# Verlinghem

> commune in Nord, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1160264](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1160264)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verlinghem)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/verlinghem

## Summary

Verlinghem is a commune located in the Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, situated within the Lille metropolis. The municipality has a historical connection to World War I, having been awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for its wartime experiences. With a population of approximately 2,682 residents, Verlinghem functions as part of the canton of Quesnoy-sur-Deûle and the arrondissement of Lille.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Verlinghem is situated in the Nord department (inception: 1790-03-04) in the Hauts-de-France region
- **Administrative divisions**: Part of the canton of Quesnoy-sur-Deûle and the arrondissement of Lille
- **Metropolitan area**: Belongs to the Lille metropolis (inception: 1966-12-31)
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.681944444444, Longitude 2.9963888888889
- **Population**: Approximately 2,682 residents (most recent figure from provided data)
- **Historical population figures**: 2,303; 2,430; 2,501; 2,460; 2,475; 2,483; 2,607; 2,673; 2,678 (various years)
- **Official website**: https://verlinghem.fr/fr/
- **Aliases**: Everlingem, Verlingem
- **Wikidata description**: commune in Nord, France
- **Wikipedia title**: Verlinghem
- **Sitelink count**: 41
- **Award**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: 1915-04-02)
- **Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision, inception: 1789)

## FAQs

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

Verlinghem is located in the Nord department within the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The Nord department is one of the original French departments created during the French Revolution, established on March 4, 1790.

**What administrative structures does Verlinghem belong to?**

Verlinghem is part of the canton of Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, the arrondissement of Lille, and the Lille metropolis. The Lille metropolis was established on December 31, 1966, as an intercommunal structure coordinating regional development in northern France.

**What recognition did Verlinghem receive for its role in World War I?**

Verlinghem was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and suffering during World War I. This award indicates that the commune experienced significant events during the conflict.

**What is the population of Verlinghem?**

According to the most recent data provided, Verlinghem has a population of approximately 2,682 residents. Historical figures show population fluctuations between approximately 2,303 and 2,682 residents across various census periods.

**What is the website for Verlinghem?**

The official website of Verlinghem is https://verlinghem.fr/fr/, providing information about local municipal services, news, and community matters.

**What type of administrative division is a commune in France?**

A commune is the smallest territorial subdivision for administrative purposes in France, comparable to a municipality. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, and there are over 35,000 communes in France today.

## Why It Matters

Verlinghem matters as a representative example of the numerous small communes that form the administrative backbone of France. While not a major urban center, the commune plays an essential role in the daily lives of its residents and contributes to the broader social and economic fabric of the Lille metropolitan area. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies its historical significance during one of the most challenging periods in French history, when northern France was heavily affected by World War I combat and occupation.

The commune's location within the Lille metropolis places it within one of France's major metropolitan areas, which serves as an important economic, cultural, and political center for northern Europe. This proximity to Lille provides residents with access to urban amenities while maintaining a smaller, more community-oriented living environment. The commune's population of approximately 2,682 places it among the medium-sized communes in the Nord department, contributing to the demographic diversity of the region.

Verlinghem's existence as a distinct administrative entity since at least the modern commune system was established in 1789 demonstrates the continuity of local governance structures in France and the importance of decentralized administration in the French political system.

## Notable For

- **World War I Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for military valor and suffering during the First World War
- **Metropolitan Integration**: Part of the Lille metropolis, a significant metropolitan area in northern France
- **Historical Department**: Located in Nord, one of France's original departments created in 1790
- **Strategic Location**: Situated in the heart of French-Flemish border region with proximity to Belgium

## Body

### Geography and Location

Verlinghem is geographically positioned at coordinates 50.681944444444° latitude and 2.9963888888889° longitude, placing it in the northernmost region of France. The commune lies in the Nord department, which shares a border with Belgium and has historically been a contested territory between French and Flemish influences. The terrain and location made this region strategically significant during multiple conflicts, particularly World War I, when the Nord department saw extensive fighting and occupation.

### Administrative Structure

Verlinghem operates as a commune, which is the fundamental territorial collectivity in France. The commune system was institutionalized during the French Revolution in 1789, establishing the framework for local governance that persists today. Verlinghem is administratively organized within several layers of government:

The commune belongs to the canton of Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, which serves as the constituency for elections to the departmental council. It is also part of the arrondissement of Lille, an administrative division within the Nord department that coordinates regional services and governance. At the metropolitan level, Verlinghem is integrated into the Lille metropolis (Métropole de Lille), an intercommunal structure created on December 31, 1966, that coordinates economic development, transportation, urban planning, and other regional services across multiple municipalities in the Lille area.

The Nord department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial division of France into departments following the French Revolution. The department is part of the Hauts-de-France region, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy regions.

### Historical Significance

The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 to Verlinghem represents the commune's significance during World War I. This decoration was established by the French government on April 2, 1915, to recognize towns and villages that suffered damage during the war, as well as individuals and military units that demonstrated valor. The Nord department was heavily affected by the conflict, with much of the department occupied by German forces from 1914 to 1918. Many communes in the region received this recognition for their suffering and resilience during the war.

### Demographics and Population

Verlinghem has a population of approximately 2,682 residents according to the most recent data provided. The historical population figures show fluctuations between 2,303 and 2,682 residents across various census periods, indicating a generally stable but slowly growing commune. This population size is typical for rural communes in the Nord department, though the commune's proximity to Lille and integration into the metropolitan area may influence demographic trends.

### Local Infrastructure and Services

As a French commune, Verlinghem provides local municipal services to its residents, including administrative functions, public services, and local governance. The commune maintains an official website at https://verlinghem.fr/fr/, which serves as a communication channel for municipal information, community news, and public services.

### Regional Context

The Lille metropolis, of which Verlinghem is a part, is one of France's major metropolitan areas and serves as the principal urban center for northern France. The metropolis encompasses numerous communes around Lille and coordinates regional development initiatives, transportation networks, and economic planning. This metropolitan integration provides Verlinghem residents with access to the economic opportunities, cultural institutions, and transportation infrastructure of a major French city while maintaining the character of a smaller community.

The arrondissement of Lille serves as the administrative center for this region, coordinating state services and representing national government interests at the local level. The canton of Quesnoy-sur-Deûle, which includes Verlinghem, provides the framework for decentralized departmental governance and represents local interests in the Nord department's administrative structure.

### Cultural and Historical Heritage

The commune's recognition with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 forms an important part of its cultural heritage, commemorating the community's experience during the First World War. This award places Verlinghem among the numerous French communes that were affected by the conflict and demonstrates the broader historical significance of the Nord department during this period. The department saw some of the most intense fighting of the war, particularly during the Battle of the Somme and other major operations that shaped the conflict's outcome.

## 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. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [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)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File