# Fontaine-sur-Maye > commune in Somme, France **Wikidata**: [Q147973](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q147973) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontaine-sur-Maye) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fontaine-sur-maye ## Summary Fontaine-sur-Maye is a commune located in the Somme department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated along the Maye river, this small rural municipality falls within the arrondissement of Abbeville and the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. The commune sits at coordinates 50.237222°N latitude and 1.926111°E longitude, representing a traditional French rural community in the Somme valley. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Fontaine-sur-Maye - **Alias**: Fontaine - **Country**: France - **Department**: Somme (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Region**: Hauts-de-France - **Arrondissement**: Abbeville - **Canton**: Crécy-en-Ponthieu - **Type**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities) - **River**: Maye - **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.237222222222°, Longitude 1.9261111111111° - **Website**: https://fontainesurmaye.fr - **Population**: 161 (2017), 165 (2018), 168 (2019), 161 (2020), 159 (2021), 158 (2022), 158 (2023), 157 (2024), 159 (2025), 162 (2026) - **Wikipedia Title**: Fontaine-sur-Maye - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Somme, France - **Sitelink Count**: 42 ## FAQs **What region and department is Fontaine-sur-Maye located in?** Fontaine-sur-Maye is located in the Somme department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Abbeville and the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. **What geographical features define Fontaine-sur-Maye?** The commune is situated along the Maye river, a river in northern France. Its precise location is at latitude 50.237222222222° and longitude 1.9261111111111°, placing it in the Somme valley region. **What type of administrative area is Fontaine-sur-Maye?** Fontaine-sur-Maye is classified as a commune of France, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision for municipalities in the French administrative system. The commune system was established in 1789. **How many people live in Fontaine-sur-Maye?** The population of Fontaine-sur-Maye has remained relatively stable, with figures ranging between 157 and 168 residents over recent years according to available data. The population shows minor fluctuations between 157 and 168 people. **What administrative entities is Fontaine-sur-Maye part of?** Fontaine-sur-Maye is part of the Somme department (established March 4, 1790), the arrondissement of Abbeville, and the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. It is located in France, which is a country in Western Europe. ## Why It Matters Fontaine-sur-Maye represents a quintessential example of rural French communal life in the Somme department. While small in population, the commune embodies the historical administrative structure of France, being part of the commune system that has existed since the French Revolution of 1789. The commune's location along the Maye river places it within a traditional river valley community in northern France, an area known for its agricultural significance and historical heritage. The commune's inclusion in the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu connects it to a historical area with medieval significance, as Crécy-en-Ponthieu was the site of the famous Battle of Crécy in 1346 during the Hundred Years' War. For researchers and those interested in French administrative geography, Fontaine-sur-Maye serves as an example of how the French commune system organizes local governance across the nation's territory. The commune's website (fontainesurmaye.fr) indicates ongoing local administration and community presence, demonstrating that even small rural communes maintain digital infrastructure to serve their residents and maintain public transparency. ## Notable For - **Rural Location**: Represents the classic French rural commune in the agricultural Somme department - **River Setting**: Located along the Maye river, giving the commune its name ("Fontaine-sur" meaning "fountain/stream on") - **Administrative Continuity**: Part of the French commune system dating to 1789 - **Historical Territory**: Situated in an area with significant medieval history, near Crécy-en-Ponthieu - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official website for municipal communication ## Body ### Geography and Location Fontaine-sur-Maye is situated in the Somme department, one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution in 1790. The commune lies in the Hauts-de-France region, the northernmost region of metropolitan France. The municipality is positioned at coordinates 50.237222222222° north latitude and 1.9261111111111° east longitude, placing it in the Somme valley approximately 20 kilometers from the Channel coast. The commune derives its name from its position along the Maye river, a watercourse that flows through the region. The suffix "sur-Maye" literally means "on the Maye" in French, indicating the commune's riverside location. This naming convention is typical of French communes, which often take their names from geographical features or historical references. ### Administrative Structure As a commune of France, Fontaine-sur-Maye represents the smallest administrative division in the French territorial organization. The French commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the fundamental unit of local government throughout France. Each commune is governed by a mayor and municipal council, handling local affairs, civil registration, and local planning. Fontaine-sur-Maye belongs to the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu, which serves as the constituency for elections to the departmental council. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Abbeville, which is an administrative division between the department and the commune level. Abbeville serves as the subprefectural capital for this arrondissement. The department of Somme, within which Fontaine-sur-Maye is located, was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments. The department is named after the Somme River, which flows through the region and is historically significant for its role in both agricultural development and World War I history. ### Demographics and Population The population data for Fontaine-sur-Maye shows a small but stable community. The recorded population figures span recent years, with numbers fluctuating between 157 and 168 residents. This population size is typical of rural communes in the Somme department, where many municipalities have populations under 500. The commune's small population places it among the numerous rural communities that characterize the French agricultural landscape. These small communes often face challenges related to demographic decline, aging populations, and limited local services, though they maintain their administrative identity and local governance structures. ### Historical Context The area around Fontaine-sur-Maye has significant historical importance. The nearby town of Crécy-en-Ponthieu is famous for the Battle of Crécy, one of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years' War, fought in 1346 between England and France. This medieval conflict saw the English forces, led by King Edward III, defeat the French army in a decisive engagement that demonstrated the effectiveness of the English longbow. The Somme department itself is notable for its role in World War I, particularly the Battle of the Somme in 1916, one of the deadliest battles in military history. While Fontaine-sur-Maye itself may not have been directly involved in frontline combat, the department as a whole bears the marks of this conflict, with numerous war graves, memorials, and reconstructed villages throughout the region. ### Local Infrastructure and Services Fontaine-sur-Maye maintains an official municipal website at https://fontainesurmaye.fr, indicating active local administration and communication with residents. This digital presence is increasingly important for French communes, providing information about local services, municipal decisions, community events, and administrative procedures. The commune's website serves as a point of contact between the municipal government and its residents, facilitating transparency and community engagement. This is particularly important for small rural communes where face-to-face communication may be limited and where residents may need to travel to larger towns for certain services. ### Relationship to Surrounding Areas Fontaine-sur-Maye's location within the canton of Crécy-en-Ponthieu connects it to a historical market town that serves as a local center for the surrounding rural area. Crécy-en-Ponthieu provides administrative services, markets, and commercial facilities for residents of the surrounding communes. The commune's position in the arrondissement of Abbeville also ties it to the city of Abbeville, which serves as the administrative center for the southern part of the Somme department. Abbeville historically was an important port city at the mouth of the Somme River and today serves as a subprefectural capital with regional administrative functions. ### Regional Context The Somme department, where Fontaine-sur-Maye is located, is characterized by its agricultural plains, river valleys, and coastline along the English Channel. The department's economy has historically been based on agriculture, particularly grain farming and livestock raising, though it has diversified into tourism, particularly centered on the Bay of Somme and the historical sites related to World War I. The region is part of the larger Hauts-de-France region, which is France's most northern mainland region and shares a border with Belgium. This proximity to Belgium has influenced the region's history, particularly through various conflicts over control of the territory between France and other European powers. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. répertoire géographique des communes 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. Annuaire de service-public.fr 7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 8. Populations légales 2016 9. Populations légales 2017 10. Populations légales 2018 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)