# Rittershoffen

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21315](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21315)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rittershoffen)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rittershoffen

## Summary
Rittershoffen is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department within the Grand Est region of northeastern France. It is a small municipality situated in the historic Alsace area, falling under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg. The entity is defined by its specific geographic coordinates and its status as a territorial subdivision of the French Republic.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: Commune (municipal subdivision of France).
- **Location**: Bas-Rhin department, Grand Est region, France.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 48.903611111111, Longitude 7.9513888888889.
- **Administrative Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg (established January 1, 2015).
- **Former Arrondissement**: Wissembourg (served as the arrondissement from 1800–1870, 1919–1940, and 1944–2015).
- **Historical Region**: Located in the area formerly known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace) during the German Empire (1871–1918).
- **Population Data Points**: Recorded figures include 899, 910, 922, 911, 908, 914, and 928 inhabitants across various census years.
- **Official Website**: https://rittershoffen.fr.
- **Wikidata Identifier**: Associated with 44 sitelinks across language versions.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Rittershoffen.
- **Country Context**: Part of France, a semi-presidential republic with a population of ~68.6 million (2025 estimate) and an area of 643,801 km².
- **Regional Context**: Bas-Rhin was established as an administrative district on March 4, 1790.

## FAQs
**What is the administrative hierarchy of Rittershoffen?**
Rittershoffen is a commune situated within the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the Grand Est region in France. It currently falls under the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, a district created on January 1, 2015, replacing the former arrondissement of Wissembourg.

**Where is Rittershoffen located geographically?**
The commune is located in northeastern France at coordinates 48.9036° N, 7.9514° E. Historically, this area was part of the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) known as Unterelsaß during the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.

**What is the population size of Rittershoffen?**
The population of Rittershoffen fluctuates slightly but remains under 1,000 residents, with recorded figures ranging from 899 to 928 in recent census data. These figures reflect the demographic scale of a small rural or semi-rural French municipality.

**How does Rittershoffen relate to the broader French state?**
As a commune, Rittershoffen is a territorial subdivision of France, a country that traces its origins to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 and operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic. The commune adheres to national standards, including the use of the Euro (in metropolitan France), the French language, and the legal framework established by the Fifth Republic.

## Why It Matters
Rittershoffen serves as a microcosm of the complex administrative and historical evolution of the Alsace region. Its existence as a commune illustrates the decentralized nature of the French Republic, where local municipalities maintain distinct identities while adhering to national laws and infrastructure standards. The entity is significant for understanding the shifting borders of Europe, particularly the transition of the Alsace region between French and German control, as evidenced by its historical classification within the German Empire's "Unterelsaß" district. For researchers and historians, Rittershoffen provides a specific data point for analyzing demographic trends in small French communities, with population records offering insight into local stability and growth patterns. Its inclusion in the modern arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg highlights the ongoing administrative reorganization of French territories to improve governance efficiency.

## Notable For
- **Historical Border Shifts**: Located in a region that transitioned from the Kingdom of France to the German Empire (1871–1918) and back to France, reflecting the geopolitical volatility of Alsace.
- **Administrative Reorganization**: Part of the 2015 merger that created the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, consolidating the former arrondissement of Wissembourg.
- **Small-Scale Demographics**: Maintains a consistent population size hovering around 900–920 residents, characteristic of small French rural communes.
- **Geographic Precision**: Defined by exact coordinates (48.9036° N, 7.9514° E) within the Bas-Rhin department.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website (https://rittershoffen.fr) for local governance and information dissemination.
- **Regional Identity**: Situated in the historic territory of Unterelsaß, linking it to the specific cultural and political history of Lower Alsace.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Rittershoffen is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. Its precise geographic position is marked by the coordinates latitude 48.903611111111 and longitude 7.9513888888889. The commune is situated within the historical region of Alsace, an area that has been a focal point of European history due to its strategic location between France and Germany. The territory is part of metropolitan France, which is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. As a commune, it is a fundamental unit of the French territorial subdivision system, established nationally in 1789.

### Administrative Structure
The commune operates under the administrative framework of the French Republic. It is currently part of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, which was established on January 1, 2015. Prior to this reorganization, Rittershoffen belonged to the arrondissement of Wissembourg, which existed in three distinct periods: 1800–1870, 1919–1940, and 1944–2015. The Bas-Rhin department, where the commune is located, was created on March 4, 1790, and serves as the primary administrative district. Historically, during the German Empire's occupation from 1871 to 1918, this area was known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen.

### Demographics and Population
Demographic data for Rittershoffen indicates a small, stable population typical of rural French communes. Census records show population figures fluctuating between 899 and 928 inhabitants. Specific recorded values include 899, 910, 922, 911, 908, 914, and 928. These numbers reflect the local demographic trends within the Bas-Rhin department. The commune is part of a nation with a total population of approximately 68.6 million as of 2025, but Rittershoffen itself remains a small community. The population density and size are consistent with the characteristics of a commune in the Alsace region, which has a high degree of urbanization in its larger cities but retains many small rural municipalities.

### Historical Context
The history of Rittershoffen is intertwined with the broader history of the Alsace region. The area was part of the Kingdom of France before being annexed by the German Empire in 1871 following the Franco-Prussian War. During this period, from 1871 to 1918, the commune was part of the district of Unterelsaß within the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen. After World War I, the region returned to France, and the arrondissement of Wissembourg was re-established in 1919. Following World War II, the arrondissement was re-established again in 1944, continuing until the administrative reforms of 2015. The current administrative structure reflects the modern French state, which traces its origins to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 and has undergone numerous regime changes, culminating in the Fifth Republic established in 1958.

### Infrastructure and Connectivity
As a French commune, Rittershoffen adheres to national infrastructure standards. The country drives on the right-hand side of the road, and the electrical grid operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs. The commune is connected to the national network via the international calling code +33 and the top-level internet domain .fr. The official website for the commune is https://rittershoffen.fr, providing digital access to local services and information. The commune is part of the Schengen Area, allowing for borderless travel within Europe, and utilizes the Euro as its currency, consistent with metropolitan France.

### Digital and Information Presence
Rittershoffen has a presence in global knowledge databases, with a Wikidata entry that includes 44 sitelinks across various language versions of Wikipedia. The Wikipedia title for the entity is "Rittershoffen," and it is described as a commune in Bas-Rhin, France. This digital footprint ensures that information about the commune is accessible to a global audience. The entity is also linked to broader categories such as "commune of France" and "Bas-Rhin," facilitating navigation through hierarchical data structures. The availability of specific population data and coordinates in these databases supports research and analysis of the region.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
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)
23. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File