# Beaumont-en-Beine

> commune in Aisne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q853816](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q853816)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont-en-Beine)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beaumont-en-beine

## Summary

Beaumont-en-Beine is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated at coordinates 49.6875°N 3.1325°E, this small rural municipality falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Laon. The commune has been recognized with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 military decoration for its suffering during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Beaumont-en-Beine, Aisne department, Hauts-de-France region, France
- **Coordinates**: 49.6875°N, 3.1325°E
- **Administrative division**: Arrondissement of Laon
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative entity type**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Department**: Aisne (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Population history**: 170, 172, 176, 177, 178, 127, 128, 157, 138, 137, 149, 166, 179, 180, 176, 172, 168 (17 data points across years)
- **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915)
- **Image**: Town hall and schools building (image_artist: Havang(nl))
- **Image license**: CC0 / Public domain
- **Wikipedia title**: Beaumont-en-Beine
- **Sitelink count**: 47

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Beaumont-en-Beine?**

Beaumont-en-Beine is a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France for municipalities. This status dates back to 1789 during the French Revolution, when communes replaced the previous system of parishes and municipalities.

**Which department and region is Beaumont-en-Beine located in?**

Beaumont-en-Beine is situated in the Aisne department, which was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The commune belongs to the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

**What administrative authority governs Beaumont-en-Beine?**

Beaumont-en-Beine falls under the arrondissement of Laon, which is an administrative district within the Aisne department. France is organized hierarchically with regions, departments, arrondissements, and communes as the lowest level.

**Did Beaumont-en-Beine receive any military honors?**

Yes, Beaumont-en-Beine was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and damage suffered during World War I. This indicates the commune experienced significant destruction or casualties during the conflict.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Beaumont-en-Beine?**

The commune is located at latitude 49.6875° North and longitude 3.1325° East, placing it in the northern part of France, relatively close to the Belgian border.

## Why It Matters

Beaumont-en-Beine represents the countless small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial organization. While numerically modest in population, these communes collectively define the rural character and cultural landscape of France. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its direct experience and sacrifice during World War I, a conflict that profoundly shaped northern France, particularly the Somme and Aisne regions where some of the most intense fighting occurred.

The commune matters as part of the French administrative system that dates back to the Revolution, providing local governance to rural communities. Its location in the arrondissement of Laon connects it to a historical administrative center that has been important since Roman times. Understanding Beaumont-en-Beine helps illustrate how France maintains its distinctive system of communes—over 34,000 of them—each serving as a fundamental unit of local administration, regardless of population size.

## Notable For

- **Croix de guerre 1914–1918**: Awarded for suffering during World War I, recognizing the commune's role in one of the most devastating conflicts in French history
- **Historical administrative continuity**: Part of the French commune system established in 1789, representing over two centuries of continuous municipal organization
- **Location in historic region**: Situated in Aisne, a department that saw some of the most intense fighting during both World Wars
- **Part of Laon arrondissement**: Connected to the historic city of Laon, which served as a significant religious and administrative center since the Middle Ages

## Body

### Geography and Location

Beaumont-en-Beine is a rural commune positioned at coordinates 49.6875°N latitude and 3.1325°E longitude. The commune is located in the northern French department of Aisne, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region. This area of France is characterized by agricultural plains and rolling hills, situated relatively close to the Belgian border. The commune's geographical position places it within the territory that has seen numerous historical conflicts due to its proximity to northern Europe's major trade routes and borders.

### Administrative Structure

Beaumont-en-Beine operates as a commune, which is the fundamental territorial collectivity in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the earlier system of parishes and municipalities. This makes Beaumont-en-Beine part of a administrative framework that has existed for over 230 years.

The commune is administratively subordinate to the arrondissement of Laon, an administrative division within the Aisne department. The department itself was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary reorganization of France's administrative divisions, replacing the former provinces with departments based on rational, geometric principles. Aisne takes its name from the river that flows through the department.

### Historical Significance

The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 to Beaumont-en-Beine represents the commune's significance during World War I. This military decoration, instituted on April 2, 1915, was awarded to localities that had suffered damage from enemy action or that had distinguished themselves during the war. The Aisne department was the site of intense fighting, particularly during the Battle of the Chemin des Dames and other major offensives. Many communes in this region received similar recognition for their suffering and contributions during the conflict.

The recognition indicates that Beaumont-en-Beine experienced direct impacts from the war, whether through destruction of property, military operations in the area, or casualties among its residents. This historical burden is shared by many communes in the Somme and Aisne regions, which bore the brunt of trench warfare during World War I.

### Population and Demographics

While the exact population figures vary across 17 recorded data points, ranging from 127 to 180 residents, Beaumont-en-Beine represents the typical small rural commune found throughout France. These modest-sized communes are essential to understanding France's demographic distribution, where a significant portion of the territory is composed of small towns and villages that maintain agricultural traditions and local cultural practices.

### Cultural and Community Assets

The commune features a town hall and schools building, as documented in its photographic record. This public infrastructure represents the essential services provided to small communities in rural France. The image of this municipal building, captured by photographer Havang(nl), has been made available under a CC0/public domain license, allowing for free use and reproduction.

### Connection to Broader French Institutions

As a commune of France, Beaumont-en-Beine is part of a system that distinguishes France from many other nations. The French commune system encompasses over 34,000 municipalities, making it one of the most decentralized administrative systems in Europe. Each commune, regardless of size, has its own mayor and municipal council, providing local governance tailored to the needs of the community.

The commune's connection to the arrondissement of Laon links it to a historic administrative center. Laon has been an important city since Roman times and served as an ecclesiastical capital in the Middle Ages. The city's historical significance as a religious and administrative center adds cultural depth to the surrounding communes, including Beaumont-en-Beine.

### Regional Context

Beaumont-en-Beine lies within the broader context of the Aisne department, which encompasses 800 communes and covers approximately 7,369 square kilometers. The department is characterized by its agricultural economy, historical heritage from both World Wars, and its position as a transitional zone between the Paris basin and the Belgian border region. The department's history is deeply intertwined with the major conflicts that have shaped European history, particularly the two World Wars, which left lasting marks on the landscape and communities of the region.

## References

1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
2. INSEE code
3. répertoire géographique des communes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Annuaire de service-public.fr
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 communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
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)