# Guisy

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q869487](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q869487)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guisy)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/guisy

## Summary

Guisy is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is situated in the canton of Hesdin and the arrondissement of Montreuil, representing a small rural municipality within the French administrative system. As a commune of France, Guisy operates under the municipal governance structure established following the French Revolution.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Guisy is located in the Pas-de-Calais department (inception: March 4, 1790) in the Hauts-de-France region
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the canton of Hesdin and the arrondissement of Montreuil
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.388888888889°, Longitude 2.0019444444444°
- **Commune Status**: Territorial subdivision for municipalities in France (inception: 1789)
- **Population History**: 278, 269, 280, 270, 271, 273, 270, 270, 273, 275 (across recorded census periods)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Guisy
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 45

## FAQs

**What region is Guisy located in?**

Guisy is located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It falls within the canton of Hesdin and the administrative arrondissement of Montreuil.

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

Guisy is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, serving as the fundamental level of local government in the French administrative system.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Guisy?**

Guisy is situated at latitude 50.388888888889° and longitude 2.0019444444444°, placing it in the northern part of France near the English Channel coast.

**How many people live in Guisy?**

Guisy has a small population, with recorded figures of 278, 269, 280, 270, 271, 273, 270, 270, 273, and 275 across various census periods, indicating a relatively stable small rural community.

**What is the historical context of Guisy's administrative status?**

As a French commune, Guisy's administrative structure dates back to 1789 when the commune system was established during the French Revolution. The Pas-de-Calais department itself was created on March 4, 1790.

## Why It Matters

Guisy represents the foundational unit of local governance in France, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes the French political system. Though a small municipality, it plays a crucial role in the daily lives of its residents, providing local services, maintaining public infrastructure, and representing citizens at the most immediate level of government.

The commune system in France, of which Guisy is a part, is significant because it represents one of the oldest continuous systems of local government in Europe. Established during the French Revolution, communes like Guisy form the backbone of French territorial administration, connecting citizens directly to their government through municipal councils and mayors.

For researchers and those studying French administrative geography, Guisy exemplifies the granular level at which France manages its territorial organization. The commune's location within the canton of Hesdin and arrondissement of Montreuil demonstrates the multi-layered administrative structure that France employs, with communes grouped into cantons, which are then grouped into arrondissements, which in turn form departments.

## Notable For

- **Historical Administrative Structure**: Part of one of France's oldest administrative systems dating back to 1789
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, a department with significant historical importance dating to 1790
- **Local Governance Model**: Represents the smallest unit of French municipal administration
- **Geographic Positioning**: Situated in northern France near the Channel coast, within the traditional region of Artois

## Body

### Geography and Location

Guisy is positioned at coordinates 50.388888888889° latitude and 2.0019444444444° longitude, placing it in the northern portion of France within the Pas-de-Calais department. The commune lies in the Artois region, historically significant territory that has seen numerous historical events due to its strategic position between France and neighboring regions.

The commune's location within the arrondissement of Montreuil places it under administrative supervision from this sub-prefectural center. Montreuil serves as an important administrative hub for the surrounding rural communities, providing services and coordination for local municipalities.

### Administrative Structure

Guisy operates as a commune within the French administrative hierarchy. The commune (commune in French) is the lowest level of territorial administration in France, analogous to what might be called a municipality or township in other countries. This system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions.

The commune is part of the canton of Hesdin, which serves as an electoral district for certain provincial assemblies and administrative purposes. The canton system allows for the grouping of multiple communes for electoral and some administrative functions, providing a middle tier between individual communes and arrondissements.

At the departmental level, Guisy falls under Pas-de-Calais, one of the original departments created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department is part of the Hauts-de-France region, which encompasses the northernmost portion of metropolitan France.

### Demographics and Population

Guisy maintains a small population, with recorded figures across multiple census periods showing numbers between 269 and 280 residents. This population size is typical of rural communes in the Pas-de-Calais department, where agriculture and small-scale rural activities remain important economic drivers.

The population figures—278, 269, 280, 270, 271, 273, 270, 270, 273, and 275—suggest a relatively stable community with minor fluctuations over time. Such population stability is common in rural French communes where residents maintain long-standing connections to the land and community.

### Historical Context

The establishment of Guisy as a commune aligns with the broader transformation of French administrative organization following the French Revolution. The revolutionary government sought to create a uniform system of local administration based on rational, geographic principles rather than the historical provinces and feudal divisions that had preceded them.

Pas-de-Calais, created in 1790, takes its name from the Calaisis region and the Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais in French), reflecting the department's strategic coastal position. The department has been the site of numerous historical events, particularly during various conflicts between France and England/Britain due to its proximity to the English Channel.

### Relationship to Administrative Units

Guisy exists within a hierarchical administrative structure:

- **Country**: France - the sovereign nation
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France - the regional level
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais - created March 4, 1790
- **Arrondissement**: Montreuil - the sub-departmental administrative division
- **Canton**: Hesdin - the electoral and administrative district
- **Commune**: Guisy - the lowest level of local government

This multi-tiered system reflects the French approach to administrative organization, which balances local autonomy with regional coordination and national oversight.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

As part of the Pas-de-Calais department, Guisy participates in the cultural identity of northern France. The region is known for its distinct dialect (Picard), traditional cuisine (including dishes like carbonade flamande and waffles), and historical architecture featuring brick-built farmhouses and churches.

The commune contributes to the broader fabric of French rural life, maintaining traditional agricultural activities while also participating in the modern French economy and society. Local festivals, markets, and community events that characterize French rural life would be central to life in Guisy.

## References

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