# Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1023850](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1023850)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-michel-sur-ternoise

## Summary
Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, specifically within the arrondissement of Arras. Situated on the Ternoise river, it functions as a territorial subdivision for municipalities within the French Republic.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune of France (a territorial subdivision for municipalities).
- **Location**: Situated in the Pas-de-Calais department and the arrondissement of Arras.
- **Geography**: Located on the Ternoise river.
- **Coordinates**: 50.375277777778° N, 2.3613888888889° E.
- **Official Website**: https://www.saintmichelsurternoise.fr.
- **Aliases**: Also known as Saint-Michel.
- **Population History**: Recorded populations include 907, 891, 896, 878, 871, 863, 854, 847, 838, and 826.
- **Imagery**: Featured image is by Pierre BUVAT, licensed under CC0 (public domain).
- **National Context**: Located in France, a country with an estimated population of 68,605,616 (2025) and a GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022).
- **Department Inception**: Pas-de-Calais was established on March 4, 1790.
- **Commune Inception**: The commune of France territorial subdivision was established in 1789.
- **National Inception**: France's origins include the Treaty of Verdun (843 AD) establishing West Francia and the First French Empire (1804).

## FAQs
**Where is Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise located?**
Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise is located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the arrondissement of Arras, within the country of France.

**What river flows through the commune?**
The Ternoise river flows through the area, giving the commune its name ("sur-Ternoise").

**What administrative divisions is the commune part of?**
It is a commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities created in 1789, and falls under the Pas-de-Calais department.

**What is the population trend of Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise?**
Recent population figures have fluctuated between 826 and 907 residents.

**What are the key characteristics of the country it resides in?**
France is a semi-presidential republic and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, with a capital in Paris and a population of over 68 million.

## Why It Matters
Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise matters as a fundamental administrative unit within the French Republic, representing the local level of governance in the Pas-de-Calais department. As a commune, it serves as a distinct territorial subdivision that contributes to the decentralized administration of France, which operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic. Its location on the Ternoise river within the arrondissement of Arras places it within a specific historical and geographic context of northern France, linking it to the broader cultural and economic framework of the region. The commune is part of a nation that holds significant global influence as a founding member of the European Union and a nuclear-armed state with a vast network of overseas territories.

## Notable For
- **Administrative Lineage**: Part of the Pas-de-Calais department, which was established on March 4, 1790.
- **Geographic Specificity**: Defined by its position on the Ternoise river.
- **Population Data**: Maintains detailed demographic records, with recent counts ranging from 826 to 907.
- **National Integration**: Situated in France, the country with the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world due to its overseas territories.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official website at saintmichelsurternoise.fr.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise is geographically defined by its coordinates 50.375277777778° N and 2.3613888888889° E. It is situated on the Ternoise river, which influences its local nomenclature. The commune is located within the arrondissement of Arras and the Pas-de-Calais department.

The broader region is part of France, a country located primarily in Western Europe but extending to other continents through overseas territories. Metropolitan France shares borders with Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland. The country's highest point is Mont Blanc (4,808.72 meters), and the lowest point is Étang de Lavalduc (-10 meters). France possesses overseas territories in the Americas (e.g., French Guiana), Africa (e.g., Réunion), Oceania (e.g., New Caledonia), and Antarctica (Adélie Land).

### Administrative and Political Structure
As a commune of France, Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise is part of a territorial subdivision system for municipalities that was established in 1789. It falls under the Pas-de-Calais department, which was created on March 4, 1790, and the arrondissement of Arras.

France operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration. The current constitution of the Fifth Republic was established on October 4, 1958. The executive branch is shared between the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron (head of state), and the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu (head of government). The legislative branch is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. France is a founding member of the European Union (since March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). It is also a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949) and possesses nuclear weapons (since 1960).

### Demographics and Society
Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise has recorded population figures of 907, 891, 896, 878, 871, 863, 854, 847, 838, and 826 in recent data points.

On a national scale, France has an estimated population of 68,605,616 as of January 1, 2025. The society is highly urbanized, with a life expectancy of 82 years (2022). The official language is French, though regional languages such as Basque, Occitan, Catalan, Breton, and Alsatian are recognized. The age of majority and marriageable age is 18, with compulsory education for ages 6 to 16.

### Economy and Infrastructure
France has a mixed economy with a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022) and a government budget of €455.2 billion (2023). The currency is the Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France, while the CFP Franc is used in overseas territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia. The standard VAT rate is 20%.

Infrastructure standards include driving on the right side of the road and using the metric system. The electrical grid operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs. Time zones are UTC+01:00 (CET) and UTC+02:00 (CEST) in metropolitan France. The international calling code is +33, and the internet TLD is .fr.

### Symbols and Culture
The national symbols of France, the country encompassing Saint-Michel-sur-Ternoise, include the tricolore flag (blue, white, red) and the motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." The national anthem is "La Marseillaise." Public holidays include New Year's Day, Easter Monday, International Workers' Day (May 1), Victory in Europe Day (May 8), Bastille Day (July 14), and Christmas (December 25).

### Digital Presence and Media
The commune maintains an official website at https://www.saintmichelsurternoise.fr. Visual documentation of the area includes an image by Pierre BUVAT, available on Wikimedia Commons, which is licensed under CC0 (public domain). The image depicts an ultralight aircraft (ulm2) in the area.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
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 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [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)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)