Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department explained

The 5 arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department are:^[1]

1. Arrondissement of Jonzac, (subprefecture: Jonzac) with 129 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 68,476 in 2021.
2. Arrondissement of Rochefort, (subprefecture: Rochefort) with 78 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 194,579 in 2021.
3. Arrondissement of La Rochelle, (prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department: La Rochelle) with 58 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 227,693 in 2021.
4. Arrondissement of Saintes, (subprefecture: Saintes) with 88 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 118,506 in 2021.
5. Arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély, (subprefecture: Saint-Jean-d'Angély) with 110 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 52,150 in 2021.

History

In 1800 the arrondissements of Saintes, Jonzac, Marennes, Rochefort, La Rochelle and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were established. La Rochelle replaced Saintes as prefecture in 1810. The arrondissements of Marennes and Saint-Jean-d'Angély were disbanded in 1926. The arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély was restored in 1943.^[2]

The borders of the arrondissements of Charente-Maritime were modified in January 2017:^[3]

• two communes from the arrondissement of Rochefort to the arrondissement of La Rochelle
• one commune from the arrondissement of La Rochelle to the arrondissement of Rochefort
• 17 communes from the arrondissement of Saintes to the arrondissement of Jonzac
• one commune from the arrondissement of Saintes to the arrondissement of Rochefort
• three communes from the arrondissement of Saint-Jean-d'Angély to the arrondissement of Rochefort

Notes and References

1. Web site: Populations légales 2021: 17 Charente-Maritime. December 2023. INSEE.
2. http://splaf.free.fr/17his.html Historique de la Charente-Maritime
3. Web site: Arrêté n° 16-542. 746-747. 2019-10-23.