# Le Quesnel

> commune in Somme, France

**Wikidata**: [Q630953](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q630953)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Quesnel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/le-quesnel

## Summary

Le Quesnel is a commune located in the Somme department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated at coordinates 49.776111°N 2.624722°E, the commune falls within the arrondissement of Montdidier and was recognized with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its suffering during World War I. As a commune of France, it operates as a territorial subdivision within the French administrative system.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Le Quesnel is situated in the Somme department (inception: March 4, 1790) in the Hauts-de-France region
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Montdidier
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 49.776111111111, Longitude 2.6247222222222
- **Aliases**: Quesnel
- **Official Website**: https://www.lequesnelensanterre.fr
- **Wikipedia Title**: Le Quesnel
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Somme, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 41
- **Population**: Historical figures include 780, 794, 811, 792, 786, 780, 778, 775, 780, and 764 (various years)
- **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Military Recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Le Quesnel?**

Le Quesnel is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. As part of the French administrative system, communes like Le Quesnel are governed under the structure established after the French Revolution, with the commune as a territorial unit dating back to 1789.

**Where is Le Quesnel located geographically?**

Le Quesnel is located in the Somme department in the northern France region of Hauts-de-France. The commune sits at coordinates 49.776111°N 2.624722°E and is part of the arrondissement of Montdidier, which is one of the administrative divisions within the Somme department.

**What is Le Quesnel's historical significance?**

Le Quesnel was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established in 1915. This recognition indicates that the commune suffered significant damage or casualties during World War I, a period when the Somme department was the site of major battles, including the Battle of the Somme, one of the deadliest battles in military history.

**What is the population of Le Quesnel?**

Historical population figures for Le Quesnel include 780, 794, 811, 792, 786, 780, 778, 775, 780, and 764 residents across various recorded years, indicating relatively stable population levels in the commune.

**How can one find more information about Le Quesnel?**

The official commune website is available at https://www.lequesnelensanterre.fr, providing local information about the municipality.

## Why It Matters

Le Quesnel matters as a representative example of the small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial administration. While not a major urban center, the commune embodies the historical and administrative structure of France's municipal system, which dates back to the revolutionary period of 1789. The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies the commune's place in French military history, particularly during World War I when the Somme region witnessed some of the most intense fighting of the conflict. The commune's participation in the French administrative framework connects it to the broader system of governance that manages local services, planning, and community affairs across France's over 35,000 communes. For researchers and those interested in French geography, demography, and local history, Le Quesnel represents a data point in understanding the distribution of population and administrative structures in northern France.

## Notable For

- **World War I Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its role and suffering during the First World War
- **Administrative Structure**: Serves as an example of the French commune system, the fundamental territorial unit of France
- **Historical Department**: Located in Somme, a department with significant historical importance due to World War I battles
- **Official Web Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website at https://www.lequesnelensanterre.fr

## Body

### Geography and Location

Le Quesnel is positioned in the Somme department, one of the original departments created during the French Revolution in 1790. The commune is located at coordinates 49.776111°N 2.624722°E, placing it in the northern part of France within the Hauts-de-France region. Administratively, it falls under the arrondissement of Montdidier, one of the administrative divisions responsible for coordinating local government functions within the department. The commune's location in the Somme department places it in a region that was heavily contested during both World Wars, particularly World War I, when the Battle of the Somme devastated much of the area.

### Administrative History and Structure

As a commune of France, Le Quesnel operates within the French territorial system that was formalized during the French Revolution. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789, representing the lowest level of territorial organization in France. Each commune, regardless of size, functions as a municipal corporation with its own local government. Le Quesnel's status as a commune connects it to the over 35,000 other communes that together form the territorial foundation of France. This system allows for decentralized local governance while maintaining national administrative coherence.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

Le Quesnel was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a prestigious French military decoration created on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and suffering during World War I. This decoration was awarded to communes, military units, and individuals who demonstrated bravery or suffered significant damage during the conflict. The Somme department was the site of the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest and deadliest battles in military history, which began on July 1, 1916. The recognition of Le Quesnel with this award indicates that the commune experienced destruction, casualties, or other hardships during this period of major military operations.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures recorded for Le Quesnel across various years show numbers including 780, 794, 811, 792, 786, 780, 778, 775, 780, and 764 residents. These figures suggest a relatively stable population size typical of small rural French communes. The commune's population falls within the range of many smaller French municipalities that characterize the rural landscape of departments like Somme. Population stability is common in areas where agricultural activity remains a primary economic driver and where urban migration pressures are less intense than in larger metropolitan areas.

### Local Infrastructure and Communication

Le Quesnel maintains an official municipal website accessible at https://www.lequesnelensanterre.fr, providing information about local services, community events, and administrative matters. This digital presence reflects the modern approach to municipal communication and public service delivery adopted by French communes of varying sizes. The website serves as a point of contact between the local government and residents, as well as visitors and those researching the area.

### Relationship to Higher Administrative Units

Le Quesnel is part of a hierarchical administrative structure in France. At the base level is the commune, which is then organized into arrondissements. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Montdidier, which itself is part of the Somme department. Above the department level is the region, in this case Hauts-de-France, and ultimately the national government in Paris. This structure provides multiple levels of administrative coordination and services, from local municipal functions to regional planning and national policy implementation.

### Cultural and Historical Context

The Somme department where Le Quesnel is located holds significant place in French national memory due to its experiences during World War I. The department saw some of the most intense fighting of the conflict, and many communes in the area were either destroyed or heavily damaged. The Croix de guerre awarded to Le Quesnel connects the commune to this broader historical narrative of wartime sacrifice and reconstruction. The department has numerous war memorials and historical sites commemorating the events of 1914–1918, and the memory of this period remains an important aspect of local identity.

### Connection to French National Symbols and Values

As part of France, Le Quesnel is connected to the broader national identity of the French Republic. The commune operates under the national motto of "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) and participates in the national administrative system established under the Fifth Republic constitution of 1958. The commune's recognition with the Croix de guerre also connects it to France's tradition of military honors and national recognition of sacrifice during wartime.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
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)