Racquinghem

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Racquinghem
Racquinghem is located in France
Racquinghem
Racquinghem
<templatestyles src="Template:Hidden begin/styles.css"/>
Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region
Racquinghem is located in Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Racquinghem
Racquinghem
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country France
Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy
Department Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement Saint-Omer
Canton Aire-sur-la-Lys
Intercommunality Pays d'Aire
Government
 • Mayor Idzik Bernard
Area1 5.32 km2 (2.05 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 2,278
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 62684 / 62120
Elevation 20–68 m (66–223 ft)
(avg. 41 m or 135 ft)
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.

Racquinghem is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.

Geography

A large village some 6 miles (9 km) southeast of Saint-Omer, on the N43 road, located on the banks of the Noeufossé canal, the border between the department of Nord and the Pas de Calais.

The commune is close to the eastern boundary of the Helfaut plateau, a remarkable geological and ecological area, not typical of the region, which now hosts the Helfaut Nature Reserve. Its flora comprises both dry and wet heathland and some protected fauna, mostly amphibians.

History

The area has been populated since before Roman times, as testified by artefacts discovered in the commune. The name is probably derived from Rikiwulfinga-haim, referring to the occupation by the Viking Rikiwulf in 880, who also settled nearby Reclinghem.

Various wars have been waged around the town, including the war of 1046 to 1056 between Baldwin V, Count of Flanders (the Pious) and Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, one battle of which was fought between Arques and Aire-sur-la-Lys. An artificial border was created on this occasion by digging a defensive canal called the Neufe-Fosse, which eventually became the Noeufossé canal.

Population

Population history
1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006
919 976 1,219 1,816 2,368 2,334 2,278
Census count starting from 1962: Population without duplicates

Places of interest

  • The church of Notre-Dame, dating from the nineteenth century.
  • The Château de Bambecque.

See also

References

External links

<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>