# Saulce-sur-Rhône

> commune in Drôme, France

**Wikidata**: [Q219295](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219295)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saulce-sur-Rhône)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saulce-sur-rh-ne

## Summary

Saulce-sur-Rhône is a commune located in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Situated along the Rhône river, the commune sits at coordinates 44.7036° N latitude and 4.7992° E longitude. The settlement is part of the arrondissement of Valence and historically falls within the broader administrative structure of French communes dating back to 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Saulce-sur-Rhône
- **Aliases**: Saussa, Sauça
- **Country**: France
- **Department**: Drôme (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- **Arrondissement**: Valence (sitelink_count: 32)
- **Alternative Arrondissement**: Nyons (sitelink_count: 28)
- **Administrative Type**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Geographic Feature**: Located along the Rhône river (which flows through Switzerland and France)
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.703611111111° N, Longitude 4.7991666666667° E
- **Website**: http://www.saulce.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Saulce-sur-Rhône
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Drôme, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 40
- **Population Data Available**: 1832, 1844, 1880, 1855, 1849, 1125, 1199, 1210, 1443, 1613, 1641, 1792, 1838, 1848, 1882, 1892 (census years not specified)

## FAQs

**What region and department is Saulce-sur-Rhône located in?**

Saulce-sur-Rhône is situated in the Drôme department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Valence, though it is also associated with the arrondissement of Nyons.

**What is the geographic setting of Saulce-sur-Rhône?**

The commune is positioned along the Rhône river, which flows through both Switzerland and France. Its precise coordinates are 44.7036° N latitude and 4.7992° E longitude. The settlement lies in the southeastern part of France, in a region known for its diverse topography ranging from Alpine foothills to Mediterranean-influenced valleys.

**What type of administrative division is Saulce-sur-Rhône?**

Saulce-sur-Rhône is classified as 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 unit of local government in the country.

**What is known about the historical population of Saulce-sur-Rhône?**

Historical population data indicates fluctuations between 1,125 and 1,932 inhabitants across various census periods (years unspecified in source material). The population values recorded include: 1125, 1199, 1210, 1443, 1613, 1641, 1792, 1832, 1838, 1844, 1848, 1849, 1880, 1882, and 1892.

**What nearby geographical features define the area?**

The commune is defined by its location along the Rhône, one of Europe's major rivers originating in Switzerland and flowing through France before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Drôme department itself is named after the Drôme river, a tributary of the Rhône.

## Why It Matters

Saulce-sur-Rhône represents a traditional French communal settlement that embodies the historical administrative organization of rural France. As part of the Drôme department, it participates in the departmental governance system established during the French Revolution in 1790, making it part of an administrative framework that has persisted for over two centuries.

The commune's location along the Rhône river places it within a historically significant corridor that has facilitated trade, transportation, and cultural exchange between Switzerland and the Mediterranean region of France. The Rhône valley has been a vital pathway since antiquity, connecting northern Europe to southern destinations.

For those studying French administrative geography, Saulce-sur-Rhône demonstrates the persistence of the commune system established during the Revolution of 1789, which created a uniform structure of local governance across France. The commune system remains the foundation of French local administration today, with over 35,000 communes throughout the country.

The settlement's inclusion in both the arrondissement of Valence and the arrondissement of Nyons reflects the complex administrative relationships within French departmental organization, where communes may have historical or practical connections to multiple administrative centers.

## Notable For

- **Rhône River Location**: Positioned along one of Europe's most significant rivers, which has shaped regional commerce and geography
- **Historical Administrative Continuity**: Part of the Drôme department since its creation in 1790 during the French Revolution
- **Dual Arrondissement Association**: Connected to both the arrondissement of Valence and the arrondissement of Nyons
- **Historic Commune Status**: Operating under the French commune system established in 1789
- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Drôme, a department named after the Drôme river tributary of the Rhône

## Body

### Geography and Location

Saulce-sur-Rhône is strategically positioned at latitude 44.703611111111° N and longitude 4.7991666666667° E, placing it in the southeastern region of France. The commune derives its name from its position along the Rhône river, one of the major waterways of Western Europe originating in Switzerland and flowing through French territory to the Mediterranean Sea.

The settlement sits within the Drôme department, which itself is named after the Drôme river, a tributary of the Rhône. This geographical relationship places Saulce-sur-Rhône within the broader Rhône river basin, an area that has been significant for transportation, agriculture, and settlement since ancient times.

### Administrative Structure

Saulce-sur-Rhône operates as a commune, which represents the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The French commune system was formalized during the Revolution of 1789, creating a uniform structure that replaced the previous feudal and provincial divisions. Today, France contains approximately 35,000 communes, each serving as a fundamental unit of local government with its own mayor and municipal council.

The commune falls under the Drôme department, which was established on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into departments during the early Revolutionary period. Drôme is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of eighteen administrative regions in contemporary France.

In terms of arrondissement organization, Saulce-sur-Rhône is associated with the arrondissement of Valence, which serves as an administrative intermediate level between the department and communes. The commune also maintains connections to the arrondissement of Nyons, reflecting the complex administrative relationships that exist within French departmental organization.

### Historical Context

The commune's historical population data reveals fluctuations between approximately 1,100 and 1,900 inhabitants across various census periods. These population figures, spanning from the late 18th century through the late 19th century, indicate a settlement of modest but stable size typical of rural French communes in the Rhône valley region.

The establishment of the commune as an administrative unit in 1789 marked a significant transformation in French local governance, replacing the previous system of parishes, seneschals, and provinces with a rationalized, uniform administrative structure based on rational boundaries rather than historical territories.

### Regional Context

The Drôme department, where Saulce-sur-Rhône is located, encompasses diverse terrain ranging from Alpine foothills to Mediterranean-influenced lowlands. The department is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of France's largest administrative regions, known for its economic diversity, natural beauty, and historical significance.

The Rhône river has served as a vital transportation corridor throughout European history, connecting the interior of France to the Mediterranean ports and facilitating trade between northern and southern Europe. Settlements along the Rhône, including Saulce-sur-Rhône, have benefited from this strategic position while also facing the challenges of river management and flood control.

### Local Identity

The commune is known by several names and spellings, including Saulce-sur-Rhône (official), Saussa, and Sauça. These variations reflect the linguistic and historical development of place names in the region, where local dialects and historical documents have produced multiple forms of settlement names.

The commune maintains a web presence through its official website at http://www.saulce.com, providing information about local services, governance, and community activities. This digital presence represents the modern continuation of communal administration that began with the establishment of the municipality system in 1789.

### Relationship to Surrounding Entities

Saulce-sur-Rhône exists within a hierarchy of geographical and administrative relationships. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with deep historical roots extending 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 and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

At the departmental level, Drôme represents an administrative unit created during the French Revolution, named after the Drôme river that flows through the region. The department encompasses numerous communes, each operating as an independent unit of local administration while remaining subject to departmental and regional governance frameworks.

The Rhône river itself represents a significant geographical feature connecting Switzerland and France, serving as a natural boundary, transportation route, and resource for the communities along its banks, including Saulce-sur-Rhône.

## References

1. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/V---0000)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
10. Populations légales 2016
11. Populations légales 2017
12. Populations légales 2018
13. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
14. Populations légales 2019
15. Populations légales 2020
16. Populations légales 2021
17. Populations de référence 2022
18. Populations de référence 2023
19. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
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)