engineering, including the aqueduct of the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region produces wine under the Côtes du Rhône and other appellations, and the Mediterranean climate supports agriculture, tourism, and a quality of life that attracts both French and international residents. The proximity to Nîmes, Uzès, and other historic towns provides cultural and commercial resources for residents of smaller communes like Baron. The Occitanie region, created in 2016, is France's largest region by area, spanning from the Mediterranean coast to the Pyrenees mountains, and includes diverse landscapes, economies, and cultural traditions.

### Administrative Relationships

Baron is connected to several layers of French administrative organization. At the municipal level, it operates as an independent commune with its own mayor and council. At the canton level, it is part of Saint-Chaptes, which elects representatives to the Departmental Council that manages departmental affairs. At the arrondissement level, it falls under Nîmes, which handles administrative coordination. At the department level, Gard provides intermediate governance, and at the regional level, Occitanie coordinates broader planning and development. This multi-layered system allows for both local autonomy and regional coordination, enabling small communes to benefit from larger administrative resources while maintaining local identity and governance.

## 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. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=2751)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [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)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)