# Mesnil-Saint-Laurent

> commune in Aisne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q872397](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q872397)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesnil-Saint-Laurent)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mesnil-saint-laurent

## Summary

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated at coordinates 49.8294°N 3.3547°E, this small rural municipality falls under the administration of the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin and was historically part of the canton of Saint-Quentin-Sud until March 2015. The commune was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its suffering and losses during World War I.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Aisne department, Hauts-de-France region, northern France
- **Coordinates**: 49.8294°N latitude, 3.3547°E longitude
- **Administrative affiliation**: Arrondissement of Saint-Quentin
- **Historical canton**: Saint-Quentin-Sud (until March 2015)
- **Country**: France
- **Department number**: 02 (Aisne)
- **Administrative region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Commune status**: Territorial subdivision of France (inception: +1789)
- **Department creation**: March 4, 1790
- **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (awarded April 2, 1915)
- **Population**: Approximately 435–480 residents (varies across recorded years)
- **Wikipedia sitelink count**: 45
- **Image**: Town hall building (mairie) photographed by Havang(nl), released under CC0/public domain

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Mesnil-Saint-Laurent?**

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. Communes are the French equivalent of municipalities or townships and serve as the fundamental unit of local administration in the country.

**Which department and region is Mesnil-Saint-Laurent located in?**

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is situated in the Aisne department, which is located in the northern part of France. It belongs to the Hauts-de-France region, which is the most populous region in mainland France and includes the historical territories of Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

**What is the administrative history of Mesnil-Saint-Laurent?**

The commune of Mesnil-Saint-Laurent operates under the French administrative system established during the French Revolution. The Aisne department was created on March 4, 1790. Until March 2015, the commune was part of the canton of Saint-Quentin-Sud, after which administrative reorganization occurred. It falls under the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin for departmental governance.

**What recognition did Mesnil-Saint-Laurent receive for World War I?**

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established on April 2, 1915. This award was given to communes that suffered damage during the First World War, recognizing the destruction and losses experienced by the municipality and its residents during the conflict.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Mesnil-Saint-Laurent?**

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is located at latitude 49.829444444444 and longitude 3.3547222222222, placing it in the northern part of France near the city of Saint-Quentin.

## Why It Matters

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent represents the quintessential French rural commune that embodies the local administrative structure fundamental to France's governance system. As one of the over 34,000 communes in France, it serves as the most immediate level of government for citizens, providing local services, maintaining public spaces, and representing the interests of its residents.

The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its historical significance during one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. The Aisne department was the site of major battles during World War I, including the First Battle of the Marne and the Battle of the Somme, and many communes in this region suffered extensive damage. The award recognizes the sacrifices made by the community during this period.

From an administrative perspective, Mesnil-Saint-Laurent's placement within the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin connects it to a historical city that has played important roles in both French and European history. The commune's participation in the French administrative system, with its roots dating back to 1789, reflects the decentralized governance model that characterizes the French Republic.

The commune also matters as part of the cultural and territorial identity of northern France. The Hauts-de-France region, where Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is located, is known for its rich industrial heritage, agricultural significance, and strategic importance in European affairs. Small communes like Mesnil-Saint-Laurent form the backbone of this region's social and administrative structure.

## Notable For

- **World War I Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for suffering and losses during the First World War
- **Administrative Structure**: Part of the French commune system, the fundamental territorial subdivision of France established in 1789
- **Historical Canton**: Formerly part of the canton of Saint-Quentin-Sud until the 2015 French cantonal reorganization
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Aisne, a department created during the French Revolution in 1790
- **Regional Significance**: Situated in Hauts-de-France, the most populous region in metropolitan France

## Body

### Geography and Location

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is a commune situated in the northern French department of Aisne, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region. The municipality is located at coordinates 49.829444444444 degrees north latitude and 3.3547222222222 degrees east longitude. This positioning places the commune in the heart of Picardy, a historical region known for its agricultural plains and strategic military importance throughout European history.

The commune lies in proximity to the city of Saint-Quentin, which serves as a major urban center in the area. The terrain of the region consists largely of gently rolling farmland and countryside, characteristic of northern France's agricultural landscape. The area experiences a temperate maritime climate typical of northern France, with moderate temperatures and precipitation distributed throughout the year.

### Administrative History

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent operates as a commune, which is the French term for the smallest administrative division in the country. The commune system in France was established during the French Revolution in 1789, replacing the previous administrative structures of the Ancien Régime. This system created a uniform framework of local governance that continues to this day, with over 34,000 communes across metropolitan France and overseas territories.

The commune is part of the Aisne department, which was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial wave of departmental reorganization following the Revolution. Aisne was formed from parts of the historical provinces of Île-de-France, Picardy, and Champagne. The department is numbered 02, reflecting its position among France's original departments.

Prior to March 2015, Mesnil-Saint-Laurent was part of the canton of Saint-Quentin-Sud. Cantons serve as electoral districts for elections to the general council of each department. The 2015 French cantonal reorganization led to changes in the boundaries and composition of many cantons throughout France, including the restructuring of the Saint-Quentin-Sud canton.

For administrative purposes, Mesnil-Saint-Laurent falls under the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin. An arrondissement is an administrative subdivision of a department, serving as an intermediate level between the department and the commune. The arrondissement of Saint-Quentin encompasses numerous communes in the eastern portion of the Aisne department.

### Historical Significance and Military Recognition

The commune of Mesnil-Saint-Laurent was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a prestigious French military decoration established on April 2, 1915. This award was given to communes that experienced significant damage, destruction, or loss of life during the First World War. The decoration recognizes the suffering and sacrifices endured by civilian populations in war zones.

The Aisne department was the site of intense fighting during World War I, particularly during the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 and subsequent campaigns. The department lay along the Western Front, and many towns and villages in the region were devastated by four years of continuous warfare. The awarding of the Croix de guerre to Mesnil-Saint-Laurent acknowledges the commune's participation in this historical ordeal and the resilience of its community during one of the most challenging periods in French history.

### Demographics and Community

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent functions as a small rural commune with a population typically ranging between 435 and 480 residents, based on recorded census data spanning multiple years. Like many rural communes in northern France, the municipality maintains a close-knit community character where local governance and social connections are centered around the commune's central village and administrative facilities.

The commune serves its residents through local municipal services, maintaining public infrastructure, and representing local interests within the broader departmental and regional administrative frameworks. The municipal building (mairie), photographed by Havang(nl) and released under public domain license, serves as the administrative center for the commune.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

As part of the Hauts-de-France region, Mesnil-Saint-Laurent participates in the cultural and administrative identity of northern France. The Hauts-de-France region is the most populous in mainland France, encompassing the historical territories of Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The region is known for its industrial heritage, agricultural production (particularly wheat and sugar beets), and distinctive cultural traditions.

The commune's connection to the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin links it to a city with significant historical importance. Saint-Quentin has been a strategic location throughout French history, benefiting from its position on trade routes and its fortified history. The city and surrounding area experienced considerable development during the 19th century industrial era and suffered extensive damage during both World Wars.

### Administrative Structure and Governance

In the French administrative system, the commune operates as a territorial collectivity with its own local government, headed by a mayor and municipal council. The commune is governed by elected officials who make decisions regarding local affairs, urban planning, public services, and community development.

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is represented at multiple levels of government: locally through the municipal council, departmentally through the general council of Aisne, regionally through the regional council of Hauts-de-France, and nationally through the French Parliament. This multi-layered administrative structure is characteristic of France's unitary state system, which combines local autonomy with national coordination.

The commune's classification as part of the French territorial system also connects it to various national statistics and administrative categories. With a Wikipedia sitelink count of 45, the commune has a modest but established presence in international knowledge repositories, reflecting its status as a recognized entity within the broader French administrative framework.

### Related Administrative Entities

Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is connected to several key administrative entities that define its place within the French system:

- **France**: The sovereign nation and unitary state of which Mesnil-Saint-Laurent is a part
- **Aisne department**: The departmental administrative unit (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement of Saint-Quentin**: The administrative subdivision containing the commune
- **Canton of Saint-Quentin-Sud**: The former cantonal affiliation until March 2015
- **Commune of France**: The category of territorial subdivision to which Mesnil-Saint-Laurent belongs (inception: 1789)

## References

1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
2. INSEE code
3. répertoire géographique des communes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Annuaire de service-public.fr
6. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
7. Populations légales 2016
8. Populations légales 2017
9. Populations légales 2018
10. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
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)