# Maisnil-lès-Ruitz

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1024649](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1024649)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maisnil-lès-Ruitz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maisnil-l-s-ruitz

## Summary

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It sits at coordinates 50.4525°N latitude and 2.585°E longitude, and is part of the canton of Houdain within the arrondissement of Béthune. The commune has a historical population record spanning the late 17th century, with documented figures ranging from 1,578 to 1,698 inhabitants during that period.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, France
- **Coordinates**: 50.4525°N, 2.585°E
- **Administrative status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision established +1789)
- **Administrative hierarchy**: Part of canton of Houdain, arrondissement of Béthune
- **Department inception**: Pas-de-Calais established March 4, 1790
- **Historical population figures**: 1,579 (one recorded year), 1,629, 1,670, 1,680, 1,696, 1,707, 1,698, 1,691, 1,685, 1,678
- **Alternative name/alias**: Maisnil
- **Official website**: http://www.maisnil-les-ruitz.fr
- **Wikipedia title**: Maisnil-lès-Ruitz
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Sitelink count**: 44

## FAQs

**What region and department is Maisnil-lès-Ruitz located in?**

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is situated in the Pas-de-Calais department, which was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. The commune belongs to the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

**What is the administrative structure of Maisnil-lès-Ruitz?**

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is organized within the French administrative system as a commune, which is the lowest level of territorial administration in France for municipalities. It falls under the canton of Houdain for electoral purposes and the arrondissement of Béthune for departmental organization.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Maisnil-lès-Ruitz?**

The commune is located at latitude 50.4525 degrees north and longitude 2.585 degrees east, placing it in the northern part of France near the Belgian border region.

**What is known about the historical population of Maisnil-lès-Ruitz?**

Historical population records indicate that Maisnil-lès-Ruitz had between 1,578 and 1,698 inhabitants during the late 17th century period, with specific recorded figures for various years including 1,579, 1,629, 1,670, 1,680, 1,696, 1,707, 1,698, 1,691, 1,685, and 1,678.

**What is the official website for Maisnil-lès-Ruitz?**

The commune maintains an official website at http://www.maisnil-les-ruitz.fr, providing information about local governance and community matters.

## Why It Matters

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz represents a foundational unit of French territorial administration as one of the communes that form the backbone of local governance in France. With over 36,000 communes across the country, these municipal divisions serve as the most immediate level of contact between citizens and government, handling local services, urban planning, and community affairs. The commune's location within the Pas-de-Calais department places it in a region of significant historical and economic importance in northern France, near the border with Belgium and not far from the English Channel. Understanding Maisnil-lès-Ruitz provides insight into the decentralized administrative structure of France, where communes operate under the broader framework of departments, arrondissements, and regions, each with distinct administrative functions. The historical population data spanning the late 1600s demonstrates the continuity of human settlement in this area of France, reflecting the long-established nature of communal life in this region of Pas-de-Calais.

## Notable For

- Historical commune status dating back to the French Revolution era (+1789)
- Part of the canton of Houdain, one of the administrative subdivisions of Pas-de-Calais
- Location within the arrondissement of Béthune, a key administrative center in the department
- Alternative name "Maisnil" used historically or colloquially
- Official municipal website providing digital presence for local governance

## Body

### Geography and Location

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is positioned in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, which forms part of the Hauts-de-France region. The commune's precise geographical coordinates are 50.4525 degrees north latitude and 2.585 degrees east longitude. This location places the commune in the industrial heartland of northern France, an area historically known for its coal mining, textile production, and strategic importance due to its proximity to Belgium and the English Channel. The terrain of Pas-de-Calais is characterized by relatively flat agricultural land interspersed with urban settlements, and the region has been shaped by both natural geography and centuries of human activity.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Maisnil-lès-Ruitz represents the fundamental unit of local administration in the French territorial organization system. The commune as a territorial subdivision was formally established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and lordships. Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is part of the canton of Houdain, which serves as an electoral constituency for elections to the departmental council. At a higher administrative level, the commune falls within the arrondissement of Béthune, one of the seven arrondissements in the Pas-de-Calais department. The department itself was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into departments following the Revolution, and Pas-de-Calais was formed from portions of the former province of Artois along with some adjacent territories.

### Historical Demographics

The historical population records for Maisnil-lès-Ruitz reveal fluctuations in population during the late 17th century period. The documented figures show populations of 1,579, 1,629, 1,670, 1,680, 1,696, 1,707, 1,698, 1,691, 1,685, and 1,678 inhabitants across various years. These numbers reflect the typical population scale of rural communes in northern France during this period, when agriculture dominated the local economy and settlements were generally smaller than modern urban centers. The variation in figures suggests periods of growth and decline likely influenced by agricultural conditions, local economic developments, and broader historical events affecting the region.

### Local Governance and Services

As a commune, Maisnil-lès-Ruitz is governed by a municipal council headed by a mayor, and it provides various local services to its residents. The commune maintains an official website at http://www.maisnil-les-ruitz.fr, which serves as a digital interface between the local government and citizens, providing information about municipal services, local announcements, and community resources. The commune's administrative status enables it to function as a self-governing entity within the French system, with responsibilities that typically include local urban planning, maintenance of public spaces and roads, registration of civil status documents (births, marriages, deaths), and administration of local taxes and budgets.

### Regional Context

Maisnil-lès-Ruitz exists within the broader context of Pas-de-Calais, a department that has played significant roles in French history, particularly during periods of conflict due to its strategic position along France's northern border. The department is home to several important urban centers and has historically been an area of industrial development, particularly in coal mining and textile manufacturing. The arrondissement of Béthune, to which Maisnil-lès-Ruitz belongs, represents one of the major administrative and economic poles of the department. The canton of Houdain provides electoral representation at the departmental level, allowing residents of Maisnil-lès-Ruitz to participate in broader democratic processes through representation in the departmental council.

### Cultural and Community Identity

The commune carries the alternative name "Maisnil," which may reflect historical usage or local colloquial terminology. The Wikipedia title "Maisnil-lès-Ruitz" and the Wikidata description identifying it as "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France" establish its official identification within French and international databases. With a sitelink count of 44, the commune has a modest but established presence in digital knowledge repositories, reflecting its recognition as a distinct territorial entity within the French administrative system.

## References

1. [Maisnil-les-Ruitz : Jacques Miniot rempile, Daniel Willemetz s’emporte. La Voix du Nord. 2014](http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/maisnil-les-ruitz-jacques-miniot-rempile-daniel-ia32b54015n2035170)
2. Source
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)