# Breteuil

> commune in Oise, France

**Wikidata**: [Q379276](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379276)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breteuil,_Oise)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/breteuil

## Summary

Breteuil is a commune located in the Oise department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated in the arrondissement of Clermont. As a French commune, it serves as a territorial subdivision and was historically part of the canton of Breteuil until March 2015. The town holds the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 military decoration, recognizing its suffering and resistance during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Breteuil is situated in the Oise department, northern France
- **Administrative division**: Part of the arrondissement of Clermont
- **Historical canton**: Canton of Breteuil (until March 2015)
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 49.6325, Longitude 2.2933333333333
- **Website**: http://www.ville-breteuil.fr
- **Wikipedia title**: Breteuil, Oise
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Oise, France
- **Alias**: Breteuil (Oise)
- **Population figures**: 4,536; 4,534; 4,559; 4,340; 4,244; 4,221; 4,192; 4,156; 4,189; 4,222 (multiple census years)
- **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration awarded April 2, 1915)
- **Commune status**: Established as a commune of France since 1789
- **Department inception**: Oise department created March 4, 1790

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Breteuil?**

Breteuil is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It is located in the Oise department and was historically part of the canton of Breteuil until administrative reforms in March 2015.

**Where exactly is Breteuil located?**

Breteuil is situated in northern France in the Oise department, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region. It falls within the arrondissement of Clermont and has coordinates of 49.6325° latitude and 2.2933333333333° longitude.

**What recognition did Breteuil receive for its role in World War I?**

Breteuil was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize towns that suffered damage during the First World War. This decoration acknowledges the town's resistance and suffering during the conflict.

**What is the population of Breteuil?**

Breteuil has a population of approximately 4,200 to 4,500 residents across various census years, with figures including 4,536; 4,534; 4,559; 4,340; 4,244; 4,221; 4,192; 4,156; 4,189; and 4,222.

**How can I find more information about Breteuil?**

The official website for Breteuil is http://www.ville-breteuil.fr, where local government information and community details can be accessed.

## Why It Matters

Breteuil represents the classic French commune structure that forms the backbone of France's administrative organization. As a town that received the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, it holds historical significance for its role during World War I, when many northern French towns experienced occupation and destruction. The commune's location in the Oise department places it in a region that has been strategically important throughout French history, serving as a gateway between Paris and the northern borders. The administrative changes of March 2015, when the canton system was reorganized, reflect France's ongoing efforts to modernize local governance while maintaining the communal identity that has defined French municipal life since 1789.

## Notable For

- **War recognition**: Holder of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for World War I resistance
- **Historical canton**: Former seat of the canton of Breteuil until 2015 administrative reforms
- **Official web presence**: Maintains a municipal website at http://www.ville-breteuil.fr
- **Departmental heritage**: Located in Oise, a department established during the French Revolution in 1790

## Body

### Geography and Location

Breteuil is a commune situated in the Oise department in the northern French region of Hauts-de-France. The town is positioned at coordinates 49.6325° latitude and 2.2933333333333° longitude, placing it in the Picardy area that has been inhabited since medieval times. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Clermont, an administrative division that organizes departmental affairs at a sub-regional level. The Oise department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution, as part of the reorganization of France into departments based on the former provinces.

### Administrative History

As a commune of France, Breteuil operates as the lowest level of territorial administration in the French system. The commune as an administrative concept was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and lordships. Until March 2015, Breteuil served as the seat of the canton of Breteuil, an electoral district that organized voting and local administrative coordination for the surrounding area. The 2015 administrative reforms restructured the canton system in France, leading to the dissolution of the historical canton of Breteuil as a distinct administrative entity, though the commune itself retained its identity and boundaries.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

Breteuil was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a prestigious French military decoration created on April 2, 1915, to honor towns and villages that suffered damage during the First World War. This award recognizes the destruction, suffering, and resistance experienced by civilian populations during the conflict. The Oise region was heavily contested during the war, with many towns experiencing occupation, bombardment, and destruction. The Croix de guerre serves as permanent recognition of the sacrifices made by Breteuil and its residents during this period of French history.

### Demographics and Community

The population of Breteuil has remained relatively stable over recent decades, with census figures showing numbers between approximately 4,200 and 4,600 residents. The population figures recorded across multiple census years include 4,536; 4,534; 4,559; 4,340; 4,244; 4,221; 4,192; 4,156; 4,189; and 4,222. These figures reflect a typical pattern for small French communes in rural or semi-rural areas, where population has remained consistent despite broader national urbanization trends. The commune serves as a local center for the surrounding area, providing administrative services, commerce, and community facilities for its residents.

### Local Infrastructure and Access

Breteuil maintains an official municipal website at http://www.ville-breteuil.fr, providing residents and visitors with access to local government information, public services, and community announcements. The commune is connected to the broader French administrative and transportation networks through its location in the Oise department. The department is served by the regional transportation infrastructure that links northern French towns to Paris and other major urban centers. The postal code and INSEE code for the commune are assigned according to the French national system for municipal identification.

### Regional Context

Breteuil's location in the Oise department places it within one of the original departments created during the French Revolution, named after the Oise River that flows through the region. The department is part of Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of metropolitan France, which includes the historic regions of Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The arrondissement of Clermont, to which Breteuil belongs, organizes departmental services and administration for a cluster of communes in the southern part of Oise. This administrative structure reflects France's decentralized system of governance, where communes, departments, and regions each play distinct roles in public administration.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. répertoire géographique des communes
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. MusicBrainz
9. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
10. Populations légales 2016
11. Populations légales 2017
12. Populations légales 2018
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
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. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File