Hirson

Commune in Hauts-de-France, France

(2020–2026) Jean-Jacques Thomas^[1]Area33.77 km² (13.04 sq mi)Population8,662 • Density260/km² (660/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation157–268 m (515–879 ft)
(avg. 189 m or 620 ft)¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Hirson (French pronunciation: [iʁsɔ̃]; Picard: Urchon) is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.

Geography

Location

Hirson is adjacent to Belgium. It is located in the northeastern department of Aisne, near the departments of Nord and Ardennes. Hirson is part of Thiérache. It is located near two large forests, the forest of Hirson and the forest of Saint-Michel.

Hydrography

Hirson is watered by the Oise and Gland. The various streams of the town: stream of Anor, stream of Brugnon, stream of La Marquette, stream of Les Marais, stream of Blangy, stream of Le Catelet, stream of Le Rie De Bon Feu, stream of Four Matot.

Geology and Relief

The culmination of Hirson is located 268 meters above sea level. The lowest altitude is 157 meters above sea level.

Neighboring municipalities

Hirson is bordered by eight municipalities: Éparcy, Buire, Neuve-Maison, Mondrepuis, Anor (Nord), Momignies (Belgium), Saint-Michel, Bucilly.

History

As of the early 20th century, there was a permanent fort and two artillery batteries near the railway junction. Also at that time, the town was engaged in the manufacture of glass bottles, tiles and iron and tin goods, as well as wool-spinning and brewing.^[3]

The town is served by the Fives-Hirson railway.

Population

The inhabitants of the town are called Hirsonnais.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 2,023 —     1800 2,144 +0.83% 1806 2,061 −0.66% 1821 2,231 +0.53% 1831 2,718 +1.99% 1836 2,880 +1.16% 1841 3,005 +0.85% 1846 3,140 +0.88% 1851 3,212 +0.45% 1856 3,203 −0.06% 1861 3,224 +0.13% 1866 3,334 +0.67% 1872 3,951 +2.87% 1876 4,445 +2.99% 1881 4,809 +1.59% 1886 5,743 +3.61% 1891 6,294 +1.85% 1896 6,632 +1.05%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 7,461 +2.38% 1906 8,541 +2.74% 1911 9,638 +2.45% 1921 9,759 +0.12% 1926 11,344 +3.06% 1931 11,403 +0.10% 1936 11,203 −0.35% 1946 10,462 −0.68% 1954 11,134 +0.78% 1962 11,715 +0.64% 1968 11,858 +0.20% 1975 11,986 +0.15% 1982 11,348 −0.78% 1990 10,173 −1.36% 1999 10,337 +0.18% 2007 9,473 −1.09% 2012 9,348 −0.27% 2017 8,813 −1.17%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968-2017)[5]

Monuments

Churches

• Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, built in 1908.
• Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus, built around 1930; owned by the pianist Kit Armstrong since 2012.

See also

• Communes of the Aisne department
• Alfred Desmasures

References