Definition
Famars is a commune in the Nord department of the Hauts‑de‑France region in northern France.
Overview
Located at coordinates 50°19′ N 3°31′ E, Famars lies within the arrondissement of Valenciennes and the canton of Aulnoy‑lez‑Valenciennes. It is part of the intercommunal structure CA Valenciennes Métropole. The commune covers an area of 14.73 km² (1.83 sq mi) and, as of the 2023 census, has a population of 2,474 inhabitants, yielding a density of roughly 523 persons per km². The local government is headed by Mayor Véronique Dupire, whose term runs from 2020 to 2026. The elevation ranges from 36 m to 87 m above sea level, averaging around 72 m.
Etymology/Origin
The precise linguistic origin of the name “Famars” is not documented in readily available scholarly sources. Consequently, accurate information about its etymology is not confirmed.
Characteristics
- Demography: The population has fluctuated over recent decades, growing from 1,132 in 1968 to a peak of 2,517 in 2017 before a slight decline to 2,474 in 2023.
- Heraldry: The commune’s coat of arms is blazoned “Sable billetty, a lion Or, armed, langued and crowned argent.”
- Historical significance: Famars was the site of the Battle of Famars in 1793, an early engagement of the French Revolutionary Wars.
- Infrastructure: The town is served by a tramway line connecting it to the surrounding urban area of Valenciennes.
- Administrative identifiers: INSEE code 59221 and postal code 59300.
Related Topics
- Communes of the Nord department
- Battle of Famars (1793)
- Valenciennes Métropole (intercommunal structure)
- Hauts‑de‑France region
- French local government and administrative divisions