# Raye-sur-Authie

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q975717](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q975717)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raye-sur-Authie)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/raye-sur-authie

## Summary

Raye-sur-Authie is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated along the Authie river. As a commune of France—a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789—it is part of the canton of Hesdin and the arrondissement of Montreuil. The settlement lies at coordinates approximately 50.298°N latitude and 1.948°E longitude.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: Commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Canton**: Hesdin
- **Arrondissement**: Montreuil
- **Parent Entity**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision, inception: 1789)
- **Geographic Feature**: Located along the Authie river
- **Coordinates**: 50.298055555556°N latitude, 1.9483333333333°E longitude
- **Country**: France
- **Population History**: 229, 243, 251, 250, 244, 239, 233, 230, 228, 227 (across recorded years)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Raye-sur-Authie
- **Sitelink Count**: 44

## FAQs

**What region and department is Raye-sur-Authie located in?**

Raye-sur-Authie is located in the Pas-de-Calais department of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What administrative divisions does Raye-sur-Authie belong to?**

Raye-sur-Authie is part of the canton of Hesdin and the arrondissement of Montreuil. These are sub-national administrative divisions within the French departmental system.

**What geographical feature is near Raye-sur-Authie?**

Raye-sur-Authie is situated along the Authie river, which is a river in northern France flowing through the Pas-de-Calais and Somme departments before emptying into the English Channel.

**What is the population of Raye-sur-Authie?**

The commune has recorded population figures of 229, 243, 251, 250, 244, 239, 233, 230, 228, and 227 across various census years, indicating a gradual decline in population over time.

**What type of administrative entity is a commune in France?**

A commune is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France, established in 1789. There are over 35,000 communes in France, representing the most local level of government administration.

## Why It Matters

Raye-sur-Authie represents a small but integral part of the French communal structure, embodying the decentralized administrative system that defines local governance in France. As part of the canton of Hesdin and the arrondissement of Montreuil, it participates in the broader regional administrative framework that serves to organize public services, local planning, and civic representation for residents of northern France.

The commune's location along the Authie river places it within a region of historical and geographical significance in northern France. The Authie river valley has historically served as a natural boundary and transportation route, contributing to the development of settlements in the area.

As one of the thousands of French communes, Raye-sur-Authie exemplifies the continuity of French local government administration, which dates back to the revolutionary period of 1789. This system allows for localized governance while maintaining national coherence through the departmental and regional structures.

The commune's presence in Pas-de-Calais also connects it to a department with significant historical importance, given its proximity to the English Channel and its role in various historical events affecting northern France.

## Notable For

- **River Location**: Situated along the Authie river, one of the notable rivers in northern France
- **Administrative Structure**: Part of the traditional French commune system established in 1789
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, a department with origins dating to March 1790
- **Local Governance**: Part of the canton of Hesdin and arrondissement of Montreuil, representing localized administrative organization

## Body

### Geography and Location

Raye-sur-Authie is positioned at coordinates 50.298055555556°N latitude and 1.9483333333333°E longitude, placing it in the northernmost region of France. The commune is situated along the Authie river, which flows through the Pas-de-Calais and Somme departments before reaching the English Channel. This riverside location has historically influenced the settlement's development and continues to be a defining geographical characteristic.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Raye-sur-Authie represents the lowest level of territorial administration in the French system. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions. This places Raye-sur-Authie within a framework of over 35,000 similar municipalities across France.

The commune is nested within higher administrative structures: it belongs to the canton of Hesdin, which serves as an electoral district for departmental elections, and the arrondissement of Montreuil, which provides intermediate administrative functions between the commune and the departmental level.

### Departmental Context

Raye-sur-Authie is located in the Pas-de-Calais department, one of the original departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The department takes its name from the Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais), the narrowest point of the English Channel. Pas-de-Calais is part of the Hauts-de-France region and has historically been an area of strategic importance due to its proximity to the English Channel and its position as a gateway between France and England.

### Historical Administrative Evolution

The French departmental system was established to replace the old provinces and territories of the Ancien Régime with a more rational, uniform administrative structure. Pas-de-Calais was formed from portions of the former province of Artois and surrounding territories. The canton system was implemented to provide intermediate representation between communes and arrondissements, with Hesdin serving as the administrative center for the canton containing Raye-sur-Authie.

### Population and Demographics

The population figures recorded for Raye-sur-Authie across multiple census years show a population ranging from 251 to 227 residents. These figures indicate a small rural commune typical of the agricultural regions of northern France. The population trend suggests modest decline over the recorded period, which is consistent with broader patterns of rural depopulation in many French communes as residents move to larger urban centers for employment and services.

### Regional Context

The commune's location in the Authie river valley places it within a landscape characterized by agricultural activity and natural waterways. The Authie river originates in the Somme department and flows approximately 263 kilometers before emptying into the English Channel near Berck. The river valley has historically provided fertile agricultural land and served as a natural route for transportation and trade.

### Connection to French Administrative System

Raye-sur-Authie exemplifies the French commitment to decentralized administration, where local communes maintain significant autonomy in managing local affairs while being integrated into broader departmental and regional structures. This system allows for representation at multiple levels, from the municipal council of the commune to the general council of the department and the regional council of Hauts-de-France.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. OpenStreetMap
5. répertoire géographique des communes
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
9. Populations légales 2016
10. Populations légales 2017
11. Populations légales 2018
12. Populations légales 2019
13. Populations légales 2020
14. Populations légales 2021
15. Populations de référence 2022
16. Populations de référence 2023
17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
18. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
19. GeoNames
20. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
21. [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)
22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)