# Saint-Côme-de-Fresné

> commune in Calvados, France

**Wikidata**: [Q217176](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q217176)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Côme-de-Fresné)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-c-me-de-fresn

## Summary

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is a commune located in the Calvados department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. Situated along the coast of the English Channel, this small municipality falls within the arrondissement of Bayeux and has been part of the canton of Ryes (until March 2015). The commune sits at coordinates 49.334166666667° N latitude and -0.60611111111111° E longitude, placing it in the picturesque coastal area of Normandy known for its historical significance during World War II.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Saint-Côme-de-Fresné
- **Alias**: Saint-Come-de-Fresne
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Region**: Normandy (Normandie)
- **Department**: Calvados (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Bayeux
- **Canton**: Ryes (until March 2015)
- **Commune Status**: Territorial subdivision of France (inception: 1789)
- **Coordinates**: 49.334166666667° N, -0.60611111111111° W
- **Population**: 251, 263, 279, 263, 261, 143, 147, 155, 171, 224, 219, 239, 259, 259, 257, 252, 256 (various census years)
- **Website**: http://saintcomedefresne.fr
- **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Côme-de-Fresné
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Calvados, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42

## FAQs

**What region is Saint-Côme-de-Fresné located in?**

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is located in the Normandy region of France, specifically in the Calvados department. It is part of the arrondissement of Bayeux and was historically part of the canton of Ryes until March 2015.

**What type of administrative area is Saint-Côme-de-Fresné?**

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Saint-Côme-de-Fresné?**

The commune is situated at latitude 49.334166666667° N and longitude -0.60611111111111° W, placing it on the coast of the English Channel in the Normandy region.

**How can I find more information about Saint-Côme-de-Fresné?**

The official website for the commune is http://saintcomedefresne.fr, where local government information and community details can be accessed.

## Why It Matters

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné matters as part of the rich tapestry of French communal administration and Normandy's historical landscape. As a commune established in 1789, it represents the foundational territorial organization that emerged from the French Revolution, a system that continues to govern local governance in France today. The commune's location in Calvados places it in one of France's most historically significant departments, particularly regarding World War II and the D-Day landings that occurred along the Normandy coast.

The commune's participation in the canton of Ryes until 2015 reflects the ongoing administrative reorganization that France undergoes to optimize local governance. Its presence in the arrondissement of Bayeux connects it to a sub-prefectural administrative center with substantial historical importance, as Bayeux was the first city liberated during the D-Day landings and houses the famous Bayeux Tapestry.

## Notable For

- **Historical Administrative Structure**: As a commune established in 1789, it represents one of the oldest continuous forms of local government organization in France
- **Coastal Location**: Situated on the Normandy coast along the English Channel, placing it in one of the most strategically significant regions in European history
- **Departmental Heritage**: Part of Calvados, a department named after the famous apple brandy and known for its agricultural products, dairy farms, and coastal resorts
- **Administrative Evolution**: Part of the canton of Ryes until the 2015 French cantonal reorganizations, reflecting France's ongoing decentralization reforms

## Body

### Geography and Location

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is positioned in the northwestern part of France, specifically in the Normandy region. The commune's coordinates of 49.334166666667° N latitude and -0.60611111111111° W longitude place it along the coast of the English Channel. This coastal positioning has historically made the area significant for maritime activities, trade, and defense.

The commune lies within the Calvados department, which encompasses the eastern part of the Normandy coast. Calvados is bordered by the English Channel to the north, the Orne department to the west and southwest, and the Seine-Maritime department to the northeast. The department's name has become internationally recognized beyond geography, as it is also the name of a popular apple brandy produced in the region.

### Administrative History

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné was established as a commune in 1789, following the French Revolution. This year marked a fundamental transformation in French territorial organization, as the old feudal system was replaced by a rationalized structure of communes, departments, and arrondissements. The commune system created in 1789 remains the foundation of French local government to this day, making Saint-Côme-de-Fresné part of one of the oldest continuous administrative systems in the world.

The commune is part of the Calvados department, which was created on March 4, 1790, during the early stages of the French Revolution. Calvados was one of the original 83 departments created to replace the old provinces of the Ancien Régime. The department was named after the nearby English Channel water body and has maintained its administrative identity through various political changes over more than two centuries.

### Administrative Structure

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné falls within the arrondissement of Bayeux, which serves as a sub-prefectural administrative division. The arrondissement of Bayeux encompasses numerous communes in the coastal portion of Calvados and serves as an intermediate level of administration between the department and the commune.

Historically, the commune was part of the canton of Ryes until March 2015. The canton system in France serves as a district for the election of members to the general council (conseil général) of the department. The 2015 French cantonal reorganizations resulted in the restructuring of many cantons across France, leading to changes in the administrative groupings of communes.

### Population and Demographics

The population data for Saint-Côme-de-Fresné shows fluctuations across multiple census years: 251, 263, 279, 263, 261, 143, 147, 155, 171, 224, 219, 239, 259, 259, 257, 252, and 256 residents. These figures reflect the demographic changes that many small French communes experience, influenced by factors such as economic opportunities, housing availability, and broader rural-urban migration patterns common throughout France.

As a small commune, Saint-Côme-de-Fresné represents the typical demographic profile of many rural Normandy communities, where population levels have varied over the decades depending on agricultural economic conditions, infrastructure development, and proximity to larger urban centers like Caen and Bayeux.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

The commune's name, Saint-Côme-de-Fresné, reflects the French tradition of naming communes after saints and local geographical features. The "Saint-Côme" portion indicates dedication to Saint Côme (Saint Cosmas), while "de Fresné" refers to the local area and its historical identity.

As part of Normandy, Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is associated with the broader cultural heritage of this region, which includes distinctive culinary traditions (such as Camembert cheese, Calvados brandy, and seafood from the Channel coast), architectural styles ranging from medieval half-timbered houses to Romanesque churches, and the Norman language dialect historically spoken in the area.

### Connection to French Administrative System

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné exemplifies the French commune system, which is a unique form of local government. French communes function as the lowest level of territorial administration, similar to municipalities in other countries but with significant autonomy in local matters. Each commune has its own mayor and municipal council, responsible for local services, urban planning, and community affairs.

The commune is classified under the country code  (France) in the Wikidata database, which links it to the broader network of French territorial entities. With a sitelink count of 42, the commune has moderate visibility in Wikimedia projects, indicating its presence in encyclopedic resources while reflecting its small scale.

### Online Presence

The commune maintains an official website at http://saintcomedefresne.fr, providing residents and visitors with information about local government services, community events, and practical information about the area. This digital presence reflects the modern administrative practices of French communes, which increasingly utilize online platforms to communicate with their constituents and provide administrative services.

### Relationship to Surrounding Entities

Saint-Côme-de-Fresné exists within a hierarchy of French territorial organization. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with deep historical roots dating back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD and the establishment of West Francia. France operates as a semi-presidential republic and is a founding member of the European Union, with significant global influence through its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

At the regional level, Saint-Côme-de-Fresné is part of Normandy, one of France's 18 administrative regions. At the departmental level, it belongs to Calvados, one of the 101 departments in metropolitan France. At the sub-regional level, it falls within the arrondissement of Bayeux, and at the cantonal level, it was historically associated with Ryes until the 2015 reorganizations.

This hierarchical structure demonstrates the highly organized nature of French territorial administration, where each commune is integrated into multiple layers of governance, each providing different services and administrative functions while maintaining the commune's local autonomy.

## References

1. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
2. INSEE code
3. [Source](https://archives.calvados.fr/classificationScheme/11d99609-7d05-4864-9e3e-7f744d9c2753)
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 communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
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)