# Mont-Laurent

> commune in Ardennes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1084898](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1084898)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont-Laurent)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mont-laurent

## Summary

Mont-Laurent is a commune (municipality) located in the Ardennes department of northeastern France, situated in the arrondissement of Rethel. As a commune of France, it represents one of the smallest administrative divisions in the French territorial system, serving as a local governance unit within the department of Ardennes in the Grand Est region.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Ardennes department, Grand Est region, northeastern France
- **Administrative division**: Arrondissement of Rethel
- **Coordinates**: 49.47°N latitude, 4.4805555555556°E longitude
- **Country**: France
- **Type of entity**: Commune of France (municipal territorial subdivision since 1789)
- **Historical recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (French military decoration instituted April 2, 1915) for actions during World War I
- **Population history**: 68, 67, 64, 62, 59, 106, 93, 83, 79, 75, 71, 70, 56, 53, 52, 51, 51 (recorded figures across various years)
- **Wikipedia title**: Mont-Laurent
- **Wikidata sitelink count**: 43
- **Image**: City limit sign and church photograph by Havang(nl), available on Wikimedia Commons under CC0/public domain license

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Mont-Laurent?**

Mont-Laurent is a commune, which is the lowest-level administrative territorial division in France. Communes are analogous to municipalities or townships in other countries and serve as the fundamental unit of local governance in the French administrative system.

**Which department and region is Mont-Laurent located in?**

Mont-Laurent is situated in the Ardennes department, which is part of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. It falls within the arrondissement of Rethel, an administrative subdivision of the department.

**What historical recognition has Mont-Laurent received?**

Mont-Laurent was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914-1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, recognizing military valor and service during World War I. This indicates that the commune or its residents participated in significant military actions during the conflict.

**What is the geographical position of Mont-Laurent?**

Mont-Laurent is located at coordinates 49.47°N latitude and 4.4805555555556°E longitude, placing it in the northeastern portion of France near the Belgian border. The Ardennes department is known for its forested, hilly terrain and its strategic historical importance.

## Why It Matters

Mont-Laurent represents the foundational unit of French local governance, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes France's political system. As one of the approximately 35,000 communes in France, Mont-Laurent participates in the country's extensive network of municipal administration that dates back to the French Revolution of 1789, when the commune system was formally established.

The commune's recognition with the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 ties it to the broader historical narrative of the First World War, during which the Ardennes region saw significant military activity. The area was the site of intense fighting during Germany's initial invasion of France in 1914 and throughout the conflict, making this military honor historically significant for the community.

For researchers and those interested in French geography, Mont-Laurent serves as an example of the numerous small rural communes that comprise much of France's territorial landscape. These communes, while individually small in population, collectively form the administrative backbone of the nation and represent the local level at which French citizens interact with governmental structures.

## Notable For

- **Military heritage**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 for World War I service
- **Administrative classification**: Part of the arrondissement of Rethel, one of the administrative subdivisions of Ardennes department
- **Historical continuity**: Operating as a commune of France since the municipal system was established in 1789
- **Regional identity**: Located in the Ardennes, a department known for its strategic historical importance and distinctive forested landscape in northeastern France

## Body

### Geography and Location

Mont-Laurent is positioned in the Ardennes department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France. The commune lies at coordinates 49.47°N latitude and 4.4805555555556°E longitude, placing it in close proximity to the Belgian border. The Ardennes department is characterized by its rolling hills, extensive forests, and the Meuse River valley, all of which have historically contributed to the region's strategic importance.

The commune falls within the arrondissement of Rethel, an administrative division that organizes local governance at the sub-departmental level. This placement situates Mont-Laurent within a specific administrative framework that facilitates regional coordination and services.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Mont-Laurent represents the most local tier of administrative governance in the French system. The commune system was established during the French Revolution in 1789, replacing the previous feudal administrative divisions. Today, France contains approximately 35,000 communes, ranging from major cities like Paris to small rural municipalities like Mont-Laurent.

The commune operates under the broader administrative hierarchy that includes the department (Ardennes), the region (Grand Est), and the national government. This decentralized structure allows for local administration while maintaining national coordination.

### Historical Significance

The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 to Mont-Laurent represents the commune's connection to the First World War. This French military decoration was instituted on April 2, 1915, and was awarded to individuals, military units, and localities that demonstrated valor or meritorious service during the conflict.

The Ardennes region saw some of the earliest and most intense fighting of World War I, particularly during the Battle of the Frontiers and the subsequent trench warfare that characterized much of the war along the Western Front. The region's terrain, while providing natural defensive advantages, also made it a site of significant destruction.

### Population and Demographics

While specific population figures for Mont-Laurent are limited in the source material, the recorded population values (68, 67, 64, 62, 59, 106, 93, 83, 79, 75, 71, 70, 56, 53, 52, 51, 51) across various years indicate a small rural commune. These figures suggest a population that has fluctuated over time, which is consistent with many rural French communes that have experienced demographic shifts due to urbanization and rural depopulation trends.

The commune's small size places it among the numerous rural municipalities that characterize the French interior, particularly in the northeastern regions near national borders.

### Cultural and Community Assets

Mont-Laurent possesses visual documentation through photography, including an image of the city limit sign and church, photographed by Havang(nl) and shared on Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license. This image provides visual documentation of the commune's entrance signage and religious architecture, which are typical features of French rural communes.

The presence of a church indicates the historical importance of religious institutions in French rural communities, where the church often served as both a spiritual center and a community gathering place.

### Regional Context

Mont-Laurent's location in the Ardennes department places it within a region that has historically served as a strategic corridor between France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. The Ardennes has been the site of numerous military conflicts throughout European history, including the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), both World Wars, and the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-1945 during World War II.

The arrondissement of Rethel, within which Mont-Laurent is located, represents one of the administrative divisions that helps organize local government services and coordination across the department. This sub-departmental organization facilitates regional planning, public services, and administrative efficiency.

### Connection to French Institutional Framework

As a commune of France, Mont-Laurent is part of an institutional framework that distinguishes France from many other nations. The French commune system is notably uniform, with all communes operating under the same legal framework regardless of size or population. This contrasts with systems in some other countries where municipalities may have varying degrees of autonomy or legal status.

The commune's existence within the French administrative system connects it to broader national institutions, including the prefecture system, departmental councils, and regional councils that coordinate governance at various levels.

## 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)