Acquin-Westbécourt (French pronunciation: [akɛ̃ wɛstbekuʁ]; Picard: Acuin-Boucourt) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.[3]

Acquin-Westbécourt
A general view of Acquin-Westbécourt
A general view of Acquin-Westbécourt
Coat of arms of Acquin-Westbécourt
Location of Acquin-Westbécourt
Map
Acquin-Westbécourt is located in France
Acquin-Westbécourt
Acquin-Westbécourt
Acquin-Westbécourt is located in Hauts-de-France
Acquin-Westbécourt
Acquin-Westbécourt
Coordinates: 50°43′41″N 2°05′24″E / 50.7281°N 2.09°E / 50.7281; 2.09
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentPas-de-Calais
ArrondissementSaint-Omer
CantonLumbres
IntercommunalityPays de Lumbres
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Mathieu Pruvost[1]
Area
1
14.29 km2 (5.52 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
795
 • Density56/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
62008 /62380
Elevation60–178 m (197–584 ft)
(avg. 80 m or 260 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

edit

A village, located 9 miles (15 km) west of Saint-Omer, at the D225 and D208 crossroads. Seven hamlets are found within the commune: Le val d'Acquin, Lauwerdal, Nordal, Le Poovre, Westbécourt, Merzoil et and La Wattine. A large national nature reserve has been created in the area, of great ecological interest.[4]

History

edit

First mentioned by the name of "Atcona" in the 10th century. Acquin and Westbécourt were joined as a single commune on 1 January 1974.

Population

edit
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 639—    
1975 571−1.59%
1982 559−0.30%
1990 617+1.24%
1999 625+0.14%
2007 665+0.78%
2012 713+1.40%
2017 833+3.16%
Source: INSEE[5]

Sights

edit
  • The church of St.Pétronille, dating from the sixteenth century.
  • The church of St. Eloi at Westbécourt, dating from the Middle Ages.

Transport

edit

The Chemin de fer d'Anvin à Calais opened a railway station at Acquin in 1881.[6] The railway was closed in 1955.[7]

See also

edit

Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department

References

edit
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ INSEE commune file
  4. ^ http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000018217161&dateTexte Décret n° 2008-219 du 5 mars 2008 créant la réserve naturelle nationale de la grotte et des pelouses d'Acquin-Westbécourt et des coteaux de Wavrans-sur-l'Aa (Pas-de-Calais)
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  6. ^ Farebrother & Farebrother 2008, p. 31.
  7. ^ Farebrother & Farebrother 2008, pp. 281–82.

Sources

edit
  • Farebrother, Martin J B; Farebrother, Joan S (2008). Tortillards of Artois. Usk: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-679-5.