# Clerques

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q995293](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q995293)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerques)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/clerques

## Summary
Clerques is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated in the arrondissement of Saint-Omer and the canton of Ardres, it is a small municipality with a population fluctuating between approximately 296 and 327 residents in recent records. The entity is geographically defined by coordinates at latitude 50.793055555556 and longitude 1.9944444444444.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: Commune (municipal subdivision of France).
- **Location**: Pas-de-Calais department, France.
- **Administrative Hierarchy**: Part of the arrondissement of Saint-Omer and the canton of Ardres.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.793055555556, Longitude 1.9944444444444.
- **Population History**: Recorded values include 296, 313, 323, 327 (appearing in multiple records), 320, 317, 314, and 312.
- **Wikipedia Title**: "Clerques".
- **Wikidata Description**: "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France".
- **Sitelink Count**: 46 (indicating the number of language versions of the Wikipedia article).
- **Country Context**: Located in France, a country with an inception date of 0843-08-00 (Treaty of Verdun, West Francia), 0481 (Francia), and 1804-05-18 (First French Empire).
- **Department Inception**: Pas-de-Calais was established on 1790-03-04.
- **Commune Inception**: The commune system in France originated around 1789.

## FAQs
**Where exactly is Clerques situated within the French administrative system?**
Clerques is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department, which is part of the arrondissement of Saint-Omer and the canton of Ardres. It falls under the broader jurisdiction of France, a country in Western Europe.

**What is the population trend of Clerques based on available records?**
Available data shows the population has varied over time, with recorded figures including 296, 313, 323, 327, 320, 317, 314, and 312. The number 327 appears most frequently in the provided dataset, suggesting it may be a recent or stable count.

**How is Clerques represented in digital knowledge bases?**
The entity is identified on Wikipedia under the title "Clerques" and has a Wikidata description explicitly stating it is a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France. It maintains a presence across 46 different language editions of Wikipedia.

**What are the precise geographic coordinates of Clerques?**
The commune is located at latitude 50.793055555556 and longitude 1.9944444444444. These coordinates place it within the northern region of France, specifically in the Pas-de-Calais department.

## Why It Matters
Clerques serves as a fundamental unit of local governance within the French Republic, exemplifying the decentralized administrative structure established in 1789. As a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department, it contributes to the demographic and cultural fabric of the Hauts-de-France region. Its existence is significant for maintaining local identity and managing municipal affairs within the arrondissement of Saint-Omer. The entity's representation in 46 language versions of Wikipedia highlights its recognition as a distinct geographical and administrative entity in the global knowledge ecosystem. Understanding Clerques provides insight into the granular organization of French territorial subdivisions and the continuity of local communities within a larger national framework.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Classification**: Designated specifically as a "commune," the smallest administrative division in France.
- **Geographic Precision**: Defined by exact coordinates of 50.793055555556 N and 1.9944444444444 E.
- **Population Variance**: Documented with a specific range of historical population counts from 296 to 327.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains a high level of international visibility with 46 Wikipedia sitelinks.
- **Regional Integration**: Integral part of the canton of Ardres and the arrondissement of Saint-Omer.
- **Historical Continuity**: Exists within a department (Pas-de-Calais) founded in 1790 and a commune system dating to 1789.

## Body

### Administrative Structure and Hierarchy
Clerques operates as a commune, which is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. This status dates back to the inception of the commune system in France around 1789. The entity is situated within the Pas-de-Calais department, a territorial division established on March 4, 1790. Within this department, Clerques falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Saint-Omer. Furthermore, it is grouped into the canton of Ardres for electoral and administrative purposes. This hierarchical placement connects the local municipality to the broader regional and national governance structures of France.

### Geographic and Demographic Data
The physical location of Clerques is precisely defined by geographic coordinates at latitude 50.793055555556 and longitude 1.9944444444444. Demographic records for the commune show a fluctuating population over time. Specific recorded population figures include 296, 313, 323, 327, 320, 317, 314, and 312. The value of 327 appears multiple times in the dataset, indicating periods of stability or repeated measurement. These figures represent the human scale of the entity within the larger context of the Pas-de-Calais department.

### Digital Representation and Knowledge Base Presence
In the realm of digital information, Clerques is identified by the Wikipedia title "Clerques." Its Wikidata description explicitly categorizes it as a "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France." The entity has achieved significant cross-lingual recognition, evidenced by a sitelink count of 46. This metric indicates that articles about Clerques exist in 46 different language versions of Wikipedia, facilitating global access to information about this specific locality. The data structure treats it as a distinct "Thing" within knowledge graphs, linking it to its parent entities like France and Pas-de-Calais.

### National Context: France
Clerques exists within the sovereign state of France, a country with a complex historical inception. The French state traces its origins to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which established West Francia, as well as earlier roots in Francia (481) and the First French Empire (1804). France is a semi-presidential republic with a capital in Paris and a population estimated at 68,605,616 as of 2025. The country spans multiple continents through its overseas territories, though Clerques itself is located in metropolitan France. The national motto is "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," and the currency is the Euro (EUR). France is a founding member of the European Union and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, providing the overarching political and legal framework for the commune of Clerques.

### Regional Context: Pas-de-Calais and Surroundings
The Pas-de-Calais department, where Clerques is located, was created on March 4, 1790. This department is part of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. Clerques is specifically linked to the canton of Ardres and the arrondissement of Saint-Omer. These subdivisions organize local governance, elections, and public services. The arrondissement of Saint-Omer serves as a sub-prefecture, managing administrative tasks for the communes within its boundaries, including Clerques. The canton of Ardres groups several communes for electoral representation. This network of relationships ensures that Clerques is integrated into the administrative machinery of the region.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/art/region/le-jumelage-entre-clerques-et-klerken-belgique-a-50-ans-ia37b0n2180887)
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. OpenStreetMap
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. MusicBrainz
10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
11. Populations légales 2016
12. Populations légales 2017
13. Populations légales 2018
14. Populations légales 2019
15. Populations légales 2020
16. Populations légales 2021
17. Populations de référence 2022
18. Populations de référence 2023
19. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
20. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
21. GeoNames
22. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
23. [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)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)