# Offwiller

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21360](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21360)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offwiller)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/offwiller

## Summary

Offwiller is a commune (municipality) located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. Situated at coordinates 48.910277777778°N latitude and 7.5430555555556°E longitude, this small commune falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg and represents one of the numerous local administrative divisions that compose the French territorial structure.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Offwiller
- **Alias**: Offweiler
- **Country**: France
- **Department**: Bas-Rhin
- **Region**: Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace)
- **Administrative Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg (since 2015)
- **Previous Arrondissement**: Haguenau (prior to 2015)
- **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (municipal territorial subdivision)
- **Historical Context**: Part of Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace) within the German Empire's Elsaß-Lothringen from 1871 to 1918
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 48.910277777778°N, Longitude 7.5430555555556°E
- **Website**: http://www.offwiller.fr
- **Wikipedia Title**: Offwiller
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Bas-Rhin, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 43

## FAQs

**What type of administrative division is Offwiller?**

Offwiller 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 government in the French administrative system.

**Which department and region is Offwiller located in?**

Offwiller is located in the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace in northeastern France. The department of Bas-Rhin has existed since March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution period.

**What is the administrative history of Offwiller's region?**

Offwiller's region, historically known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), was part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918. Following the Treaty of Versailles, the territory returned to French control.

**What arrondissement does Offwiller belong to?**

Offwiller falls under the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, which was established on January 1, 2015, as part of French administrative reorganization. Prior to this date, the commune belonged to the former arrondissement of Haguenau.

**What are the population figures for Offwiller?**

The commune has recorded population figures of 816, 811, 821, 796, 799, 802, 805, 805, 807, and 807 across multiple census years, indicating relative population stability.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Offwiller?**

Offwiller is situated at latitude 48.910277777778 degrees north and longitude 7.5430555555556 degrees east, placing it in the northeastern portion of France near the German border.

**How can one find more information about Offwiller?**

The official commune website is available at http://www.offwiller.fr, and the municipality has a Wikipedia article titled "Offwiller" with 43 sitelinks connecting to various Wikimedia projects.

## Why It Matters

Offwiller represents a fundamental unit of French local governance and exemplifies the administrative structure that has governed France since the French Revolution. As a commune in the Bas-Rhin department, it participates in the decentralized administrative system that characterizes the French Republic, operating as a unit of local self-governance within the broader framework of departmental and regional administration.

The commune's historical context is particularly significant. Located in Alsace, a region that has changed national sovereignty multiple times throughout European history, Offwiller embodies the complex territorial evolution of northeastern France. The region's incorporation into the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and its subsequent return to France illustrate the shifting borders and cultural dynamics that have shaped European history.

From an administrative perspective, Offwiller's placement within the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg (established in 2015) reflects ongoing efforts to optimize French local governance structures. The commune serves as an example of how France maintains its characteristic commune-based administrative system while adapting to contemporary organizational needs.

For those studying French geography, administration, or European border regions, Offwiller provides a case study in how local municipalities function within the broader French departmental system and how historical events continue to influence contemporary administrative boundaries.

## Notable For

- **Historical Territorial Significance**: Part of Elsaß-Lothringen under German administration (1871-1918)
- **Administrative Structure**: Serves as a commune within the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region
- **Modern Administrative Organization**: Part of the newly formed arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg (established 2015)
- **Local Governance**: Functions as a fundamental unit of French municipal administration
- **Cross-Border Region Location**: Situated in northeastern France near the German border, reflecting the historical and cultural connections between Alsace and neighboring Germany

## Body

### Geography and Location

Offwiller is positioned at coordinates 48.910277777778 degrees north latitude and 7.5430555555556 degrees east longitude. This location places the commune in the northeastern portion of France, within the Alsace region and specifically the Bas-Rhin department. The commune's geographical position near the German border reflects the historical significance of Alsace as a crossroads between French and German cultural spheres.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Offwiller represents the most granular level of French administrative division. The commune system in France traces its institutional origins to the French Revolution, with the current framework for territorial subdivisions of municipalities established around 1789. Offwiller operates under this communal system, providing local governance services to its residents.

The commune falls within the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, an administrative district that was created on January 1, 2015, as part of a reorganization of French arrondissements. Prior to this date, Offwiller was part of the former arrondissement of Haguenau. This administrative restructuring demonstrates how France continues to adapt its local government structures to contemporary needs while maintaining the fundamental communal system that has existed for centuries.

At the departmental level, Offwiller is part of Bas-Rhin, one of the two departments (along with Haut-Rhin) that compose the Alsace region. The Bas-Rhin department was established on March 4, 1790, during the early Revolutionary period, and serves as an intermediate level of administration between the commune and the regional level.

### Historical Context

The historical trajectory of Offwiller and the broader Alsace region illustrates the complex political history of northeastern France. The commune is situated in what was historically known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which was part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918.

Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, the Treaty of Frankfurt led to the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by the German Empire. This period of German rule lasted for nearly five decades, during which the region experienced significant cultural and administrative influence from the German Empire. The territory returned to French control following Germany's defeat in World War I, specifically after the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

This historical background explains the distinctive bilingual character of the Alsace region today, with both French and Germanic (Alsatian) cultural influences present in local administration, place names, and community identity.

### Population and Demographics

While the exact population figures for specific years are not detailed in the source material, the population data indicates that Offwiller maintains a stable population in the range of approximately 800 to 820 residents across multiple census periods. This population size is typical for rural communes in the less densely populated portions of the Bas-Rhin department, where smaller villages and municipalities characterize the agricultural and semi-rural landscape.

### Institutional Resources

Offwiller maintains a municipal website accessible at http://www.offwiller.fr, providing information about local government services, community events, and administrative procedures for residents. The commune has a presence in Wikimedia projects, with a Wikipedia article titled "Offwiller" that is connected to 43 sitelinks across various Wikimedia platforms, indicating a moderate level of digital documentation and accessibility.

### Relationship to Broader Administrative Framework

Offwiller's administrative position illustrates the layered nature of French local governance:

- At the local level, the commune provides direct services to residents
- At the arrondissement level (Haguenau-Wissembourg), intermediate administrative functions are coordinated
- At the departmental level (Bas-Rhin), broader regional services and administrative oversight are provided
- At the regional level (Alsace), economic development, transportation planning, and cultural affairs are coordinated
- At the national level (France), the commune operates within the constitutional framework of the French Republic

This hierarchical structure allows for both local autonomy and coordinated governance across different territorial scales, characteristic of the French administrative system that combines unitary state organization with decentralized local governance.

## 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)
22. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File