# Bazincourt-sur-Saulx > commune in Meuse, France **Wikidata**: [Q229051](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229051) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazincourt-sur-Saulx) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bazincourt-sur-saulx ## Summary Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is a commune located in the Meuse department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. Situated along the Saulx river at coordinates 48.675833°N, 5.138889°E, this small rural municipality belongs to the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc and represents one of the many communes that comprise the administrative fabric of France. With a population of approximately 141 to 154 residents in recent years, Bazincourt-sur-Saulx exemplifies the characteristic small-scale communal settlements found throughout the French countryside. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Bazincourt-sur-Saulx - **Alias**: Bazincourt - **Country**: France - **Administrative Region**: Grand Est (formerly Lorraine) - **Department**: Meuse (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Arrondissement**: Bar-le-Duc - **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789) - **Geographic Coordinates**: Latitude 48.675833333333°, Longitude 5.1388888888889° - **Water Body**: Situated along the Saulx river - **Population**: Approximately 141-154 residents (varies by year) - **Wikipedia Title**: Bazincourt-sur-Saulx - **Sitelink Count**: 42 - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Meuse, France ## FAQs **What region and department is Bazincourt-sur-Saulx located in?** Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is located in the Meuse department, which is part of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The commune falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc. **What is the geographic setting of Bazincourt-sur-Saulx?** The commune is situated at coordinates 48.675833°N latitude and 5.138889°E longitude. It is positioned along the Saulx river, which is a river in France, giving the commune its name ("sur-Saulx" meaning "on the Saulx"). **What type of administrative division is Bazincourt-sur-Saulx?** Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France for municipalities. The French commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the fundamental unit of local government in France. **What is the population of Bazincourt-sur-Saulx?** The commune has a small population, with recorded figures ranging between 141 and 154 residents depending on the year. This places it among the smaller rural communes in the Meuse department. **What is the historical context of the Meuse department where Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is located?** The Meuse department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution as part of the initial division of France into departments. It is named after the Meuse river that flows through the region. ## Why It Matters Bazincourt-sur-Saulx, while a small commune, represents the enduring structure of French local government and rural community life. As one of France's approximately 35,000 communes, it embodies the decentralized administrative system that has been a cornerstone of French governance since the Revolution of 1789. The commune's location in the Meuse department places it in a region with significant historical importance, particularly during periods of conflict in European history. The commune's position along the Saulx river connects it to the hydrographic network of northeastern France and contributes to the agricultural and ecological character of the region. For researchers and policymakers studying rural depopulation trends in France, Bazincourt-sur-Saulx serves as a data point in understanding demographic shifts affecting small rural municipalities across the country. From a cultural perspective, the commune maintains the French tradition of local identity and territorial organization. The naming convention "sur-Saulx" (meaning "on the Saulx") reflects the historical importance of rivers in determining settlement patterns and communal identities in France. This connection to the Saulx river also links the commune to broader regional geography and watershed systems. ## Notable For - **Administrative Classification**: One of the communes comprising the Meuse department in the Grand Est region of France - **River Location**: Situated along the Saulx river, from which it derives its name - **Historical Department**: Part of Meuse, a department created during the French Revolution in 1790 - **Arrondissement Membership**: Belongs to the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc - **Communal Heritage**: Represents the French commune system established in 1789, the fundamental unit of local administration in France ## Body ### Geography and Location Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is a commune situated in the northeastern French department of Meuse, which is part of the Grand Est region. The commune is located at precise geographic coordinates of 48.675833333333° north latitude and 5.1388888888889° east longitude. This positioning places the municipality in a rural area of northeastern France, characterized by rolling countryside and agricultural land. The commune derives its name from its location along the Saulx river — the suffix "sur-Saulx" literally translates to "on the Saulx" in French, indicating the municipality's position relative to this watercourse. The Saulx river is a significant hydrographic feature in the region, flowing through the Lorraine plateau and contributing to the local ecosystem and agricultural viability of the surrounding lands. ### Administrative Structure Bazincourt-sur-Saulx operates within the French administrative hierarchy as a commune, which represents the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The French commune system was formalized in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the basic unit of local government, analogous to a municipality or township in other countries. The commune is nested within several higher levels of administrative organization. It belongs to the Meuse department (département), which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary government's effort to replace the old provincial divisions of the Ancien Régime with a more rational administrative structure. The department is named after the Meuse river, which flows through the region although not directly through Bazincourt-sur-Saulx itself. Above the department level, Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is part of the Grand Est region, a large administrative region formed in 2016 through the merger of the former Champagne-Ardenne, Alsace, and Lorraine regions. At the sub-departmental level, the commune falls within the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc, which serves as the administrative center for the surrounding area. ### Demographics and Population As a small rural commune, Bazincourt-sur-Saulx has a modest population typically ranging between 141 and 154 residents. Population figures for the commune have shown slight variations across different years, reflecting broader demographic trends affecting rural France, including urbanization and rural depopulation that have characterized much of the 20th and 21st centuries. The population density in such small communes is naturally low, with the built-up area concentrated around the village center and agricultural lands extending into the surrounding countryside. These demographic patterns are consistent with other small communes in the Meuse department, where population sizes often reflect the agricultural character of the region and the proximity to larger urban centers. ### Historical Context The Meuse department, within which Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is located, has a rich historical heritage. Created in 1790 during the early years of the French Revolution, the department was part of a systematic reorganization of French territorial administration designed to replace the complex and irregular provinces of the monarchy with uniform, rationally organized departments. The region has witnessed numerous historical events over the centuries, particularly given its strategic position in northeastern France bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. The Meuse valley has been a corridor for military movements throughout European history, and the department contains numerous sites of historical significance from various periods. The commune system itself, into which Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is organized, traces its origins to December 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the previous administrative divisions and established communes as the fundamental units of local administration. This system has endured for over two centuries, making the French commune one of the oldest continuously operating systems of local government in the world. ### Regional Connections Bazincourt-sur-Saulx is connected to the broader geographic and hydrographic network of the region through the Saulx river, which flows through or near the commune. The Saulx river is a tributary system in the Lorraine region, contributing to the larger drainage basin of the region and playing a role in local agriculture, ecology, and settlement patterns. The commune's location within the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc places it within the administrative sphere of Bar-le-Duc, which serves as a regional service center for the surrounding municipalities. The arrondissement system in France serves as an intermediate level of administration between the department and the commune, providing administrative coordination and services for a cluster of neighboring communes. ### Cultural and Local Identity As a French commune, Bazincourt-sur-Saulx participates in the rich tradition of French local identity and municipal governance. French communes, regardless of size, possess legal personality and a range of administrative competencies, including local urban planning, civil registration, and maintenance of local infrastructure. The naming convention of French communes often reflects local geographic features, historical events, or notable figures. In the case of Bazincourt-sur-Saulx, the name clearly indicates the commune's location relative to the Saulx river, a common pattern in French toponymy where "sur-" (meaning "on" or "upon") indicates proximity to or positioning along a watercourse. The commune's small population size is characteristic of rural France, where thousands of municipalities have populations under 200 residents. These small communes maintain their administrative independence and local identity while often cooperating with neighboring municipalities through intercommunal structures for shared services such as water management, waste collection, and economic development. ## 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. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 7. Populations légales 2016 8. Populations légales 2017 9. Populations légales 2018 10. Populations légales 2019 11. Populations légales 2020 12. Populations légales 2021 13. Populations de référence 2022 14. Populations de référence 2023 15. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 16. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 17. GeoNames 18. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 19. [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) 20. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)