# Ollezy > commune in Aisne, France **Wikidata**: [Q870738](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q870738) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollezy) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ollezy ## Summary Ollezy is a commune located in the Aisne department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated approximately 20 kilometers south of Saint-Quentin. As a small rural municipality, Ollezy represents one of the numerous communes that form the administrative fabric of France, operating within the historical context of French departmental organization and local governance structures established during the French Revolution. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Ollezy is situated in the Aisne department of France (department inception: March 4, 1790) - **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin - **Former Canton**: Saint-Simon (until March 2015) - **Geographic Coordinates**: Latitude 49.733611111111°, Longitude 3.1447222222222° - **Country**: France - **Type of Entity**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789) - **Population History**: 177, 184, 189, 184, 180, 162, 161, 163, 151, 158, 135, 166, 177, 174, 173, 169, 169 (across recorded census periods) - **Wikipedia Title**: Ollezy - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Aisne, France - **Sitelink Count**: 45 - **Image**: Municipal school and town hall (mairie-école) - **Image Artist**: Havang(nl) - **Image License**: CC0 / Public Domain - **Notable Recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915) ## FAQs **What region and department is Ollezy located in?** Ollezy is located in the Aisne department, which is situated in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution as part of the initial organization of France into departments. **What administrative divisions does Ollezy belong to?** Ollezy is part of the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin, one of the administrative divisions within the Aisne department. Prior to March 2015, Ollezy was also part of the canton of Saint-Simon, though administrative redistricting reorganized this canton structure. **What type of administrative entity is Ollezy?** Ollezy is a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial administrative division in France. Communes are analogous to municipalities or townships in other countries and represent the most local level of government in France, with origins dating back to 1789. **What is the population of Ollezy?** Ollezy is a small rural commune with a population that has fluctuated between approximately 135 and 189 residents across recent census periods. The population data shows variation over 17 recorded periods, reflecting the demographic trends common in rural French municipalities. **What notable recognition has Ollezy received?** Ollezy was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established on April 2, 1915, recognizing valor and service during World War I. This indicates that the commune or its residents contributed to the war effort during this period. **What is the geography of Ollezy?** Ollezy is positioned at coordinates 49.733611111111° latitude and 3.1447222222222° longitude, placing it in the northern French department of Aisne, approximately 20 kilometers south of the city of Saint-Quentin. ## Why It Matters Ollezy matters as an example of the thousands of small communes that constitute the fundamental administrative building blocks of France. While modest in size, these communes represent the decentralized nature of French local governance, where municipalities maintain significant autonomy in managing local affairs, schools, and community services. The presence of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies that even small communities participated in the national effort during World War I, a conflict that profoundly affected the Aisne department, which was the site of major battles including the First Battle of the Marne and the Battle of the Somme. The commune structure in France, dating back to 1789, represents one of the most enduring administrative innovations of the French Revolution. Ollezy, as part of this system, embodies the continuity of French municipal organization through centuries of political change. The canton of Saint-Simon, which included Ollezy until 2015, represents the historical administrative organization that was reformed to create larger, more efficient administrative units. For researchers and those interested in French demographics, Ollezy's population fluctuations illustrate the broader trend of rural depopulation in certain regions of France, while also demonstrating the stability that many small communes maintain as residential communities for those seeking rural lifestyles. ## Notable For - **Military Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for World War I service - **Historical Administrative Structure**: Part of the canton of Saint-Simon until the 2015 French cantonal reorganizations - **Rural Heritage**: Maintains a municipal school and town hall (mairie-école) combined facility, typical of small French communes - **Strategic Location**: Situated in the Somme battlefield region, near significant World War I historical sites ## Body ### Geography and Location Ollezy is geographically positioned at coordinates 49.733611111111° north latitude and 3.1447222222222° east longitude. The commune is located in the Aisne department of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France, approximately 20 kilometers south of Saint-Quentin. This positioning places Ollezy within the historical Picardy region, characterized by agricultural plains and rolling hills that were the site of intense military activity during both World Wars. The commune's territory spans the typical rural landscape of the Picardy region, characterized by farmland and small woodland areas. The soil composition and climate of the region have historically supported agricultural activities, particularly grain cultivation, which has been the economic backbone of communities like Ollezy for centuries. ### Administrative History Ollezy exists within the French administrative system that originated during the French Revolution. The commune, as a territorial subdivision, was established in 1789 as part of the revolutionary government's effort to create a uniform, rational administrative structure replacing the complex feudal divisions that had characterized the Ancien Régime. The Aisne department, in which Ollezy is located, was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial organization of France into departments. This department was formed from parts of the former province of Picardy and surrounding regions, creating a new administrative unit that would become integral to French governance. Prior to March 2015, Ollezy was part of the canton of Saint-Simon. The French cantonal system was reformed in 2015, with many cantons being merged or reorganized to create more efficient administrative units and better represent demographic shifts. The arrondissement of Saint-Quentin, of which Ollezy remains a part, serves as an intermediate administrative level between the department and the commune. ### Demographics and Population Ollezy exemplifies the demographic characteristics of many rural communes in northern France. The population data spanning 17 recorded periods shows fluctuations between 135 and 189 residents, reflecting the challenges faced by small rural municipalities in maintaining population levels amid broader trends of urbanization and rural depopulation. The population figures demonstrate relative stability, with the commune maintaining a population between 150 and 190 residents for much of its recorded history. This stability suggests that Ollezy has maintained its role as a residential community, likely serving as a bedroom community for larger employment centers in the Saint-Quentin area or maintaining agricultural operations that provide local employment. The combined mairie-école (town hall and school) facility indicates that the commune maintains basic public services appropriate to its population size, including municipal administration and primary education, which are essential for sustaining a residential community. ### Historical Significance and Military Recognition The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 to Ollezy represents the commune's participation in World War I, a conflict that had devastating effects on the Aisne department. The department was the site of major battles during the war, including the First Battle of the Marne in 1914 and subsequent fighting along the Western Front that devastated much of the region's infrastructure and population. The Croix de guerre was established on April 2, 1915, by the French government to recognize military valor and service during World War I. The decoration could be awarded to individuals, military units, or municipalities. Municipalities receiving this honor typically did so for significant damage to their territory, for acts of resistance, or for contributions to the war effort through resources or personnel. Ollezy's receipt of this decoration indicates that the commune and its residents contributed to France's war effort during this transformative and devastating period in French history. The region's proximity to the Western Front meant that communities throughout Aisne were directly affected by the conflict, whether through the presence of military operations, the hosting of refugees, or the contribution of soldiers to the French military. ### Cultural and Community Infrastructure The presence of a combined mairie-école (town hall and school) in Ollezy represents a common feature of small French communes, where limited population and resources necessitate shared facilities. This arrangement reflects the French approach to rural municipal administration, where communes must be self-sufficient in providing basic public services despite limited populations. The municipal school would have served the educational needs of children in the commune and surrounding area, while the town hall housed municipal administration, serving as the center of local government. This combination facility represents the practical approach to public resource management in rural France, where efficiency and practicality often override the separation of functions seen in larger municipalities. ### Relationship to Connected Entities Ollezy's administrative position within the French commune system places it within a hierarchical structure of territorial organization. As a commune, it is subordinate to the canton (historically Saint-Simon, now part of a reorganized canton system), the arrondissement of Saint-Quentin, the department of Aisne, and ultimately the national government in Paris. The commune of France represents a unique administrative category that combines functions that might be separated in other countries—a municipality, a territorial unit, and a basic administrative district all in one. This system, established in 1789, has proven remarkably durable, with the basic structure remaining largely unchanged despite numerous political transformations at the national level. The department of Aisne, created in 1790, serves as an important intermediate administrative level, responsible for regional planning, social services, and departmental infrastructure. The department's capital at Laon maintains administrative functions that affect communes like Ollezy, including coordination of services, statistical collection, and administrative oversight. ### Economic and Agricultural Context While specific economic data is not provided in the source material, the rural location of Ollezy in the Picardy region suggests that agriculture has historically played an important role in the local economy. The fertile plains of the Somme and Aisne valleys have long supported grain cultivation, and the region has been known for agricultural production since medieval times. The proximity to Saint-Quentin, an important industrial city in northern France, may provide employment opportunities for residents of Ollezy, potentially making the commune a residential location for workers in larger industrial and commercial enterprises. This relationship between small rural communes and larger urban centers is common in the Saint-Quentin area, where the city serves as a regional economic hub for surrounding communities. ### Wikimedia and Digital Presence Ollezy has a presence on Wikimedia Commons, with an image depicting the mairie-école (town hall and school) captured by the user Havang(nl). The image, released under a CC0/public domain license, represents the type of visual documentation that contributes to the digital record of small French communes. The commune's Wikipedia article and Wikidata entry provide digital reference points for those seeking information about the municipality. With a sitelink count of 45, Ollezy maintains a modest but present digital footprint within the broader ecosystem of French municipal information available online. ### Conclusion Ollezy represents a characteristic example of a small French commune in the northern agricultural regions of the country. Its history, tied to the broader narrative of French departmental organization, rural demographics, and the impact of World War I on the Picardy region, illustrates the experiences of thousands of similar municipalities that together form the administrative foundation of France. The commune's recognition with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 serves as a lasting testament to its participation in national events of significant historical importance, while its continued existence demonstrates the resilience of rural communities in the face of modernization and demographic changes that have reshaped much of rural France in recent decades. ## 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)