| Auchel | ||
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 Auchel
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Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
Auchel
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| Coordinates: 50°30′31″N 2°28′28″E / 50.5086°N 2.4744°ECoordinates: 50°30′31″N 2°28′28″E / 50.5086°N 2.4744°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Nord-Pas-de-Calais | |
| Department | Pas-de-Calais | |
| Arrondissement | Béthune | |
| Canton | Auchel | |
| Intercommunality | Artois | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Richard Jarrett | |
| Area1 | 6 km2 (2 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012)2 | 10,991 | |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 62048 / 62260 | |
| Elevation | 68–157 m (223–515 ft) (avg. 99 m or 325 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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Auchel is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France.
Contents
Geography[edit]
An ex-mining town, nowadays a light industrial & farming commune, situated 8 miles (12.9 km) southwest of Béthune and 34 miles (54.7 km) southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D183 and the D183E roads.
History[edit]
Following the discovery of coal deposits in the area in 1851, the town grew as the demand for coal increased in France. This old mining town had close to 15,000 inhabitants in the 1950s.
The coal recession in the late 1960s lead to a constant decline in population, despite the efforts of the municipality to attract and keep people here during and after the recession.
Population[edit]
The inhabitants are called Auchellois.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1962 | 13,770 | — |
| 1968 | 14,091 | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 13,329 | −5.4% |
| 1982 | 12,535 | −6.0% |
| 1990 | 11,813 | −5.8% |
| 1999 | 11,392 | −3.6% |
| 2009 | 11,204 | −1.7% |
Sights[edit]
- The church of St. Martin, dating from the sixteenth century.
- A museum about coal mining.
International relations[edit]
Auchel is twinned with:
West Malling, in the county of Kent, England.
Iserlohn, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Personalities[edit]
Auchel is the birthplace of:
- Augustin Lesage, French spiritualist artist. Lesage is one of the most fascinating figures associated with Art Brut
- Fred Personne, actor
- Xavier Beauvois, actor, director and screenwriter.
- Pierre Laigle, football player
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- The Communauté d'agglomération de l'Artois regional website (French)
- Auchel on the Quid website (French)
- An history of Auchel (French)
- Harmonie municipale website (French)
- Auchel town hall website (French)
- Article on Auchel monument aux morts (English)