Hirson

For the surname, see Hirson (surname).

Hirson
Coat of arms
Hirson
Location within Picardy region Hirson
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardy
Department	Aisne
Arrondissement	Vervins
Canton	Hirson
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes du Pays des Trois Rivières
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Jean-Jacques Thomas
Area1	33.77 km2 (13.04 sq mi)
Population (2012)2	9,348
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	02381 / 02500
Elevation	157–268 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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Hirson is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.

Geography

Location

Hirson situation among the municipalities of the Aisne

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: Eparcy, Buire, Neuve-Maison, Mondrepuis, Anor (Nord), Momignies (Belgium), Saint-Michel, Bucilly.

History

As of 1911, 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.

The town is served by the Fives-Hirson railway.

Population

The inhabitants of the town are called Hirsonnais.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1793	2,023	—
1800	2,144	+6.0%
1806	2,061	−3.9%
1821	2,231	+8.2%
1831	2,718	+21.8%
1836	2,880	+6.0%
1841	3,005	+4.3%
1846	3,140	+4.5%
1851	3,212	+2.3%
1856	3,203	−0.3%
1861	3,224	+0.7%
1866	3,334	+3.4%
1872	3,951	+18.5%
1876	4,445	+12.5%
1881	4,809	+8.2%
1886	5,743	+19.4%
1891	6,294	+9.6%
1896	6,632	+5.4%
1901	7,461	+12.5%
1906	8,541	+14.5%
1911	9,638	+12.8%
1921	9,759	+1.3%
1926	11,344	+16.2%
1931	11,403	+0.5%
1936	11,203	−1.8%
1946	10,462	−6.6%
1954	11,134	+6.4%
1962	11,715	+5.2%
1968	11,858	+1.2%
1975	11,986	+1.1%
1982	11,348	−5.3%
1990	10,173	−10.4%
1999	10,327	+1.5%
2008	9,393	−9.0%
2012	9,348	−0.5%

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

References

• INSEE