# Machiel

> commune in Somme, France

**Wikidata**: [Q313630](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313630)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/machiel

## Summary
Machiel is a commune located in the Somme department of northern France. It is one of the many territorial subdivisions that make up the French municipal structure, with a small population and a rural presence in the Hauts-de-France region.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune in France — a municipal territorial subdivision.
- **Location**: Somme department, Hauts-de-France region, France.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.2672, Longitude 1.8247.
- **Population (Recent)**: 180 (approximate, with historical values including 173, 166, 156, etc.).
- **Country**: France.
- **Department**: Somme — established on March 4, 1790.
- **Arrondissement**: Abbeville — an administrative division within Somme.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Machiel.
- **Wikidata Description**: Commune in Somme, France.
- **Sitelink Count**: 41 (indicating moderate digital presence across language versions).
- **Commune Type**: Part of the "commune of France" system, established in 1789.

## FAQs

**What is Machiel?**  
Machiel is a commune in the Somme department of France. It is a small local administrative unit typical of the French municipal system.

**Where is Machiel located?**  
Machiel is located in the arrondissement of Abbeville, within the Somme department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.

**What is the population of Machiel?**  
Machiel has a population of approximately 180 people, with recent historical figures ranging between 150 and 180.

**What administrative divisions is Machiel part of?**  
Machiel belongs to:
- The commune system of France, established in 1789.
- The arrondissement of Abbeville.
- The Somme department, created on March 4, 1790.
- The country of France.

**What is the geographic location of Machiel?**  
Machiel is situated at approximately 50.2672° N latitude and 1.8247° E longitude.

**What is the significance of Machiel in French administrative structure?**  
As a commune, Machiel represents the smallest administrative unit in France. It plays a role in local governance, contributing to France’s decentralized municipal system.

## Why It Matters
Machiel, like all French communes, is part of a foundational administrative structure that supports local governance and identity in France. While small, it reflects the decentralized nature of French public administration and contributes to the cultural and geographic diversity of the Somme region. Its existence supports the principle of local autonomy within a national framework, enabling localized decision-making in areas such as education, infrastructure, and public services.

## Notable For
- **Geographic Precision**: Located in the Abbeville arrondissement, Machiel is geographically pinpointed with specific coordinates.
- **Historical Continuity**: As a commune, it is part of a system established during the French Revolution in 1789.
- **Demographic Stability**: Maintains a small but stable population, with figures consistently under 200 residents.
- **Regional Context**: Embedded in the Somme department, it represents rural northern France's communal structure.
- **Digital Presence**: Has a moderate presence across 41 sitelinks, indicating some cross-lingual documentation.

## Body

### Geographic and Political Context
Machiel is a commune within the **Somme department**, which was created on **March 4, 1790**, during the French Revolution. The department itself is part of the **Hauts-de-France region** and falls under the **arrondissement of Abbeville**, a sub-regional administrative division. As a commune, Machiel is part of the **commune of France** system, which originated in **1789** and remains a core element of French territorial governance.

### Demographics and Population
Machiel's population has remained relatively small and stable over recent years:
- **Recent population**: 180
- **Historical populations**: 173, 166, 156, 156, 154, 152, 152, 151, 151

This reflects its status as a small rural community within a larger, historically consistent demographic framework. The commune’s population aligns with typical rural communes in northern France.

### Geographic Coordinates
Machiel is located at:
- **Latitude**: 50.267222222222
- **Longitude**: 1.8247222222222

These coordinates place it in the northern part of France, within the historical region of Picardy, now part of Hauts-de-France.

### Administrative Classification
As a **commune**, Machiel is part of the **commune of France** system, which was established in **1789**. This system is foundational to French local governance and is present in both metropolitan France and its overseas territories. Machiel itself is not a political entity but a local administrative unit governed by a mayor and municipal council.

### Related Entities and Structure
- **Country**: France (established 843 AD, Treaty of Verdun; modern form 1804, First French Empire)
- **Department**: Somme (established 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Abbeville
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Commune System**: Established 1789

These nested structures ensure that Machiel functions within a well-defined administrative hierarchy, from local to national levels.

### Sitelink and Digital Presence
Machiel is documented in **41 sitelinks**, indicating that it has some presence across various language versions of Wikipedia and related projects. This suggests moderate interest or documentation in regional or local history, though not a major public profile.

### Historical and Legal Context
The commune system, of which Machiel is a part, was created during the French Revolution as part of a broader restructuring of governance. This system replaced feudal and monarchical local authorities with elected municipal councils, promoting administrative uniformity and civic participation. Machiel, like all communes, operates under this legacy, maintaining its own mayor and council while being subject to departmental and national laws.

### Cultural and Regional Identity
Machiel contributes to the cultural and geographic identity of the Somme department. While not a major urban center, it represents the continuity of rural French life and the administrative precision with which France governs its territory. Its identity is tied to the broader regional history of Picardy and the local governance traditions of northern France.

## 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)