# Bertaucourt-Epourdon

> commune in Aisne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q853688](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q853688)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertaucourt-Epourdon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bertaucourt-epourdon

## Summary

Bertaucourt-Epourdon is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated at coordinates 49.626666666667°N 3.3880555555556°E, this small French municipality operates as part of the arrondissement of Laon and was historically part of the canton of La Fère until March 2015. The commune was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its suffering during World War I, reflecting its significant role in that conflict.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Bertaucourt-Epourdon is in the Aisne department of France, part of the Hauts-de-France region
- **Administrative divisions**: Arrondissement of Laon; formerly canton of La Fère (until March 2015)
- **Coordinates**: 49.626666666667°N latitude, 3.3880555555556°E longitude
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, established 1789)
- **Department inception**: Aisne department established March 4, 1790
- **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, awarded April 2, 1915)
- **Population**: Approximately 600-626 residents across recorded years (data points: 615, 614, 626, 604, 598, 482, 418, 489, 462, 515, 541, 615, 593, 592, 587, 586, 601)
- **Website**: http://bertaucourt.e-monsite.com
- **Wikipedia title**: Bertaucourt-Epourdon
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Aisne, France
- **Sitelink count**: 46

## FAQs

**What region and department is Bertaucourt-Epourdon located in?**

Bertaucourt-Epourdon is located in the Aisne department, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Laon.

**What administrative changes affected Bertaucourt-Epourdon?**

Prior to March 2015, Bertaucourt-Epourdon was part of the canton of La Fère. Following French administrative reorganization, this canton was dissolved, though the specific successor canton is not detailed in the source material.

**What recognition did Bertaucourt-Epourdon receive for World War I?**

Bertaucourt-Epourdon was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize municipalities that suffered significant damage during World War I.

**What is the population of Bertaucourt-Epourdon?**

The commune's population has fluctuated between approximately 418 and 626 residents across recorded data points, with most recent figures showing populations in the 580-620 range.

**What are the commune's geographic coordinates?**

Bertaucourt-Epourdon is situated at 49.626666666667°N latitude and 3.3880555555556°E longitude, placing it in the northern France landscape.

## Why It Matters

Bertaucourt-Epourdon matters as a representative example of the many small communes that form the fabric of rural France. Its receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies that the municipality experienced direct impact during World War I, a period when the Aisne department saw intense fighting during the Battle of the Somme and other major engagements. The commune's historical administrative placement within the canton of La Fère and subsequent reorganization reflects the ongoing evolution of French local governance structures. For researchers and those interested in French demographics, the population data spanning multiple years provides insight into the population dynamics common to small rural communes in northern France, including challenges of population fluctuation and rural depopulation that affect many similar municipalities. The commune's presence online through its dedicated website demonstrates continued local engagement and civic identity despite its small size.

## Notable For

- **World War I recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for wartime suffering
- **Historical administrative status**: Part of the former canton of La Fère until 2015 French administrative reorganization
- **Online presence**: Maintains a municipal website despite small population size
- **Geographic positioning**: Located in the historic and strategically important Aisne department of northern France

## Body

### Geography and Location

Bertaucourt-Epourdon is situated in the northern French department of Aisne, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 49.626666666667°N latitude and 3.3880555555556°E longitude. This positioning places the municipality in the Picardy region, historically an area of significant strategic importance due to its proximity to the Franco-Belgian border and its position along several major transportation routes that have seen military conflict throughout French history.

### Administrative History

The commune operates within the French administrative system as a "commune," which is the lowest level of territorial administration in France, representing a municipality. The commune of France as an administrative category was established in 1789 during the French Revolution. Bertaucourt-Epourdon is part of the arrondissement of Laon, which serves as the administrative center for the surrounding area. Prior to March 2015, the commune was included in the canton of La Fère, a sub-division of the arrondissement that was eliminated as part of French administrative reforms that reorganized cantonal boundaries to better reflect contemporary population distributions and administrative needs.

### Departmental Context

Bertaucourt-Epourdon is located in the Aisne department, which was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department takes its name from the Aisne River, which flows through the region. Aisne is historically significant, having been the site of numerous battles during World War I, including portions of the Battle of the Somme and other major engagements that devastated much of the northern French countryside. The department is part of the Hauts-de-France region, the most populous northern region of France, which includes major cities such as Lille, Amiens, and Saint-Quentin.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

The commune of Bertaucourt-Epourdon was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a prestigious French military decoration created on April 2, 1915. This award was given to municipalities that suffered damage during World War I, specifically those where civilian property was destroyed or where residents were killed or wounded by enemy attacks. The award recognizes the commune's sacrifice during "the Great War," when the Aisne department experienced some of the most intense fighting of the conflict. The German invasion of northern France in 1914 and the subsequent static warfare along the Western Front resulted in widespread destruction throughout the region, with many communes receiving similar recognition for their suffering.

### Demographics and Population

The population data for Bertaucourt-Epourdon shows fluctuations typical of small rural French communes. The recorded population figures span multiple years, with numbers ranging from as low as 418 residents to as high as 626 residents. More recent data points cluster in the 580-620 range, suggesting a relatively stable population in recent decades. This demographic pattern reflects broader trends in rural France, where many small communes have experienced population decline followed by partial stabilization as new residents seek affordable housing in rural areas while maintaining connections to urban employment centers.

### Municipal Infrastructure and Online Presence

Bertaucourt-Epourdon maintains an online presence through its municipal website at http://bertaucourt.e-monsite.com, demonstrating local investment in communication and transparency with residents. The commune has visual representation through photographs, including an image of the town hall (mairie) captured by photographer Havang(nl) and shared on Wikimedia Commons under public domain/CC0 licensing. This image, available at https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Bertaucourt-Epourdon_%28Aisne%29_mairie.JPG, provides visual documentation of the commune's administrative center.

### Cultural and Community Identity

As a commune of France, Bertaucourt-Epourdon participates in the French system of local government, with a mayor and municipal council responsible for local affairs. The commune's small population suggests a close-knit community where local governance directly impacts daily life. The municipality's website indicates ongoing efforts to maintain civic engagement and provide information to residents, a common feature of French communes of varying sizes. The award of the Croix de guerre remains a point of historical pride, connecting the contemporary community to the sacrifices of previous generations during one of the most challenging periods in French history.

## 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)