# Marest

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1022716](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1022716)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marest)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/marest

## Summary

Marest is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It sits at coordinates 50.467222°N latitude and 2.415278°E longitude, and is part of the arrondissement of Arras. Historically, Marest fell under the canton of Heuchin until administrative reorganizations in March 2015.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Marest is situated in the Pas-de-Calais department (inception: March 4, 1790) in northern France
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Arras
- **Historical Canton**: Formerly part of the canton of Heuchin until March 2015
- **Country**: France (commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789)
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France (northern France)
- **Population History**: 288, 290, 295, 285, 283, 284, 282, 280, 280, 279 (recorded across different census years)
- **Coordinates**: 50.467222°N, 2.415278°E
- **Wikipedia Title**: Marest
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 44

## FAQs

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

Marest is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. As a French commune, it operates as a local territorial collectivity with its own mayor and municipal council.

**Which department and arrondissement does Marest belong to?**

Marest is located in the Pas-de-Calais department and is part of the arrondissement of Arras. Pas-de-Calais was established as a department on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What is the geographic position of Marest?**

Marest is situated at coordinates 50.467222°N latitude and 2.415278°E longitude, placing it in the northernmost part of France near the English Channel region.

**What was Marest's administrative structure before 2015?**

Prior to March 2015, Marest was part of the canton of Heuchin. Administrative reforms in 2015 reorganized the canton system in France, affecting this classification.

**How many Wikipedia articles link to the Marest entry?**

The Marest Wikipedia article has a sitelink count of 44, indicating connections to 44 other Wikipedia language editions or related articles.

## Why It Matters

Marest represents the granular administrative structure that forms the foundation of French territorial organization. As one of the over 34,000 communes in France, Marest embodies the decentralized governance model that characterizes the French Republic. Communes like Marest serve as the most immediate level of government for citizens, handling local affairs, municipal services, and representing the closest connection between government and population.

The commune's location in Pas-de-Calais places it in a region of significant historical and strategic importance in northern France. The department has been shaped by centuries of European history, including its role in various conflicts due to its proximity to the English Channel and neighboring Belgium. Understanding Marest requires recognizing its place within this broader historical and geographic context.

The population data spanning multiple census years demonstrates demographic trends typical of rural communes in northern France, reflecting broader patterns of population stability or decline in certain regions. This data provides insight into the social dynamics of small French municipalities.

## Notable For

- **Administrative History**: Part of the historic canton of Heuchin until the 2015 French cantonal reforms
- **Precise Geographic Location**: Documented coordinates at 50.467222°N, 2.415278°E
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, one of France's original departments established in 1790
- **Wikidata Connectivity**: 44 sitelinks connecting to Wikipedia articles across multiple language editions

## Body

### Geography and Location

Marest is positioned at coordinates 50.467222°N latitude and 2.415278°E longitude in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. This location places the commune in the Hauts-de-France region, France's northernmost metropolitan region. The terrain and positioning of Marest reflect the general characteristics of the Pas-de-Calais area, which features relatively flat agricultural land interspersed with small villages and towns typical of the French Flanders and Artois regions.

### Administrative Structure

Marest operates as a commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities that originated in 1789 during the French Revolution. The commune system in France represents the most local level of administrative organization, with each commune having its own mayor and municipal council responsible for local governance, urban planning, and municipal services.

The commune falls within the arrondissement of Arras, which serves as an administrative division within the Pas-de-Calais department. Prior to March 2015, Marest was part of the canton of Heuchin, a historical administrative division that was restructured during France's departmental reorganization efforts.

### Departmental Context

Marest is located in the Pas-de-Calais department, which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into departments during the French Revolution. Pas-de-Calais takes its name from the Strait of Dover (Pas-de-Calais in French), the narrowest point of the English Channel separating France from England. The department is bordered by the English Channel to the north and northwest, and shares boundaries with the departments of Somme, Oise, Nord, and the Belgian border.

The prefecture of Pas-de-Calais is located in Arras, which serves as the administrative center for the arrondissement containing Marest. The department has historically been of significant strategic importance due to its coastal position and proximity to neighboring countries.

### Population and Demographics

The population figures recorded for Marest across multiple census years show: 288, 290, 295, 285, 283, 284, 282, 280, 280, and 279 residents. These figures represent the commune's population at different points in time, reflecting demographic patterns typical of small rural French communes. The slight fluctuations in population numbers indicate relative stability in the commune's resident population across the recorded census periods.

### Historical Administrative Evolution

The administrative history of Marest includes its classification within the canton of Heuchin until March 2015. The French cantonal system underwent significant reform in 2015, when new cantonal boundaries were drawn to better reflect population distribution and administrative efficiency. Following these reforms, communes were reorganized into new cantonal configurations, affecting the administrative affiliation of Marest.

### Digital Presence and Connectivity

The Marest Wikipedia article maintains connections across multiple Wikipedia language editions, with a sitelink count of 44. This connectivity indicates that the entry exists in numerous language versions of Wikipedia, making information about Marest accessible to a broad international audience. The wikidata_description accurately identifies Marest as "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France," providing clear categorization for database purposes.

### Relationship to French Administrative System

As a French commune, Marest participates in the hierarchical structure of French territorial organization. France is divided into 18 administrative regions, which are further subdivided into departments (of which Pas-de-Calais is one of 96 in metropolitan France and overseas territories). Departments are divided into arrondissements, and arrondissements are divided into cantons. Communes exist at the lowest level of this hierarchy, with over 34,000 communes across French territory.

This structure reflects France's unitarian state organization, where communes, while having significant local autonomy, operate within a centralized framework of national governance. The commune of Marest, despite its small size, represents an integral part of this system and contributes to the administrative fabric of the French Republic.

## 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)