# Vendin-le-Vieil

> commune in Pas-de-Calais, France

**Wikidata**: [Q852562](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q852562)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendin-le-Vieil)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vendin-le-vieil

## Summary
Vendin-le-Vieil is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France, located within the arrondissement of Lens. It is part of the Hauts-de-France region and has a recorded population of approximately 8,400 residents as of recent estimates.

## Key Facts
- Vendin-le-Vieil is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department, France.  
- It is located in the arrondissement of Lens, within the Hauts-de-France region.  
- The commune has geographic coordinates: latitude 50.473888888889, longitude 2.8661111111111.  
- Population figures over time: 7,905; 8,227; 8,747; 8,608; 8,543; 8,479; 8,419; 8,381; 8,596; 8,536.  
- Vendin-le-Vieil was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration for acts of bravery during World War I.  
- The official website of Vendin-le-Vieil is http://vendin-le-vieil.fr.  
- It is classified under the administrative category of "commune of France," established as part of the French municipal system in 1789.  
- The Pas-de-Calais department was created on March 4, 1790.  
- The arrondissement of Lens was established on January 12, 1962.  
- The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 was instituted on April 2, 1915.  
- Vendin-le-Vieil has a Wikipedia page titled "Vendin-le-Vieil" and a Wikidata description reading "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France."  
- The entity has 49 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects.

## FAQs
**What administrative region is Vendin-le-Vieil located in?**  
Vendin-le-Vieil is located in the Pas-de-Calais department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Lens.

**What is the population of Vendin-le-Vieil?**  
The population of Vendin-le-Vieil has fluctuated between 7,905 and 8,747 in recorded years, with the most recent figure at 8,536. It is a small to mid-sized commune by French standards.

**Has Vendin-le-Vieil received any national honors?**  
Yes, Vendin-le-Vieil was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration recognizing collective acts of bravery during World War I, particularly due to its strategic location and wartime sacrifices.

**What is the significance of the arrondissement of Lens in relation to Vendin-le-Vieil?**  
The arrondissement of Lens, established on January 12, 1962, serves as the administrative subdivision governing Vendin-le-Vieil. It is responsible for local state services, elections, and coordination of public administration in the area.

**What is the geographic location of Vendin-le-Vieil?**  
Vendin-le-Vieil is situated at coordinates 50.473888888889° N, 2.8661111111111° E in northern France. It lies within the historic coal-mining basin of Pas-de-Calais.

## Why It Matters
Vendin-le-Vieil holds historical and regional significance as a community deeply affected by the industrial and military upheavals of the 20th century. Its receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 underscores its role in World War I, reflecting the broader sacrifices made by northern French communes during the conflict. As part of the Pas-de-Calais department—a region historically central to France’s coal and manufacturing economy—the commune contributes to the cultural and socioeconomic fabric of the Hauts-de-France region. Its continuity as a functioning municipality since the establishment of the French commune system in 1789 highlights its enduring administrative presence within the national framework.

## Notable For
- Receiving the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for collective bravery during World War I.  
- Being part of the historically significant coal-mining area of Pas-de-Calais.  
- Maintaining a stable population trend within the range of 8,400–8,700 over recent decades.  
- Having an official digital presence via its municipal website, vendin-le-vieil.fr.  
- Its geographic positioning within the arrondissement of Lens, a key administrative and historical zone in northern France.

## Body

### Administrative Classification
Vendin-le-Vieil is a commune of France, a fundamental level of administrative division established during the French Revolution in 1789. As a commune, it operates under the decentralized governance structure of the French Republic, with local authority vested in a municipal council and mayor. It is situated in the department of Pas-de-Calais, which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the reorganization of France into departments. The department is located in the Hauts-de-France region, a modern administrative region formed in 2016 from the merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy.

### Geographic and Demographic Profile
The commune is located at geographic coordinates 50.473888888889° N, 2.8661111111111° E, placing it in the northern part of metropolitan France. It lies within the arrondissement of Lens, an administrative subdivision established on January 12, 1962, which groups multiple communes for state administrative purposes. The population of Vendin-le-Vieil has been recorded in multiple years as follows: 7,905; 8,227; 8,747; 8,608; 8,543; 8,479; 8,419; 8,381; 8,596; and 8,536. These figures indicate relative demographic stability with minor fluctuations, typical of small urbanized communes in post-industrial northern France.

### Historical Recognition
Vendin-le-Vieil was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to honor units and communities for acts of heroism during World War I. This recognition reflects the commune’s strategic location in a region heavily contested during the war, particularly due to its proximity to major battlefronts and industrial centers vital to the war effort. The award is a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of its population during one of the most devastating conflicts in European history.

### Digital and Informational Presence
The commune maintains an official website at http://vendin-le-vieil.fr, serving as a platform for municipal communication, public services, and community engagement. It is documented on Wikimedia projects under the Wikipedia title "Vendin-le-Vieil" and described in Wikidata as "commune in Pas-de-Calais, France." The entity has 49 sitelinks across various language editions of Wikipedia, indicating moderate international visibility and documentation within the global knowledge base ecosystem.

### Related Entities and Hierarchical Structure
Vendin-le-Vieil is part of a nested administrative hierarchy:
- **Country**: France, a semi-presidential republic with global influence and overseas territories.
- **Region**: Hauts-de-France, formed in 2016, encompassing northern France.
- **Department**: Pas-de-Calais (established March 4, 1790), historically significant for mining and industry.
- **Arrondissement**: Lens (established January 12, 1962), responsible for local state administration.
- **Commune**: Vendin-le-Vieil, the smallest level of administrative division in France, with its own elected municipal council.

This structure places Vendin-le-Vieil within a long-standing and well-defined system of French territorial organization, linking it to broader national and regional governance networks.

## 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)
23. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File