# Cherbourg > former commune of Manche, France **Wikidata**: [Q3667188](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3667188) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherbourg) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cherbourg ## Summary Cherbourg is a former commune located in the Manche department of France, which ceased to exist as an independent municipality on February 27, 2000. It was subsequently merged to form Cherbourg-Octeville and later became part of the larger commune of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on January 1, 2016. Historically significant as a city and the capital of the arrondissement of Cherbourg, it is identified by the INSEE code 50129 and covers an area of 6.91 square kilometers. ## Key Facts * **Status:** Former commune of France (dissolved February 27, 2000) and current part of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. * **Location:** Situated in the arrondissement of Cherbourg, within the Manche department of France. * **Coordinates:** Latitude 49.63333333, Longitude -1.6. * **Area:** 6.91 square kilometers. * **Population:** Recorded at 25,370 inhabitants as of 1999. * **Postal Code:** 50100. * **Time Zones:** UTC+01:00 (standard time) and UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time). * **Administrative Timeline:** * Existed as a commune until February 27, 2000. * Merged into Cherbourg-Octeville from February 28, 2000, to December 31, 2015. * Became part of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin starting January 1, 2016. * **Identifiers:** * GND ID: 1039017-0 * VIAF IDs: 240812536, 168102849, 266938249 * FAST ID: 1202820 * Library of Congress Authority ID: n50054128 * BnF ID: 152621068, 118814418 * Geonames ID: 3025466 * INSEE Municipality Code: 50129 * Who's on First ID: 1141907807 * Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID: 7008211 * **Administrative Role:** Served as the capital of the arrondissement of Cherbourg. * **Head of Government:** The office held was the Mayor of Cherbourg. * **Twinning:** Twinned with the administrative body of Deva. * **Languages:** Content available in 19 languages including English, French, German, Italian, and Chinese. * **Image:** Basilique Sainte-Trinité de Cherbourg (File: Basilique_Sainte-Trinité_de_Cherbourg-7958.jpg). ## FAQs **What happened to the commune of Cherbourg in the year 2000?** On February 27, 2000, the commune of Cherbourg was dissolved and merged with other entities to create the new commune of Cherbourg-Octeville. This administrative change marked the end of its independent status, which had lasted until that specific date. **How is Cherbourg geographically situated within France?** Cherbourg is located in the Manche department in northwestern France, specifically within the arrondissement of Cherbourg. Its precise geographic coordinates are 49.63333333° N latitude and 1.6° W longitude, placing it in a coastal region. **What are the current administrative affiliations of the area formerly known as Cherbourg?** Following its merger into Cherbourg-Octeville in 2000, the area became part of the larger commune of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on January 1, 2016. It retains its identity within the arrondissement of Cherbourg and the department of Manche. **Which major libraries and databases catalog information about this location?** Information regarding Cherbourg is cataloged in major institutions including the Library of Congress, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the National Library of Spain. It also holds entries in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names, the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire, and the World Historical Gazetteer. **What is the population history recorded for this entity?** The most specific population data available in the source material records 25,370 inhabitants for the year 1999. This figure represents the demographic count prior to the administrative mergers that occurred in 2000. ## Why It Matters Cherbourg holds significance as a foundational administrative unit in the Manche department that shaped the modern governance structure of the region. Its dissolution and subsequent reorganization into Cherbourg-Octeville and later Cherbourg-en-Cotentin reflect the broader French trend of municipal consolidation to improve administrative efficiency. As the former capital of the arrondissement of Cherbourg, it served as a central hub for local governance and historical record-keeping. The entity is also notable for its extensive digital footprint, with identifiers across dozens of international authority files, making it a key reference point for geographic and historical research in the region. Its inclusion in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire and the Pleiades project further underscores its historical depth beyond its modern administrative lifespan. ## Notable For * **Administrative Evolution:** Distinctly known for its transition from an independent commune to a merged entity, serving as a case study in French municipal reform. * **Historical Depth:** Recognized in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire (ID: 8052) and the Pleiades project (ID: 69493), indicating ancient historical roots. * **International Recognition:** Holds unique identifiers in over 30 global authority databases, including the Library of Congress, GND, and VIAF. * **Geographic Specificity:** Defined by precise coordinates (49.63333333, -1.6) and a specific area of 6.91 km². * **Cultural Categories:** Maintains distinct Wikipedia categories for people born in Cherbourg and views of the location, highlighting its cultural footprint. * **Time Zone Complexity:** Officially documented with both standard (UTC+01:00) and daylight saving (UTC+02:00) time qualifiers. ## Body ### Administrative History and Status Cherbourg was officially classified as a commune of France until February 27, 2000. On this date, the commune was dissolved, marking the end of its independent existence. It was replaced by the new entity Cherbourg-Octeville, which existed from February 28, 2000, until December 31, 2015. Subsequently, on January 1, 2016, the area became part of the larger commune of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. Despite these changes, the entity is still classified as a city and a former commune of the Manche department. The official name "Cherbourg" is referenced in INSEE documentation with a publication date of April 21, 2020. ### Geographic and Physical Characteristics The entity is located in the arrondissement of Cherbourg within the Manche department of France. Its geographic coordinates are fixed at latitude 49.63333333 and longitude -1.6. The total area of the former commune is 6.91 square kilometers. The postal code associated with this location is 50100. The timezone is defined as UTC+01:00 for standard time and UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time. A locator map image is available via Wikimedia Commons, specifically the file "Cherbourg_dot.png". The GADM ID for this location is FRA.9.3.2_1. ### Demographics and Population Data Historical population data indicates a count of 25,370 inhabitants recorded at the point in time of 1999. This data is linked to tabular population files from INSEE, specifically "Population – Cherbourg-en-Cotentin – Manche (département) – INSEE 50129.tab". The entity has specific categories for demographic tracking, including "Category:Births in Cherbourg" and "Category:Deaths in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin". The head of government for the former commune held the office of Mayor of Cherbourg. ### Identification and Authority Records Cherbourg is extensively cataloged across global authority files. The GND ID is 1039017-0. The VIAF system lists three distinct IDs for this entity: 240812536, 168102849, and 266938249. The FAST ID is 1202820. The Library of Congress Authority ID is n50054128. The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) holds two IDs: 152621068 and 118814418. Other significant identifiers include the Geonames ID (3025466), the Pleiades ID (69493), and the World Historical Gazetteer Place ID (14180644). The National Library of Spain holds the ID XX5588856, and the National Library of Israel J9U ID is 987007557382405171. The Canadiana Name Authority ID is ncf12004761. ### Cultural and Digital Presence The entity has a presence on Wikipedia in 19 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and Arabic. The main Wikipedia title is "Cherbourg". It is categorized under "Category:Cherbourg" and has a Commons category of "Cherbourg". A notable image associated with the entity is the Basilique Sainte-Trinité de Cherbourg. The entity is also featured in the Joconde location database with ID T84-2040. It has a TripAdvisor ID of 187183 and a Quora topic titled "Cherbourg". The Wolfram Language entity code is Entity["Concept", "Cherbourg::b9495"]. ### Historical and Academic Context Cherbourg is recognized in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire with ID 8052. It is listed in the Trismegistos Geo database with ID 41034. The entity is referenced in the Proleksis Enciklopedija (ID 15140) and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana (ID: cherbourg, former scheme 0017502). It is also included in the Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija and the Estonian Subject Thesaurus (ID: 137385). The National Library of Israel and the National Library of Spain both maintain specific authority records for this location. The entity is linked to the "Dreadnought Project" page for Cherbourg. ### Relationships and Connections The entity was twinned with the administrative body of Deva. It is part of the larger administrative structure of Cherbourg-Octeville and subsequently Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The entity serves as the capital of the arrondissement of Cherbourg. It is located within the arrondissement of Cherbourg and the department of Manche. The entity is associated with the museum digital place ID 73874. The Yale Lux ID for the place is place/be184f3d-008e-4456-812c-aca6db021533. The Google Knowledge Graph ID is /g/121n9g92. The U.S. National Archives Identifier is 10045002. The entity is also linked to the SBN Place ID RAVL000720 and the NL CR AUT ID ge1064105. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. Czech National Authority Database 3. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/4316069)