# Mortefontaine > commune in Aisne, France **Wikidata**: [Q989850](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989850) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortefontaine,_Aisne) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mortefontaine-q989850-2 ## Summary Mortefontaine is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated approximately 49.33°N latitude and 3.08°E longitude. As a commune of France—the smallest administrative division in the country—Mortefontaine falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Soissons and operates as part of the French municipal structure established in 1789. The commune has experienced a gradual population decline over recent decades, with figures dropping from approximately 247 residents to 208. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Mortefontaine is situated in the Aisne department of France, in the Hauts-de-France region - **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Soissons - **Country**: France - **Coordinates**: Latitude 49.331666666667°N, Longitude 3.0761111111111°E - **Department Inception**: Aisne was established as a department on March 4, 1790 - **Commune Status**: Communes of France were established in 1789 as territorial subdivisions for municipalities - **Population History**: 247, 241, 242, 233, 229, 293, 226, 236, 250, 253, 245, 241, 228, 223, 221, 215, 208 (appears to span multiple census years) - **Official Website**: http://www.mortefontaine.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Mortefontaine, Aisne - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Aisne, France - **Sitelink Count**: 44 - **Image**: Municipal building (mairie) photographed by Havang(nl), released under CC0/public domain license ## FAQs **What region and department is Mortefontaine located in?** Mortefontaine is located in the Aisne department, which is part of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The department of Aisne was officially created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. **What administrative structure does Mortefontaine belong to?** Mortefontaine is a commune of France—the fundamental territorial subdivision for municipalities in the French administrative system. It falls within the arrondissement of Soissons, which is an administrative district within the Aisne department. **What are the geographic coordinates of Mortefontaine?** Mortefontaine is situated at latitude 49.331666666667°N and longitude 3.0761111111111°E, placing it in the northern part of France near the Belgian border region. **What is the population trend of Mortefontaine?** The population data shows significant fluctuation over time, with figures ranging from as low as 208 to as high as 293 residents. The most recent figures in the dataset show a declining trend from approximately 250-253 down to 208, suggesting a population decrease in recent years. **What public facilities or landmarks does Mortefontaine have?** The commune features a municipal building (mairie), which has been photographed and documented on Wikimedia Commons. The image, taken by contributor Havang(nl), is released under a public domain/CC0 license and is available for public use. ## Why It Matters Mortefontaine represents the fundamental unit of local governance in France, embodying the decentralized administrative structure that characterizes the French political system. As one of the approximately 34,955 communes in France, Mortefontaine plays a crucial role in delivering public services, maintaining local infrastructure, and representing the interests of its residents at the municipal level. The commune's location in the Aisne department places it within a region of significant historical importance. The department was heavily affected by both World Wars, particularly the Battle of the Somme and other major engagements along the Western Front. Understanding communes like Mortefontaine provides insight into the fabric of rural French life and the administrative mechanisms that govern local communities. From an administrative perspective, communes like Mortefontaine serve as the closest level of government to citizens, handling matters such as local taxes, civil registration, urban planning, and community facilities. The commune system, established in 1789 following the French Revolution, represents a cornerstone of French democratic governance and continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern French society. ## Notable For - **Historical Administrative Structure**: Mortefontaine operates under the commune system established during the French Revolution in 1789, making it part of one of the oldest municipal governance systems in the world - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Aisne, a department created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments - **Documented Municipal Heritage**: The commune's municipal building has been photographed and preserved in the Wikimedia Commons archive, contributing to the digital preservation of French architectural heritage - **Regional Administrative Placement**: Part of the arrondissement of Soissons, connecting local governance to broader departmental and regional administrative structures ## Body ### Geography and Location Mortefontaine is positioned in the northern French department of Aisne, which is located in the Hauts-de-France region. The commune sits at coordinates 49.331666666667°N latitude and 3.0761111111111°E longitude. This places Mortefontaine in the Picardy area of northern France, relatively close to the Belgian border and within reasonable distance of major cities including Paris, Reims, and Lille. The terrain of the Aisne department is characterized by agricultural plains and forested areas, typical of the Picardy region which has historically been important for farming and as a strategic corridor between France and neighboring countries. ### Administrative Structure Mortefontaine operates as a commune of France, which represents the lowest level of administrative division in the French territorial organization system. The commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution as a replacement for the earlier parochial and municipal divisions. Each commune is governed by a municipal council headed by a mayor, and these local governments handle numerous responsibilities including civil status registration, local taxation, maintenance of public spaces and roads, and coordination of local services. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Soissons, which serves as an intermediate administrative division between the commune and the department level. Soissons itself is a subprefecture of the Aisne department, meaning it houses administrative offices for the prefecture. The department of Aisne, created on March 4, 1790, was one of the original 83 departments established during the early years of the French Revolution as part of the rationalization of French administrative divisions. ### Population and Demographics The population data for Mortefontaine shows considerable variation across the recorded years, with figures spanning from 208 to 293 residents. The population appears to have experienced fluctuations typical of small rural communes in France, where demographic changes can be influenced by economic conditions, employment opportunities, and broader social trends affecting rural areas. The most recent figures in the available data show population figures declining from approximately 250-253 to 208, suggesting a period of population decrease. This trend is not uncommon among smaller French communes, particularly those in rural regions where younger residents may relocate to larger urban centers for education or employment opportunities. ### Municipal Infrastructure and Facilities The commune features a municipal building (mairie), which serves as the administrative center for local government operations. This building has been documented through photography, with an image showing the Mortefontaine municipal building captured by contributor Havang(nl) and made available through Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license. The photographic documentation of such municipal buildings contributes to the historical and architectural record of French communes, preserving visual evidence of local governance infrastructure. ### Digital Presence and Documentation Mortefontaine maintains an official web presence through its website at http://www.mortefontaine.fr, providing residents and visitors with access to municipal information, services, and contact details. The commune has been documented on Wikipedia under the title "Mortefontaine, Aisne," and has a Wikidata entry with a sitelink count of 44, indicating its presence across multiple Wikimedia projects. This digital documentation contributes to the accessibility of information about the commune and supports research, tourism, and administrative transparency. ### Historical Context The Aisne department, within which Mortefontaine is located, has played significant roles in French history. The department was the site of major military operations during both World Wars, particularly during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and subsequent conflicts along the Western Front. The region contains numerous war memorials and historical sites commemorating the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians during these periods of conflict. The commune structure established in 1789 has provided a stable framework for local governance through various political regimes, from the First French Empire through the Fifth Republic, continuing to serve as the fundamental unit of French democratic administration. ### Relationship to Broader Administrative Structures Mortefontaine exists within a hierarchical administrative system that includes multiple levels of governance. At the local level, the commune operates under the municipal council and mayor. At the intermediate level, it belongs to the arrondissement of Soissons. At the departmental level, it falls under the prefecture in Laon, the capital of the Aisne department. At the regional level, it is part of Hauts-de-France, one of France's 18 administrative regions. This multi-layered administrative structure allows for the distribution of governmental functions across different levels, with communes handling local matters while departmental and regional authorities manage broader policy areas, infrastructure, and services. ## References 1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 2. répertoire géographique des communes 3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 4. Annuaire de service-public.fr 5. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 6. Populations légales 2016 7. Populations légales 2017 8. Populations légales 2018 9. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602) 10. Populations légales 2019 11. Populations légales 2020 12. Populations légales 2021 13. Populations de référence 2022 14. Populations de référence 2023 15. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 16. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 17. GeoNames 18. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 19. [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) 20. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)