Balan (French pronunciation: [balɑ̃]) is a commune in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region of northern France.
Balan | |
---|---|
War memorial and town hall | |
Coordinates: 49°41′23″N 4°57′40″E / 49.6897°N 4.9611°E | |
Country | France |
Region | Grand Est |
Department | Ardennes |
Arrondissement | Sedan |
Canton | Sedan-3 |
Intercommunality | CA Ardenne Métropole |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Alban Collinet[1] |
Area 1 | 4.65 km2 (1.80 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | 1,612 |
• Density | 350/km2 (900/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 08043 /08200 |
Elevation | 158 m (518 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
The commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.[3]
Geography
editBalan is located just east of Sedan and north-east of Bazeilles. Access to the commune is by the D8043A road from Sedan which continues south-east to Bazeilles. The D17 also passes through the town and continues east to Rubécourt-et-Lamécourt. The Route nationale N43 (E46) highway passes through the commune with the nearest exit being Exit 3 just south-east of the commune. Much of the central area of the commune is urban with the northern part farmland and some forest.[4]
The Meuse river forms the south-western border of the commune as it flows north through Sedan.
Neighbouring communes and villages
editHistory
editFrom 1560 to 1642 Balan was part of the Principality of Sedan.
Heraldry
editBlazon: Party per pale, first Azure a chevron of Or; second Argent, a fess of Gules charged with a mullet of Or between 2 martlets of Sable.
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Administration
editFrom | To | Name |
---|---|---|
1560 | 1574 | Robert de la Tour |
1574 | Jean Foulon | |
1727 | 1730 | Nicolas Gouveno |
1730 | 1738 | Noizet |
1738 | 1739 | Louis Halma |
1739 | 1757 | Jean Halma |
1757 | 1759 | Servais Godfroi |
1759 | 1767 | Henri Beuvart |
1767 | 1786 | Jean-Baptiste Thiéry |
1786 | 1790 | Claude Pierret |
1790 | 1802 | Gibou Valdory |
1802 | 1812 | Jacques Rognon |
1812 | 1816 | Branchu |
1816 | 1821 | de Bovier |
1821 | 1837 | Hourbette Malicet |
1837 | 1848 | Renard Maissin |
1848 | 1850 | Hourbette |
1850 | 1852 | Thiriet |
1852 | 1856 | Branchu |
1856 | 1867 | Lambert Plaisance |
1867 | 1875 | Martin Gourdet |
1875 | 1890 | Jean-Baptiste Somveille |
1890 | 1891 | Appolon Gombo |
1891 | 1895 | Onézime Crepel |
1895 | 1898 | Charles François Bonhomme |
1898 | Eugène Oudet | |
1913 | Emile Bonneville | |
1913 | Jules Michaux | |
1919 | André Bazeille | |
1934 | 1935 | Edouard Taltasse |
- Mayors from 1995
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
1995 | 2020 | André Drouard |
2020 | current | Alban Collinet |
Demography
editThe inhabitants of the commune are known as Balanais or Balanaises in French.[6]
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Source: EHESS[7] and INSEE[8] |
Culture and heritage
editCivil heritage
editThe commune has several buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:
Notable people linked to the commune
edit- Jean-Baptiste Herbin-Dessaux (1765-1832): French General of the Revolution and the Empire, died at Balan.
- Élisabeth Lion (1904-1988), French aviator, born at Balan.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
- ^ Balan, Ardennes in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom Archived December 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- ^ Google Maps
- ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
- ^ Le nom des habitants du 08 - Ardennes, habitants.fr
- ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Balan, EHESS (in French).
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA08000321 Bonhomme Spinning Mill (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA08000322 Godchaux Weaving Mill (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA08000323 Stackler Textile Works (in French)
- ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA08000324 Bazaille Chard Plant (in French)