# Forstheim

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21273](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21273)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forstheim)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/forstheim

## Summary
Forstheim is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department of France. It is administratively part of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg and historically belonged to the Unterelsaß district of the German Empire.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Forstheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin administrative district of the European Collectivity of Alsace.
- **Coordinates**: 48.897222222222 latitude, 7.7141666666667 longitude.
- **Country**: France, a semi-presidential republic with a 2025 estimated population of 68,605,616.
- **Administrative Classification**: It is a "commune of France," a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789.
- **Current Arrondissement**: Arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg (inception: January 1, 2015).
- **Former Arrondissement**: Arrondissement of Wissembourg (active periods: 1800–1870, 1919–1940, 1944–2015).
- **Historical Region**: Unterelsaß (1871–1918), the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen in the German Empire.
- **Population Data**: Recorded figures include 576, 574, 583, 584, 591, 598, 594, 597, 597, and 599.
- **Digital Presence**: Official website is https://forstheim.wixsite.com/officiel; Wikipedia sitelink count is 46.
- **National Context**: France is a founding member of the EU (1957) and UN permanent member (1945), with a GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022).
- **National Symbols**: The French Tricolore (blue, white, red), motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," and anthem "La Marseillaise."
- **Infrastructure**: France drives on the right, uses the Euro (EUR), and operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00).

## FAQs
**Where is Forstheim located?**
Forstheim is situated in the Bas-Rhin department within the European Collectivity of Alsace in France. Its geographic coordinates are 48.897222222222°N and 7.7141666666667°E.

**What administrative changes has Forstheim undergone?**
The commune was part of the arrondissement of Wissembourg during three separate periods (1800–1870, 1919–1940, and 1944–2015) before being integrated into the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg on January 1, 2015.

**What is the historical significance of the region?**
From 1871 to 1918, Forstheim was located in Unterelsaß, the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) while the region was part of the German Empire.

**What country does Forstheim belong to and what are its characteristics?**
Forstheim is part of France, a Western European country that extends into other continents via overseas territories. France is a semi-presidential republic and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

**What is the population of Forstheim?**
Population counts for the commune include 576, 574, 583, 584, 591, 598, 594, 597, 597, and 599.

## Why It Matters
Forstheim serves as a microcosm of the complex administrative and political history of the Alsace region. Its shifting affiliations—moving between French departments (Bas-Rhin) and German imperial districts (Unterelsaß)—highlight the geopolitical tug-of-war that has defined this borderland. As a commune within France, it represents the fundamental unit of French local governance, connecting a small population to the broader structure of the French Republic and the European Union.

## Notable For
- **Historical Administration**: Being part of Unterelsaß during the German Empire's annexation of Alsace-Lorraine (1871–1918).
- **Administrative Reorganization**: Transitioning from the historic arrondissement of Wissembourg to the modern arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg in 2015.
- **Communal Status**: Classification as a "commune of France," the foundational level of French administrative division established in 1789.

## Body

### Geography and National Context
Forstheim is located in France, a country primarily situated in Western Europe but with a global presence through overseas territories in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Antarctica. Metropolitan France shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. The nation possesses the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world due to these territories. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration, featuring a bicameral Parliament composed of the National Assembly and the Senate. The executive branch is shared between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

### Administrative History and Divisions
The commune is part of the Bas-Rhin administrative district, which was established on March 4, 1790. Bas-Rhin serves as a French administrative district within the European Collectivity of Alsace. Forstheim's local governance structure falls under the "commune of France" classification, a territorial subdivision for municipalities that originated in 1789.

Administratively, Forstheim has undergone several changes regarding its arrondissement affiliation:
*   **Arrondissement of Wissembourg**: Forstheim was part of this former arrondissement during three distinct periods: 1800–1870, 1919–1940, and 1944–2015.
*   **Arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg**: As of January 1, 2015, Forstheim has been part of this current arrondissement.

Historically, the region was known as **Unterelsaß** (Lower Alsace). From May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918, Forstheim was located in this central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire.

### Demographics and Society
Forstheim has recorded various population figures over time, including 576, 574, 583, 584, 591, 598, 594, 597, 597, and 599. The broader national context of France includes a total population of 68,605,616 (2025 estimate), with a life expectancy of 82 years. French society is highly urbanized, with French as the official language, though regional languages such as Alsatian are recognized in areas like Bas-Rhin.

### Economy and Infrastructure
As part of France, Forstheim operates within a major global economy with a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022). The national currency is the Euro (EUR), though CFP Francs are used in some overseas territories. The country utilizes a metric system, drives on the right side of the road, and maintains an electrical grid of 230 volts at 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs. France is also a nuclear-armed state and a founding member of the European Union.

### Digital Presence
The commune maintains an official website at https://forstheim.wixsite.com/officiel. It has a Wikipedia sitelink count of 46 and is indexed under the Wikipedia title "Forstheim" with the description "commune in Bas-Rhin, France."

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q781191)
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
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. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)