# Senlecques

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q876068](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q876068)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlecques)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/senlecques

## Summary

Senlecques is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It sits within the arrondissement of Boulogne-sur-Mer and is situated at coordinates 50.646666666667°N latitude and 1.9355555555556°E longitude. As a French commune, Senlecques represents one of France's fundamental territorial subdivisions for municipalities, dating back to the revolutionary period of 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: Commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Wikipedia Title**: Senlecques
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France
- **Country**: France
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Boulogne-sur-Mer
- **Administrative Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789)
- **Coordinates**: 50.646666666667°N, 1.9355555555556°E
- **Population**: 264, 267, 269, 272, 281, 268, 262, 255, 251 (various census years)
- **Sitelink Count**: 43

## FAQs

**What region and department is Senlecques located in?**

Senlecques is located in the Pas-de-Calais department, which was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. The commune falls within the Hauts-de-France region in northern France and is part of the arrondissement of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

**What type of administrative area is Senlecques?**

Senlecques is classified as a commune of France, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in the French administrative system. French communes function as municipalities and date back to 1789, when they were established during the Revolution to replace the previous parochial system.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Senlecques?**

Senlecques is positioned at latitude 50.646666666667°N and longitude 1.9355555555556°E, placing it in the northern part of France near the English Channel coast.

**How does Senlecques relate to French administrative divisions?**

Senlecques sits within a hierarchical structure: France (the nation) → Hauts-de-France region → Pas-de-Calais department → arrondissement of Boulogne-sur-Mer → Senlecques commune. This places it in one of France's 18 administrative regions and within a department named after the famous mountain pass connecting France to the Low Countries.

**What is the population of Senlecques?**

The commune has recorded population figures of 264, 267, 269, 272, 281, 268, 262, 255, and 251 residents across various census years, indicating a small rural community typical of the agricultural regions in northern France.

## Why It Matters

Senlecques matters as a representative example of the thousands of communes that form the foundational administrative tissue of France. While small in population, these communes collectively constitute the basic unit of local governance in the French Republic, embodying the principle of decentralization that allows the country to function as both a unitary state and a locally responsive democracy. The commune system, established in 1789, represents one of the enduring legacies of the French Revolution and continues to serve as the primary point of contact between citizens and government for daily administrative matters.

The commune's location in Pas-de-Calais places it in a region of significant historical and strategic importance. This department has been a crossroads of European history, witnessing numerous conflicts and cultural exchanges due to its proximity to the English Channel and its position between France and neighboring Belgium. Understanding Senlecques requires recognizing how these small communes contribute to the broader social, economic, and cultural fabric of France, particularly in agricultural regions that maintain traditional French rural life while remaining connected to larger urban centers like Boulogne-sur-Mer.

## Notable For

- **Historical Administrative Continuity**: Senlecques represents the continuity of French municipal administration dating back to the revolutionary year of 1789, making it part of one of the oldest systems of local government in the modern world.

- **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, one of France's original 83 departments created in 1790, Senlecques is tied to the foundational administrative reorganization that replaced the old provinces of the Ancien Régime.

- **Channel Proximity**: The commune's position in the Boulogne-sur-Mer arrondissement places it within reach of the English Channel, connecting it to the historic maritime routes between France and Britain.

- **Rural Character**: With population figures in the 250-280 range across recent censuses, Senlecques exemplifies the small rural communes that dominate the French agricultural landscape, preserving traditional communities while participating in the modern French economy.

## Body

### Geography and Location

Senlecques is situated in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, within the Hauts-de-France region. The commune's precise coordinates place it at 50.646666666667°N latitude and 1.9355555555556°E longitude. This location positions the commune in a predominantly agricultural area of northern France, characterized by rolling farmland and proximity to the Channel coast. The arrondissement of Boulogne-sur-Mer, to which Senlecques belongs, encompasses coastal and inland communities that have historically depended on both maritime activities and agriculture.

### Administrative History and Structure

The commune system in France traces its origins to the revolutionary period. On December 14, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly passed legislation establishing communes as the basic territorial units of French administration, replacing the previous system of parishes and guilds. This reform aimed to create a uniform administrative structure based on rational, secular principles rather than the feudal arrangements of the Ancien Régime. Pas-de-Calais, established on March 4, 1790, was one of the original 83 departments created during this period of administrative revolution. The department took its name from the mountain pass (col) that had long served as a strategic route between France and the Low Countries, reflecting the region's importance as a corridor of European commerce and conflict.

### Demographics and Population Trends

Senlecques exemplifies the small rural communes that populate the French agricultural heartland. Population records show figures of 264, 267, 269, 272, 281, 268, 262, 255, and 251 across various census periods. These numbers indicate a relatively stable population with slight fluctuations typical of rural areas experiencing modest emigration to larger urban centers while maintaining a permanent community rooted in local agriculture and traditional rural occupations. The population size places Senlecques among the many communes in France with fewer than 500 residents, representing approximately 65% of all French communes fall into this category.

### Relationship to Higher Administrative Units

Senlecques participates in France's hierarchical administrative structure. At the base level, the commune serves as the fundamental unit of local governance. Several communes together form an arrondissement, and Senlecques belongs to the arrondissement of Boulogne-sur-Mer. This arrondissement itself contains multiple communes and serves as an intermediate administrative level between the commune and the department. The department of Pas-de-Calais, with its capital at Arras, provides the next level of administrative organization, while the region of Hauts-de-France encompasses multiple departments in northern France. This structure reflects France's blend of centralized state organization with local administrative autonomy.

### Cultural and Economic Context

The commune exists within a region characterized by strong agricultural traditions and historical connections to maritime activities. Pas-de-Calais has been shaped by its position on the Channel coast, serving as a point of passage between Britain and the continent throughout history. The area around Boulogne-sur-Mer has particularly strong fishing and maritime trade heritage, while the interior regions maintain agricultural economies focused on grain production and livestock farming. Senlecques, as a small rural commune, participates in this economic landscape while benefiting from proximity to the larger town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, which provides access to services, markets, and transportation connections.

### Administrative Significance

The commune in France serves functions that in other countries might be divided among multiple levels of government. French communes handle local urban planning, civil registration (births, marriages, deaths), local taxation, and maintenance of local roads and public spaces. Each commune has a mayor and a municipal council elected by residents, providing local democratic representation while operating within the framework of national laws and regulations. This system means that Senlecques, despite its small population, maintains the same fundamental administrative status and capabilities as major cities like Paris or Marseille, embodying the French principle of administrative equality across all territorial units.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. OpenStreetMap
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)