# Saint-Juvin

> commune in Ardennes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q816899](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q816899)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Juvin)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-juvin

## Summary

Saint-Juvin is a commune located in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. The small village is situated in the canton of Grandpré and the arrondissement of Vouziers, near the Belgian border. During World War I, the village was heavily damaged but was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its bravery and suffering during the conflict.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Ardennes department, Grand Est region, northeastern France
- **Canton**: Grandpré
- **Arrondissement**: Vouziers
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 49.335°N, 4.9394°E
- **Administrative status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, established 1789)
- **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915)
- **Population**: Historical figures include 176, 172, 142, 129, 121, 113, 112, 111, 107, 105, 104, 103, 102, 101, 100 (various census years)
- **Aliases**: St. Juvin, Mont-sur-Agron
- **Wikipedia title**: Saint-Juvin
- **Wikidata entity**:  (sitelink count: 43)

## FAQs

**What region and department is Saint-Juvin located in?**

Saint-Juvin is located in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. It falls within the canton of Grandpré and the arrondissement of Vouziers.

**What is the administrative structure of Saint-Juvin?**

Saint-Juvin is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the fundamental administrative unit in the country.

**Did Saint-Juvin receive any military honors?**

Yes, Saint-Juvin was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize bravery and suffering during World War I. This indicates the village experienced significant combat and damage during the war.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Saint-Juvin?**

Saint-Juvin is located at approximately 49.335 degrees north latitude and 4.9394 degrees east longitude, placing it in the Ardennes region near the Belgian border in northeastern France.

**What is known about the population of Saint-Juvin?**

Saint-Juvin has had a declining population over the decades, with historical figures showing numbers ranging from 176 down to 100 residents in various census years, typical of many rural French villages facing depopulation.

## Why It Matters

Saint-Juvin represents the countless small rural communes that form the fabric of French territorial administration. Despite its small size, the village's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its significance during one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. The Ardennes region, where Saint-Juvin is located, has historically been a strategic area due to its proximity to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, making it a frequent theater of military operations throughout European history.

The commune matters as part of France's decentralized administrative structure, where communes serve as the basic unit of local government, responsible for local services and civic administration. For genealogical and historical research, small communes like Saint-Juvin often contain valuable records of French rural life, agricultural traditions, and the impact of major historical events on local communities.

## Notable For

- **World War I recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for bravery during the Great War
- **Historical location**: Situated in the strategically important Ardennes region near France's northeastern border
- **Administrative significance**: Serves as a commune, the fundamental unit of French territorial administration since 1789
- **Regional identity**: Part of the canton of Grandpré in the Ardennes department

## Body

### Geography and Location

Saint-Juvin is a commune situated in the northeastern French department of Ardennes, which is part of the Grand Est region. The village is positioned at coordinates 49.335°N latitude and 4.9394°E longitude, placing it in a rural area near the Belgian border. The commune falls within the canton of Grandpré and the arrondissement of Vouziers, reflecting the hierarchical administrative structure of French local government.

The Ardennes department is known for its forested hills, river valleys, and strategic position between France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This region has historically served as a natural boundary and military corridor, explaining why the area saw significant combat during both World Wars.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Saint-Juvin operates as a territorial subdivision within the French Republic. The commune system in France dates back to 1789, following the French Revolution, when the country was reorganized into municipalities. Today, France contains approximately 35,000 communes, making it one of the most decentralized systems of local government in Europe.

Saint-Juvin is part of the Ardennes department (department number 08), which itself is divided into arrondissements. The arrondissement of Vouziers encompasses the southeastern portion of the department and includes numerous small rural communes similar to Saint-Juvin.

### Historical Significance

The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 to Saint-Juvin represents the village's significance during World War I. This French military decoration was established on April 2, 1915, to recognize towns and villages that had suffered damage or demonstrated bravery during the conflict. The Ardennes region saw some of the earliest fighting of World War I in 1914 and experienced prolonged periods of combat throughout the war.

The presence of this military honor indicates that Saint-Juvin either suffered significant physical damage from combat or played some notable role in the war effort. Many villages in the Meuse-Argonne area, which includes portions of Ardennes, were extensively damaged during the fighting that occurred there, particularly during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918, which was one of the largest operations in American military history.

### Demographics and Population

Historical population data for Saint-Juvin shows figures ranging from 176 to 100 residents across various census years. This population decline is consistent with broader trends affecting rural France, where many small agricultural villages have experienced depopulation as younger residents migrated to larger cities in search of employment and educational opportunities.

The population figures available (176, 172, 142, 129, 121, 113, 112, 111, 107, 105, 104, 103, 102, 101, 100) represent the village's demographic trajectory over time, illustrating the challenges facing rural communes in maintaining their populations and services.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

Saint-Juvin exists within the broader cultural and historical context of the Ardennes region, which has a distinct identity shaped by its geography, history, and bilingual French-Walloon linguistic influences. The region is known for its Ardennes ham, its forested landscapes, and its medieval architecture in towns like Sedan and Charleville-Mézières.

The commune's alternative names, including St. Juvin and Mont-sur-Agron, reflect variations in spelling and local usage over time. Such variations are common among French place names, particularly in regions with historical ties to neighboring countries.

### Administrative Connections

Saint-Juvin is connected to several larger administrative entities that provide services and governance at various levels:

- **Commune of France**: The fundamental unit of local administration in France, established in 1789
- **Canton of Grandpré**: An electoral district for departmental elections
- **Arrondissement of Vouziers**: An administrative division within the Ardennes department
- **Ardennes department**: One of the five departments in the Grand Est region
- **France**: The host country, a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union

These administrative connections illustrate how French local government operates through a hierarchical system, with communes serving as the most local level of administration, followed by cantons, arrondissements, departments, and regions.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Integrated Authority File
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 communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=32770)
20. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
21. GeoNames
22. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
23. [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)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
25. museum-digital