Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department

The 5 arrondissements of Charente-Maritime

There are 5 arrondissements in the Charente-Maritime department. The French departments, and in other countries, are divided into arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts (in some cases, as boroughs). The capital of an arrondissement is called a subprefecture.

If the prefecture (capital) of the department is in an arrondissement, that prefecture is the capital of the arrondissement, acting both as a prefecture and as a subprefecture.

Arrondissements are further divided into communes.

The 5 arrondissements of Charente-Maritime are:

Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime

INSEE code	Arrondissement	Capital	Population (2014)	Area (km²)	Density (Inh./km²)	Communes
171	Jonzac	Jonzac	56,973	1,529.9	37.2	129
172	Rochefort	Rochefort	187,843	1,527.5	123.0	82
173	La Rochelle	La Rochelle	210,151	817.7	257.0	58
174	Saintes	Saintes	128,786	1,546.5	83.3	89
175	Saint-Jean-d'Angély	Saint-Jean-d'Angély	53,336	1,442.2	37.0	111

History

Since its creation, the Charente-Maritime department has had some changes:

• 1790 : creation of the department, with the name Charente-Inférieure (changed in 1941 to the present Charente-Maritime), with seven districts: Marennes, Montlieu, Pons, Rochefort, La Rochelle, Saintes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély. The capital of the department Saintes alternating with La Rochelle and Saint-Jean-d'Angély but soon was changed and Saintes was kept as the only capital.
• 1800 : creation of the arrondissements: Jonzac, Marennes, Rochefort, La Rochelle, Saintes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Montlieu and Pons were left out but Jonzac was created.
• 1926 : the arrondissements of Marennes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were eliminated.
• 1943 : the Saint-Jean-d'Angély was made again an arrondissement.

Related pages

• List of arrondissements of France