# Helfaut

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q911105](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q911105)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helfaut)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/helfaut

## Summary
Helfaut is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France. It is a small municipal entity with a population of approximately 1,700 residents, situated within the arrondissement of Saint-Omer and historically part of the canton of Arques.

## Key Facts
- **Country**: France
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais
- **Arrondissement**: Saint-Omer
- **Historical Canton**: Arques (until March 2015)
- **Population**: Ranging from 1,597 to 1,737 over recent years
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.6978, Longitude 2.2431
- **Official Website(s)**: [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/), [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr)
- **Image Source**: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHelfaut%20%28Pas-de-Calais%2C%20Fr%29%20mairie%20et%20%C3%A9coles.JPG)
- **Image License**: Public Domain (CC0)
- **Image Artist**: Havang(nl)
- **Wikidata Description**: Commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Wikipedia Title**: Helfaut
- **Sitelink Count**: 47

## FAQs

**Where is Helfaut located?**  
Helfaut is located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Saint-Omer.

**What is Helfaut's population?**  
The population of Helfaut has ranged between approximately 1,597 and 1,737 in recent years, with the latest figures indicating a population near 1,720.

**What administrative divisions does Helfaut belong to?**  
Helfaut is part of the canton of Arques (historically, until March 2015), the arrondissement of Saint-Omer, and the Pas-de-Calais department, all within the French Republic.

**What is the official website for Helfaut?**  
Helfaut's official website is [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr), with a dedicated homepage at [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/).

**What is the geographic location of Helfaut?**  
Helfaut is located at approximately latitude 50.6978 and longitude 2.2431, placing it in the northern part of France near the historic region of Flanders.

**Is there a notable landmark or site associated with Helfaut?**  
While Helfaut itself is a small commune, it is located near historically significant sites such as La Coupole, a World War II Nazi-built bunker complex located nearby in the Pas-de-Calais region.

## Why It Matters
Helfaut represents a typical small French commune, embodying the decentralized administrative structure of France. As part of the broader Pas-de-Calais department and the arrondissement of Saint-Omer, it contributes to the regional demographic, cultural, and historical fabric of northern France. Its local governance and community life reflect the broader trends in French municipal administration, including evolving administrative boundaries such as the reorganization of cantons post-2015.

## Notable For
- **Small-Scale Governance**: Helfaut exemplifies the role of small communes in French local governance.
- **Historical Proximity to WWII Sites**: Located near La Coupole, a significant historical and educational site from World War II.
- **Administrative Evolution**: Reflects changes in French administrative divisions, particularly the reorganization of cantons in 2015.
- **Public Domain Imagery**: Features imagery contributed to Wikimedia Commons under a public domain license.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Helfaut is situated in the Hauts-de-France region of France, specifically within the Pas-de-Calais department. The commune lies at geographic coordinates of approximately latitude 50.6978 and longitude 2.2431. This places it in the historically significant area of northern France, near the border with Belgium and in proximity to key historical sites such as La Coupole, a World War II-era Nazi bunker complex.

### Administrative Structure
Helfaut is classified as a commune, the smallest administrative unit in France. It is part of:
- **Arrondissement**: Saint-Omer
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais
- **Historical Canton**: Arques (prior to the 2015 reorganization of French cantons)
- **Country**: France

The commune operates under the broader framework of French local governance, which includes elected municipal councils and mayoral administration.

### Population and Demographics
The population of Helfaut has fluctuated slightly in recent years:
- **Recent Population Figures**: 1,597; 1,642; 1,699; 1,697; 1,714; 1,720; 1,737; 1,732; 1,728; 1,724

These figures reflect typical demographic trends in small French communes, including modest population changes due to migration and aging.

### Digital Presence and Public Information
Helfaut maintains an official website:
- **Main Site**: [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr)
- **Homepage**: [http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/](http://www.commune-helfaut.fr/accueil/)

This digital presence allows the commune to communicate with residents, publish local news, and provide access to municipal services.

### Cultural and Historical Context
Helfaut is located near several historically significant sites, including:
- **La Coupole**: A major World War II bunker complex built by the Nazis, now a museum and memorial site.

This proximity situates Helfaut within a region rich in historical significance, particularly related to World War II and the broader military history of northern France.

### Image and Attribution
An image of Helfaut, showing the town hall and school buildings, is available under a public domain license:
- **Image Source**: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHelfaut%20%28Pas-de-Calais%2C%20Fr%29%20mairie%20et%20%C3%A9coles.JPG)
- **Artist**: Havang(nl)
- **License**: CC0 (Public Domain)

This image is widely used in educational and informational contexts due to its public domain status.

### Wikidata and Knowledge Representation
Helfaut is represented in Wikidata with:
- **Wikidata Description**: "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France"
- **Wikipedia Title**: Helfaut
- **Sitelink Count**: 47

This representation ensures that Helfaut is included in global knowledge graphs and linked data systems, enhancing its visibility and accessibility in digital knowledge repositories.

## 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)