# Monchel-sur-Canche > commune in Pas-de-Calais, France **Wikidata**: [Q950938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q950938) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monchel-sur-Canche) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/monchel-sur-canche ## Summary Monchel-sur-Canche is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated along the Canche river, this small rural municipality lies at coordinates 50.303°N latitude and 2.208°E longitude. As a French commune, it serves as the lowest level of administrative division in the French territorial system. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Monchel-sur-Canche - **Alias**: Monchel - **Country**: France - **Administrative Region**: Hauts-de-France - **Department**: Pas-de-Calais (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Arrondissement**: Arras - **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (inception: 1789) - **Coordinates**: 50.303055556°N latitude, 2.208333333°E longitude - **Geographic Feature**: Located on the Canche river - **Population**: 93, 89, 90, 90, 85, 81, 77, 75, 73, 71 (recorded figures across multiple census periods) - **Wikipedia Title**: Monchel-sur-Canche - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France - **Sitelink Count**: 44 ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Monchel-sur-Canche?** Monchel-sur-Canche is a commune, which is the smallest administrative division in France. Communes are similar to municipalities or townships in other countries and serve as the fundamental unit of local government. The commune system in France dates back to 1789 during the French Revolution. **Which department and region is Monchel-sur-Canche located in?** Monchel-sur-Canche is situated in the Pas-de-Calais department, which is located in the northern part of France in the Hauts-de-France region. The department was created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution as part of the reorganization of French administrative divisions. **What geographical features define Monchel-sur-Canche?** The commune is positioned along the Canche river, a significant waterway in the Pas-de-Calais department. The precise coordinates are 50.303055556°N latitude and 2.208333333°E longitude, placing it in the northern French countryside. **What is the population of Monchel-sur-Canche?** Monchel-sur-Canche has recorded population figures of 93, 89, 90, 90, 85, 81, 77, 75, 73, and 71 across various census periods, indicating a gradual decline in population over time. These figures represent the number of residents during different census counts. **What is the relationship between Monchel-sur-Canche and Arras?** Monchel-sur-Canche falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Arras. Arras serves as the subprefecture and principal city of this administrative district within the Pas-de-Calais department. ## Why It Matters Monchel-sur-Canche represents the foundational unit of French local government, embodying the centuries-old commune system that forms the backbone of France's administrative structure. While numerically small, such communes collectively constitute the political and geographic landscape of France, with each commune—no matter its size—holding equal legal status within the administrative hierarchy. The commune's location along the Canche river connects it to the broader geographic and ecological network of the Pas-de-Calais department. The Canche river valley has historically shaped local agriculture, settlement patterns, and economic activity in this region of northern France. As part of the arrondissement of Arras, Monchel-sur-Canche participates in a network of local governance that connects small rural communities to larger administrative centers. This arrangement allows for the coordination of services, infrastructure, and regional planning while maintaining the decentralized character of French administration. The gradual population decline reflected in the census figures mirrors a broader trend affecting many rural communes in northern France, where younger generations often migrate to larger urban centers for education and employment opportunities. This demographic challenge has implications for local service provision, school maintenance, and the preservation of community identity. ## Notable For - **River Location**: Situated along the Canche river, one of the notable waterways in the Pas-de-Calais department - **Historic Administrative Status**: Part of the French commune system established during the Revolution in 1789 - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, a department with significant historical importance dating back to 1790 - **Subnational Governance**: Administered through the arrondissement of Arras, connecting local governance to regional administration ## Body ### Geography and Location Monchel-sur-Canche is geographically positioned at coordinates 50.303055556°N latitude and 2.208333333°E longitude. The commune derives its name from its position along the Canche river, following the French naming convention where "sur" (meaning "on" or "along") indicates the waterway's presence. The Canche river flows through the Pas-de-Calais department, eventually emptying into the English Channel at Étaples-sur-Mer, making it a significant geographic feature in the region. The terrain of Monchel-sur-Canche reflects the characteristic landscape of northern France—primarily agricultural plains with gentle rolling hills, typical of the Artois region. The soil composition and climate of this area have historically supported farming activities, particularly grain cultivation and livestock raising, which remain important to the local economy. ### Administrative Structure As a commune of France, Monchel-sur-Canche operates as the lowest level of territorial administration in the French system. The commune as an administrative concept was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions. Today, there are over 34,000 communes in France, each with its own mayor and municipal council, though smaller communes like Monchel-sur-Canche often share certain administrative services with neighboring municipalities. The commune falls within the Pas-de-Calais department, one of the original departments created on March 4, 1790, during the early Revolutionary period. The department takes its name from the narrowest point of the English Channel (the "Pas de Calais"), which separates France from England. Pas-de-Calais is part of the Hauts-de-France region, the northernmost region of metropolitan France. At the sub-departmental level, Monchel-sur-Canche is administered through the arrondissement of Arras. Arras, the historical capital of the Artois region, serves as the subprefecture and administrative center for this district. The arrondissement system in France serves as an intermediate level of administration between the department and the commune. ### Demographics and Population The population figures recorded for Monchel-sur-Canche—93, 89, 90, 90, 85, 81, 77, 75, 73, and 71—represent the commune's population at various census points. These figures demonstrate a general trend of population decline over time, a phenomenon common among many rural communes in northern France. This demographic pattern reflects broader socioeconomic changes affecting rural France, including urbanization, agricultural consolidation, and the migration of young people to larger cities for education and employment opportunities. Many small communes face challenges in maintaining population levels, which can affect the viability of local services such as schools, shops, and public transportation. ### Historical Context The commune of Monchel-sur-Canche exists within a region of considerable historical significance. The Pas-de-Calais department has been the site of numerous historical events, particularly given its strategic location between France and England. The department contains numerous World War I and World War II cemeteries and memorials, reflecting the intense fighting that occurred in this region during both major conflicts of the twentieth century. The commune system itself represents a fundamental aspect of French revolutionary heritage. Established in 1789, the commune replaced the ancient regime's complex web of parishes, lordships, and jurisdictions with a uniform, rational administrative structure based on territory rather than privilege. This system has endured for over two centuries, surviving through various political regimes and constitutional changes. ### Relationship to the Canche River The Canche river represents an important geographic feature for Monchel-sur-Canche and the surrounding region. The river originates in the Somme department and flows through Pas-de-Calais before reaching the English Channel. The Canche valley has historically provided fertile agricultural land and supported local communities through fishing, water for agriculture, and transportation routes. The river also contributes to the ecological diversity of the region, supporting various species of fish, birds, and aquatic plants. The Canche estuary and surrounding wetlands provide important habitats for migratory birds and contribute to the region's biodiversity. ### Administrative Hierarchy Summary The administrative structure of Monchel-sur-Canche can be summarized as follows: - **Country**: France — a Western European nation and founding member of the European Union - **Region**: Hauts-de-France — the northernmost region of metropolitan France - **Department**: Pas-de-Calais — created March 4, 1790 - **Arrondissement**: Arras — the administrative district containing Monchel-sur-Canche - **Commune**: Monchel-sur-Canche — the lowest level of French territorial administration, established in 1789 This hierarchical structure exemplifies the French system of territorial organization, which balances local autonomy with regional coordination and national unity. Each level of administration has specific competencies and responsibilities, from local matters such as urban planning and civil status records (handled at the commune level) to broader policies concerning education, transportation, and economic development (coordinated at departmental and regional levels). ## 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)