Auchel (French pronunciation: [oʃɛl]; Picard: Auchez) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France.

Auchel
The mining memorial
The mining memorial
Location of Auchel
Map
Auchel is located in France
Auchel
Auchel
Auchel is located in Hauts-de-France
Auchel
Auchel
Coordinates: 50°30′31″N 2°28′28″E / 50.5086°N 2.4744°E / 50.5086; 2.4744
CountryFrance
RegionHauts-de-France
DepartmentPas-de-Calais
ArrondissementBéthune
CantonAuchel
IntercommunalityCA Béthune-Bruay, Artois-Lys Romane
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Phillibert Berrier[1]
Area
1
6 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
10,062
 • Density1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
62048 /62260
Elevation68–157 m (223–515 ft)
(avg. 99 m or 325 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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An ex-mining town, nowadays a light industrial & farming commune, situated 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Béthune and 34 miles (55 km) southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D183 and the D183E roads.

History

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Following the discovery of coal deposits in the area in 1851, the town grew as the demand for coal increased in France. This old mining town had close to 15,000 inhabitants in the 1950s.
The coal recession in the late 1960s lead to a constant decline in population, despite the efforts of the municipality to attract and keep people here during and after the recession.

Population

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The inhabitants are called Auchellois.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 14,091—    
1975 13,329−0.79%
1982 12,535−0.87%
1990 11,813−0.74%
1999 11,392−0.40%
2007 11,225−0.18%
2012 10,991−0.42%
2017 10,291−1.31%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights

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  • The church of St. Martin, dating from the sixteenth century.
  • A museum about coal mining.

International relations

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Auchel is twinned with:

Notable people

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Auchel is the birthplace of:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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