# Soultzmatt > commune in Haut-Rhin, France **Wikidata**: [Q263758](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q263758) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soultzmatt) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/soultzmatt ## Summary Soultzmatt is a commune located in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region in northeastern France. Situated at coordinates 47.961666666667°N latitude and 7.2380555555556°E longitude, the commune lies within the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller and historically belonged to the canton of Rouffach until March 2015. The commune is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace and serves as a local administrative unit within the French territorial system. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Soultzmatt (also known by the alias Sulzmatt) - **Country**: France - **Region**: Alsace - **Department**: Haut-Rhin - **Administrative Status**: Commune of France (inception: 1789) - **Arrondissement**: Thann-Guebwiller (inception: January 1, 2015) - **Former Arrondissement**: Guebwiller - **Historical Canton**: Rouffach (until March 2015) - **Historical Context**: Part of Upper Alsace, which was the southern district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) in the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 - **Coordinates**: Latitude 47.961666666667°N, Longitude 7.2380555555556°E - **Population Data**: 2,359; 2,377; 2,471; 2,411; 2,402; 2,392; 2,379; 2,432; 2,466; 2,487 (multiple census years) - **Website**: http://www.ville-soultzmatt.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Soultzmatt - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Haut-Rhin, France - **Sitelink Count**: 42 ## FAQs **What region and department is Soultzmatt located in?** Soultzmatt is located in the Alsace region of northeastern France, specifically in the Haut-Rhin department. The commune is situated within the European Collectivity of Alsace, which has its own distinct cultural and linguistic heritage. **What administrative changes has Soultzmatt experienced?** Soultzmatt was historically part of the canton of Rouffach until March 2015. Following French administrative reorganization, the commune became part of the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller on January 1, 2015. Prior to this, it belonged to the arrondissement of Guebwiller, which is now a former administrative division. **What is the historical context of Soultzmatt's region?** The Alsace region, where Soultzmatt is located, has a complex historical background. Upper Alsace (the southern district) was part of the German Empire's territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) from 1871 to 1918. The area has switched between French and German control multiple times throughout history, contributing to its unique bilingual (French and Alsatian) cultural identity. **What are the geographical coordinates of Soultzmatt?** Soultzmatt is situated at latitude 47.961666666667°N and longitude 7.2380555555556°E, placing it in the southern part of the Haut-Rhin department near the Vosges mountains. **How can I find more information about Soultzmatt?** The official commune website is available at http://www.ville-soultzmatt.fr, providing local government information and community details. ## Why It Matters Soultzmatt represents the administrative structure of rural France and embodies the historical complexity of the Alsace region. As a commune in Haut-Rhin, it participates in the decentralized administrative system of France, serving as the most local level of government that handles daily municipal affairs, local services, and community organization. The commune's location in Alsace gives it particular significance due to the region's unique status within France. Alsace represents a distinct cultural and linguistic area where French and German influences have merged over centuries, creating a unique heritage. The region's history of alternating between French and German sovereignty—most notably from 1871 to 1918 when it was part of the German Empire—has shaped its distinctive identity. From an administrative perspective, Soultzmatt's participation in the arrondissement system demonstrates how France organizes local governance, with communes forming the foundational tier of territorial administration. The changes to its administrative affiliations, particularly the 2015 reorganization that placed it in the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, reflect ongoing efforts to optimize French local government structure. The commune's population figures, ranging from approximately 2,359 to 2,487 residents across recorded years, illustrate the stable demographic profile typical of rural Alsace communes, where communities maintain consistent populations while benefiting from proximity to larger urban centers in the region. ## Notable For - **Historical Territory**: Part of Upper Alsace during the German Empire period (1871-1918) - **Administrative Evolution**: Experienced French administrative reorganization in 2015 with the creation of the new arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller - **Bilingual Heritage**: Located in the Alsace region known for its Franco-German bilingual cultural identity - **Local Governance**: Serves as the administrative center for its municipal community with its own local government website - **Geographic Position**: Situated in the southern part of Haut-Rhin near the Vosges mountain range ## Body ### Geography and Location Soultzmatt is positioned at coordinates 47.961666666667°N latitude and 7.2380555555556°E longitude in the northeastern French department of Haut-Rhin. The commune lies within the Alsace region, a territory characterized by its position between France and Germany, which has resulted in a distinctive blend of cultural influences. The Vosges mountains nearby contribute to the region's topography and have historically influenced local agriculture and economy. ### Administrative History The commune of Soultzmatt operates within the French territorial system that was formalized in 1789 with the creation of the commune as an administrative division. As part of the Haut-Rhin department, the commune falls under the jurisdiction of the European Collectivity of Alsace, which was established to recognize the region's distinct cultural and linguistic identity. Prior to March 2015, Soultzmatt was part of the canton of Rouffach. The 2015 administrative reorganization in France led to the dissolution of the former arrondissement of Guebwiller and the creation of the new arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, to which Soultzmatt was assigned. This change reflects broader trends in French administrative reorganization aimed at optimizing local government efficiency. ### Historical Context The Alsace region, including Soultzmatt, has a complex political history. Upper Alsace, the southern district where Soultzmatt is located, was part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918. Following the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the territory returned to French control. This historical period of German rule left lasting impacts on the region's architecture, culture, and administrative structures. The commune's position within what was then Germany meant that it experienced the imperial German administrative system before returning to French governance after World War I. ### Demographics and Population The population data for Soultzmatt shows figures of 2,359; 2,377; 2,471; 2,411; 2,402; 2,392; 2,379; 2,432; 2,466; and 2,487 across multiple census years. These numbers indicate a relatively stable population size typical of rural communes in the Alsace region, with slight fluctuations that may reflect natural population changes, migration patterns, and local economic conditions. ### Local Government and Services As a commune in France, Soultzmatt operates under the municipal government system headed by a mayor and municipal council. The commune maintains its own local government website at http://www.ville-soultzmatt.fr, providing residents and visitors with information about local services, municipal decisions, community events, and administrative procedures. The commune provides essential local services including municipal administration, local infrastructure maintenance, civil registration, and community facilities. These functions represent the fundamental level of public administration in France, where communes handle matters closest to citizens' daily lives. ### Regional Significance Within the broader context of the Haut-Rhin department and the Alsace region, Soultzmatt contributes to the demographic and administrative fabric of this distinctive French territory. The department of Haut-Rhin, established on March 4, 1790, is one of the original departments created during the French Revolution and has maintained its administrative significance through various political changes. The European Collectivity of Alsace, established in 2021, represents a recent evolution in the region's governance, providing Alsace with enhanced autonomy to preserve and promote its cultural heritage, including the Alsatian language and traditions. Soultzmatt, as part of this collectivity, participates in regional initiatives aimed at maintaining the unique Alsatian identity. ### Cultural and Linguistic Identity The Alsace region is known for its bilingual character, where French is the official language but Alsatian (a Germanic dialect) is widely spoken and preserved as part of the region's intangible cultural heritage. Communes like Soultzmatt contribute to this linguistic diversity, maintaining connections to both French and Germanic cultural traditions. ### External Connections Soultzmatt maintains connections to broader knowledge systems through its Wikipedia presence (sitelink count: 42) and Wikidata entry, which describes it as a commune in Haut-Rhin, France. These digital knowledge representations link the commune to global information networks and facilitate research and reference to the locality. The commune's official website serves as a bridge between local governance and the digital world, providing accessible information about municipal affairs to both residents and external researchers interested in the commune's administration and community life. ## References 1. CD Atlas of France 2. BnF authorities 3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 4. INSEE code 5. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q780983) 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 2019 14. Populations légales 2020 15. Populations légales 2021 16. Populations de référence 2022 17. Populations de référence 2023 18. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 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)