# Zinswiller

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21508](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21508)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinswiller)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zinswiller

## Summary

Zinswiller is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. Situated at coordinates 48.92°N latitude and 7.590833°E longitude, the commune belongs to the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg and has a historical population that has declined from approximately 783 residents to 712 over recent decades. The commune operates under the administrative structure of France and is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Zinswiller
- **Alias**: Zinsweiler
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Region**: Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace)
- **Department**: Bas-Rhin (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg (inception: January 1, 2015)
- **Previous Arrondissement**: Haguenau (former)
- **Historical Region**: Unterelsaß (Central District of Elsaß-Lothringen in the German Empire, 1871-1918)
- **Commune Status**: Established December 31, 1992
- **Coordinates**: 48.92°N, 7.590833°E
- **Population Trends**: 783 → 774 → 769 → 758 → 748 → 737 → 725 → 722 → 712 (declining population over multiple census periods)
- **Website**: https://www.zinswiller.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Zinswiller
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Bas-Rhin, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 44

## FAQs

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

Zinswiller is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The commune system was established in France in 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local government.

**Which department and arrondissement does Zinswiller belong to?**

Zinswiller is located in the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, which was created on January 1, 2015, replacing the former arrondissement of Haguenau.

**What is the population of Zinswiller?**

Zinswiller has experienced a population decline over recent years, with recorded figures showing a decrease from approximately 783 residents to 712 residents across multiple census periods. The specific years for these population counts are not detailed in the source material.

**What historical context applies to Zinswiller's region?**

Zinswiller is situated in Alsace, a region that has a complex political history. The area known as Unterelsaß (Central District) was part of the German Empire's territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) from May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918, when it returned to French administration.

**What are Zinswiller's geographic coordinates?**

Zinswiller is located at latitude 48.92 degrees north and longitude 7.590833 degrees east, placing it in the northeastern portion of France near the German border.

## Why It Matters

Zinswiller represents the continued existence of small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial administration. As part of the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace, the commune participates in a region with a unique bilingual (French and German) cultural heritage and a complex historical legacy involving multiple transitions between French and German sovereignty. The commune's presence maintains the administrative infrastructure necessary for local governance, public services, and community organization in a historically significant border region. The declining population trend reflects broader demographic patterns in rural French communes, where younger residents often relocate to larger urban centers, making such communes important case studies for understanding rural depopulation and its effects on local governance.

## Notable For

- Historical connection to the German Empire's Alsace-Lorraine territory (1871-1918)
- Location in the Bas-Rhin department, one of the two departments comprising the European Collectivity of Alsace
- Part of the newly formed arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg (established 2015)
- Official website presence at https://www.zinswiller.com
- Position in a region with distinctive Franco-German cultural heritage

## Body

### Geography and Location

Zinswiller is situated in northeastern France in the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the Alsace region. The commune's precise location is at coordinates 48.92°N latitude and 7.590833°E longitude. This positioning places Zinswiller in close proximity to the German border, reflecting the historical connection between Alsace and Germanic-speaking regions. The commune lies within the administrative framework of the European Collectivity of Alsace, a unique territorial collectivity that was established to preserve and promote the specific cultural and linguistic heritage of the Alsace region.

### Administrative History

The commune of Zinswiller operates within the French administrative system that was fundamentally restructured during the French Revolution in 1789, when the commune system was first established. The Bas-Rhin department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments. Zinswiller's current administrative status was formally established on December 31, 1992, though the settlement itself predates this date considerably.

The commune is now part of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, which was created on January 1, 2015, as part of a broader administrative reorganization in Alsace. Prior to this, the commune belonged to the arrondissement of Haguenau, which was dissolved during the 2015 restructuring. This administrative change reflects ongoing efforts to optimize local governance structures in the Alsace region.

### Historical Context

The Alsace region, including the area around Zinswiller, has a complex political history involving multiple transitions between French and German control. The territory of Unterelsaß, which corresponds to the central district of the historical region, was part of the German Empire's territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) from May 20, 1871, following the Franco-Prussian War, until the end of World War I in 1918. During this period (1871-1918), the region was administered as a Bezirk (district) within the German Empire. After World War I, the territory returned to French control as part of the Treaty of Versailles.

This historical period left lasting cultural and linguistic impacts on the region, with Alsace maintaining distinctive traditions, including the Alsatian dialect of German. The region experienced another brief period of German control during World War II (1940-1944) before returning to permanent French administration afterward.

### Demographics and Population

Zinswiller has experienced a consistent population decline over recent decades, with recorded population figures showing a decrease from approximately 783 residents to 712 residents. The population figures provided (783.0, 774.0, 769.0, 758.0, 748.0, 737.0, 725.0, 722.0, 712.0) represent consecutive census periods, though the specific years are not identified in the source material. This demographic trend reflects a broader pattern of rural depopulation common throughout France, where smaller communes in rural areas experience population loss as residents, particularly young people, relocate to larger urban centers for employment and educational opportunities.

### Administrative Structure and Relationships

Zinswiller exists within a hierarchical administrative structure that includes multiple levels of governance:

- **Country**: France - a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union
- **Collectivity**: European Collectivity of Alsace - a territorial collectivity with specific cultural and linguistic recognition
- **Department**: Bas-Rhin - one of two departments in Alsace (the other being Haut-Rhin)
- **Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg - the administrative district containing Zinswiller since 2015
- **Commune**: Zinswiller - the lowest level of French territorial administration

The commune of France classification (established in 1789) represents the fundamental unit of local government in France, providing essential public services and maintaining local administrative records.

### Regional Significance

While Zinswiller is a small commune, it participates in the broader cultural and administrative identity of Alsace. The region is notable for its distinctive character, combining French and Germanic cultural elements, including the Alsatian language (a Germanic dialect). The European Collectivity of Alsace, established in 2013, provides the region with enhanced autonomy to preserve its unique heritage. Zinswiller's location in Bas-Rhin places it in the northern portion of Alsace, an area characterized by rolling hills, vineyards, and traditional half-timbered houses typical of the region.

### Local Infrastructure

Zinswiller maintains a municipal website (https://www.zinswiller.com), indicating the commune provides digital information services to its residents and visitors. The presence of an official website suggests the commune maintains administrative functions including local government services, community information, and municipal records management.

### Connection to Wikidata and Wikipedia

The commune has a presence on Wikidata (sitelink count: 44) and Wikipedia (wikipedia_title: Zinswiller), indicating moderate visibility in structured knowledge bases. The wikidata_description identifies Zinswiller simply as "commune in Bas-Rhin, France," reflecting its status as a standard French municipal administrative unit. The moderate sitelink count suggests the commune has some recognition in Wikimedia projects, though it remains a relatively small entity in global terms.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Populations légales 2016
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [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)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
22. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
23. museum-digital