# Pontchâteau

> commune in Loire-Atlantique, France

**Wikidata**: [Q818116](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q818116)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontchâteau)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pontch-teau

## Summary
Pontchâteau is a commune located in the Loire-Atlantique department of France, situated within the arrondissement of Saint-Nazaire. It serves as the seat of the canton of Pontchâteau and is part of the French Republic, a semi-presidential republic and a major global power with territories spanning multiple continents.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities).
- **Location**: Loire-Atlantique department, arrondissement of Saint-Nazaire, France.
- **Coordinates**: 47.436944444444, -2.0877777777778.
- **Canton**: Seat of the canton of Pontchâteau (inception: March 22, 2015).
- **Department Inception**: Loire-Atlantique established March 4, 1790.
- **Commune Type Inception**: 1789.
- **Transport**: Contains the Pontchâteau railway station.
- **Official Website**: http://www.pontchateau.fr.
- **Country**: France (Inception: 843 AD via Treaty of Verdun; First French Empire: 1804).
- **Population Data Points**: 10191.0, 10604.0, 10967.0, 10684.0, 10771.0, 5835.0, 6394.0, 7220.0, 7549.0, 7773.0, 8924.0, 9836.0, 10901.0, 11030.0, 11075.0, 11249.0, 11474.0.

## FAQs
**Where is Pontchâteau located?**
Pontchâteau is situated in the Loire-Atlantique department in the arrondissement of Saint-Nazaire within the country of France. Its specific geographic coordinates are 47.436944444444, -2.0877777777778.

**What administrative divisions is Pontchâteau part of?**
It is a commune of France and serves as the seat of the canton of Pontchâteau, which was established on March 22, 2015. It is also part of the Loire-Atlantique department, which was created on March 4, 1790.

**What transportation options are available in Pontchâteau?**
The commune is served by the Pontchâteau railway station. As part of France, the region utilizes a driving infrastructure where vehicles drive on the right side of the road.

**What is the population history of Pontchâteau?**
Recorded population figures for the commune include various data points such as 5,835, 6,394, 7,220, 7,549, 7,773, 8,924, 9,836, 10,191, 10,604, 10,674, 10,771, 10,901, 11,030, 11,075, 11,249, and 11,474.

## Why It Matters
Pontchâteau matters as a fundamental administrative unit within the French Republic, representing the local level of governance in the Loire-Atlantique region. As a commune, it is integral to the decentralized administration of France, operating under the national semi-presidential system. Its status as the seat of the canton of Pontchâteau highlights its role in regional electoral and administrative geography. Furthermore, its existence within the arrondissement of Saint-Nazaire connects it to the broader economic and transport networks of western France. The commune's fluctuating population data reflects demographic trends within the country, which is a founding member of the European Union and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Seat**: Serving as the seat of the canton of Pontchâteau since its inception on March 22, 2015.
- **Transportation Hub**: Hosting the Pontchâteau railway station, linking it to the national rail network.
- **Demographic Data**: Possessing a wide array of historical population records ranging from 5,835 to 11,474.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintaining an official website at http://www.pontchateau.fr.
- **Geographic Specificity**: Defined by precise coordinates of 47.436944444444 latitude and -2.0877777777778 longitude.

## Body

### Geography and Territory
Pontchâteau is geographically positioned at coordinates 47.436944444444, -2.0877777777778. It is located within the department of Loire-Atlantique, which is part of the arrondissement of Saint-Nazaire. The commune is situated in France, a country that encompasses a total area of 643,801 square kilometres. Metropolitan France, where Pontchâteau is located, shares borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. The nation also possesses overseas territories in the Americas (e.g., French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique), Africa (e.g., Mayotte, Réunion), Oceania (e.g., French Polynesia, New Caledonia), and Antarctica (Adélie Land). The highest point in France is Mont Blanc at 4,808.72 meters, while the lowest point is Étang de Lavalduc at -10 meters.

### Government and Administration
As a commune, Pontchâteau is a territorial subdivision for municipalities, a status that originated in France in 1789. It serves as the seat of the canton of Pontchâteau, an administrative division established on March 22, 2015. The department of Loire-Atlantique, in which the commune resides, was instituted on March 4, 1790. These local divisions operate under the French national government, a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration. The current French constitution was established on October 4, 1958, founding the Fifth Republic. The executive branch includes the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu. The legislative branch is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

### Demographics and Society
Pontchâteau has recorded various population figures throughout its history, including 5,835, 6,394, 7,220, 7,549, 7,773, 8,924, 9,836, 10,191, 10,604, 10,674, 10,771, 10,901, 11,030, 11,075, 11,249, and 11,474. In the broader context of France, the national population is estimated at 68,605,616 as of January 1, 2025. The country has a life expectancy of 82 years and a highly urbanized society. The official language is French, and the age of majority is 18. Compulsory education is required for children between the ages of 6 and 16.

### Economy and Infrastructure
The local infrastructure of Pontchâteau includes the Pontchâteau railway station, facilitating transport within the region. The commune maintains an official website at http://www.pontchateau.fr. France, as the overarching state, has a mixed economy with a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD as of 2022. The currency used is the Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France, while the CFP Franc is used in overseas territories. The country operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and observes Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00). Infrastructure standards include driving on the right-hand side of the road, speed limits of 130 km/h on highways, and an electrical grid supplying 230 volts at 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs.

### International Relations and National Context
Pontchâteau is part of France, a nation that holds significant influence in international affairs. France is a founding member of the European Union (1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (1945). It is also a member of NATO (1949), the G7, the G20, the World Trade Organization, the Schengen Area, and the Council of Europe. The country possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960. Historically, the origins of the French state trace back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which established West Francia, and the proclamation of the First French Empire in 1804. France maintains diplomatic relations globally and shares land borders with eight European countries as well as Brazil and Suriname via French Guiana.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. [Source](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/Q295714)
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. MusicBrainz
10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
11. Populations légales 2016
12. Populations légales 2017
13. Populations légales 2018
14. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
15. Populations légales 2019
16. Populations légales 2020
17. Populations légales 2021
18. Populations de référence 2022
19. Populations de référence 2023
20. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
22. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
23. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
24. GeoNames
25. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
26. [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)