# Thélus > commune in Pas-de-Calais, France **Wikidata**: [Q1022602](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1022602) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thélus) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/th-lus ## Summary Thélus is a commune located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. Situated at coordinates 50.355°N latitude and 2.8006°E longitude, Thélus is part of the canton of Vimy and the arrondissement of Arras, and belongs to the Communauté urbaine d'Arras urban community. The village is notable for having received the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its suffering during World War I. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, northern France - **Coordinates**: 50.355°N, 2.8005555555556°E - **Administrative divisions**: Canton of Vimy, Arrondissement of Arras - **Intercommunal structure**: Communauté urbaine d'Arras (since January 1, 2013) - **Country**: France - **Website**: http://www.commune-thelus.fr - **Population**: Approximately 1,300 residents (varying between 1,204 and 1,310 across recent census years) - **Wikipedia title**: Thélus - **Wikidata description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France - **Sitelink count**: 43 - **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (awarded April 2, 1915) - **Department inception**: Pas-de-Calais established March 4, 1790 - **Commune of France type**: Territorial subdivision established circa 1789 ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Thélus?** Thélus is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for administrative purposes in France. As a commune, it functions as a municipality with its own local government and council. **Which administrative regions and districts does Thélus belong to?** Thélus is located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region. It falls within the canton of Vimy and the arrondissement of Arras. The commune is also part of the Communauté urbaine d'Arras, an urban community of municipalities that was established on January 1, 2013. **What recognition did Thélus receive for its role in World War I?** Thélus was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize towns and villages that suffered significant damage or casualties during World War I. This decoration acknowledges the village's ordeal during the conflict that took place on French soil. **What is the population of Thélus?** Thélus has a population of approximately 1,300 residents. Census data shows figures ranging from 1,204 to 1,310 across recent recording periods, indicating a relatively stable small rural community in northern France. **What is the geographical position of Thélus?** Thélus is situated at latitude 50.355°N and longitude 2.8005555555556°E, placing it in the northernmost part of France near the Belgian border. The commune lies in a region that saw significant historical military activity during both World Wars. ## Why It Matters Thélus matters as a representative example of the small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial administration. While numerically small, these communes collectively define the character of the French countryside and maintain local traditions, agricultural heritage, and community structures that have persisted for centuries. The village's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 places it among the communities that bore direct witness to some of the most intense fighting of World War I. The Pas-de-Calais region was the site of major battles, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and many communes in the area were either destroyed or severely damaged during the conflict. The recognition with this military decoration signifies that Thélus contributed to the war effort and suffered proportionally to its size. Today, as part of the Communauté urbaine d'Arras, Thélus participates in intercommunal cooperation that allows smaller municipalities to share resources, coordinate planning, and maintain services that would be difficult to sustain independently. This administrative structure reflects the French approach to balancing local autonomy with regional efficiency. The commune also represents the ongoing importance of rural communities in France's social and cultural fabric. With a population around 1,300, Thélus maintains the communal identity, local governance, and connection to the land that has characterized French village life since the establishment of communes following the French Revolution. ## Notable For - **World War I recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for suffering during the Great War - **Strategic location**: Situated near Vimy Ridge, a significant Canadian memorial site and World War I battlefield - **Intercommunal membership**: Part of the Communauté urbaine d'Arras, a cooperative of 46 municipalities - **Historical department**: Located in Pas-de-Calais, one of France's original departments established during the Revolution - **Official web presence**: Maintains a municipal website at commune-thelus.fr, indicating modern local governance ## Body ### Geography and Location Thélus is positioned at coordinates 50.355°N latitude and 2.8005555555556°E longitude in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. The commune lies in the historical region of Artois, which has been a contested territory between France and neighboring regions throughout European history. The village sits in relatively flat agricultural terrain typical of northern France's plains, though the broader region includes gently rolling hills. The commune's position near the former Western Front places it within a region that witnessed some of the most intense combat of World War I. The nearby Vimy Ridge, located within the same canton, became the site of a major battle in April 1917 and is now home to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, commemorating the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers during the war. ### Administrative Structure Thélus operates as a commune, the fundamental territorial collectivity in France. This status dates to the French Revolution, when communes were established in 1789 as replacements for the previous system of parishes and municipalities. As a commune, Thélus maintains its own mayor and municipal council, which handle local affairs including urban planning, municipal services, and community events. In administrative hierarchy, Thélus belongs to the canton of Vimy, which serves as an electoral district for certain provincial elections. The commune is further organized within the arrondissement of Arras, an administrative division that groups communes for coordination of state services and prefectural administration. Arras serves as the administrative center for this arrondissement. Since January 1, 2013, Thélus has been part of the Communauté urbaine d'Arras, an urban community (intercommunal structure) that brings together 46 municipalities in the Arras area. This cooperative body handles matters requiring coordination across municipal boundaries, including transportation, economic development, waste management, and spatial planning. The communauté urbaine has its headquarters in Arras and operates within the framework of French intercommunal law. ### Historical Significance The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 to Thélus represents the village's direct experience during World War I. This French military decoration, created on April 2, 1915, was awarded to towns and villages that suffered damage from enemy bombardment or that had residents who received military citations for acts of bravery during the war. The Pas-de-Calais department was among the most heavily affected regions during the conflict, lying directly along the Western Front where trench warfare created a stalemate that lasted for years. Many communes in the area were virtually destroyed during fighting, and the region saw some of the war's bloodiest battles, including the Battle of the Somme (partly in Pas-de-Calais), the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and numerous smaller engagements. The Croix de guerre awarded to Thélus serves as permanent recognition of this historical experience and the village's place in the broader narrative of French wartime sacrifice and resilience. ### Demographics and Community Thélus maintains a population of approximately 1,300 residents, placing it among the smaller communes in the Pas-de-Calais department. Population figures from various census years show numbers ranging between 1,204 and 1,310, suggesting relative stability in the community's size over recent decades. As a rural commune, Thélus maintains the traditional character of northern French village life, with agricultural activity, local commerce, and community institutions serving residents. The commune's small size allows for close-knit community relationships and local governance that directly involves residents in municipal decisions. ### Regional Context Thélus exists within a region of significant historical, cultural, and economic importance in France. Pas-de-Calais is one of France's original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department takes its name from the narrowest point of the English Channel (the "Pas de Calais," meaning "Passage of Calais"), which separates France from England. The arrondissement of Arras serves as the administrative organizing center for Thélus and numerous surrounding communes. Arras, the prefecture (administrative capital) of the arrondissement, is a historic city known for its belfry, baroque architecture, and role as a regional center for commerce, education, and administration. The Communauté urbaine d'Arras, to which Thélus belongs, represents modern intercommunal cooperation in France. Established in 2013, this urban community coordinates services and planning for the Arras metropolitan area, allowing smaller communes like Thélus to benefit from shared resources and coordinated regional development while maintaining their individual identities and local governance. ### Cultural and Institutional Life As a French commune, Thélus maintains municipal institutions including a mayor's office, municipal council, and various administrative services. The commune operates a website at http://www.commune-thelus.fr, providing residents and visitors with information about local services, community events, and municipal decisions. The commune participates in the French national system of administrative divisions, with its status as a "commune of France" (commune de France) being a fundamental category of territorial organization in the country. This system, established in 1789, creates approximately 35,000 communes across France, each serving as the basic unit of local government. ### Connection to Broader French Context Thélus exists within the larger framework of French territorial organization and regional identity. The commune's location in Hauts-de-France places it in one of France's 18 metropolitan regions, a designation that provides another layer of administrative coordination above the departmental level. The department of Pas-de-Calais, while no longer the primary administrative unit for most purposes, remains important for certain state functions and maintains its identity as a historical and cultural entity. The region's proximity to Belgium and the English Channel has influenced its history, economy, and cultural character, creating a border region with distinctive features. As part of the French Republic, Thélus participates in the national system of governance that includes municipalities, departments, regions, and national government. Citizens of Thélus vote in French presidential, parliamentary, and European elections, and contribute to the broader democratic life of the nation while also maintaining the specific local identity and governance of their commune. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 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 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)