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Manche

Coordinates: 49°03′N 01°15′E / 49.050°N 1.250°E / 49.050; 1.250
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For other uses, see Manche (disambiguation).
For the Spanish region, see La Mancha.
Manche
Department
From top down, left to right: Mont-Saint-Michel, Watchtowers in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, Islands of Chausey and Château de Gratot
Flag of Manche
Flag
Coat of arms of Manche
Coat of arms
Location of Manche in France
Location of Manche in France
Coordinates: 49°03′N 01°15′E / 49.050°N 1.250°E / 49.050; 1.250
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
PrefectureSaint-Lô
SubprefecturesAvranches
Cherbourg
Coutances
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilJean Morin[1] (DVD)
Area
1
 • Total5,951 km2 (2,298 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total495,508
 • Rank53rd
 • Density83/km2 (220/sq mi)
DemonymsManchois,
Manchots
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Department number50
Arrondissements4
Constituency4
Cantons27
Intercommunality8
Communes446
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Manche (/mɒ̃ʃ/, French pronunciation: [mɑ̃ʃ] ⓘ) is a coastal French département in Normandy, on the English Channel, which is known as La Manche, literally "the sleeve", in French. It had a population of 495,045 in 2019.[3]

History

Manche is one of the original 83 départements created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandie.

The first capital was Coutances until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô during the battle of Normandy following D-Day. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital.

Geography

Map of Cotentin peninsula

The department includes the Cotentin Peninsula down to the famous Mont St Michel; though of the off-shore Channel Islands only Chausey forms part of the territory of the department.

Manche borders the Normandy departments of Calvados to the east and Orne to the southeast. Mayenne, a department of the Pays de la Loire, is to the south-east, and Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany is to the south-west. The salient of this department is the longest in France. It also being the second longest salient in Europe, after Odessa Oblast in Ukraine.

The region is lush and green with sandy beaches, remaining very rural and farming oriented. The peninsula was originally joined as a single land mass to Cornwall and Dorset in England, meaning that the underlying geological strata of both countryside are very similar. Consequently there are substantial regional differences today in terms of flora and fauna, and farming practices have varied considerably between the UK and France. Flat marsh areas in the department are known for their bird watching. The region and around St Lo is also the horse capital of France, where the cooler climate compared to the south is ideal for breeding and training.

France's first EPR nuclear reactor is under construction at Flamanville near Cherbourg. Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2023.[4]

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Cherbourg-en-Cotentin; the prefecture Saint-Lô is the second-most populous. As of 2019, there are 6 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:[3]

Commune Population (2019)
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin 78,549
Saint-Lô 19,050
Granville 12,513
La Hague 11,173
Avranches 10,264
Carentan-les-Marais 10,052

Climate

The climate is oceanic, with relatively mild winters - temperatures can go below zero for a few days occasionally. Temperate summers, around 20 °C, can occasionally reach 35 °C in direct sunlight. Precipitation is substantial, and varies greatly by region, between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the southern central area. Highly localised, not life-threatening flash flooding has been experienced over the last few years in the spring period.

The west coast benefits from the Gulf stream's influence, allowing for the naturalization of Mediterranean and exotic plants like mimosas, palms, and agaves.

There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day. Sea temperatures can be very pleasant for swimming between June and October.

Demographics

Inhabitants of the department are called Manchots or Manchois.

Population development since 1801:

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1801530,631—    
1806581,429+1.85%
1821594,196+0.14%
1831591,284−0.05%
1841597,334+0.10%
1851600,882+0.06%
1861591,421−0.16%
1872544,776−0.74%
1881526,377−0.38%
1891513,815−0.24%
1901491,372−0.45%
1911476,119−0.31%
1921425,512−1.12%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1931433,473+0.19%
1936438,539+0.23%
1946435,468−0.07%
1954446,860+0.32%
1962446,878+0.00%
1968451,939+0.19%
1975451,662−0.01%
1982465,948+0.45%
1990479,636+0.36%
1999481,471+0.04%
2006492,565+0.33%
2011499,531+0.28%
2016498,362−0.05%
source:[5][6]

Politics

The president of the Departmental Council is Jean Morin, elected in July 2021.

Presidential elections 2nd round

Election Winning Candidate Party % 2nd Place Candidate Party %
2022 Emmanuel Macron LREM 59.61 Marine Le Pen FN 40.39
2017[7] Emmanuel Macron LREM 67.23 Marine Le Pen FN 32.77
2012 Nicolas Sarkozy UMP 50.10 François Hollande PS 49.90
2007 Nicolas Sarkozy UMP 56.17 Ségolène Royal PS 43.83
2002 Jacques Chirac RPR 85.31 Jean-Marie Le Pen FN 14.69

Current National Assembly Representatives

Constituency Member[8] Party
Manche's 1st constituency Philippe Gosselin The Republicans
Manche's 2nd constituency Bertrand Sorre La République En Marche!
Manche's 3rd constituency Stéphane Travert La République En Marche!
Manche's 4th constituency Sonia Krimi La République En Marche!

Sports

A neighborhood in Saint-André-de-l'Épine
  • Football: main clubs: AS Cherbourg, US Avranches, FC Saint-Lô, US Granville, CS Villedieu, FC Équeurdreville-Hainneville...
  • Cycling: the Tour de France has visited the department 21 times with stages ending at Cherbourg (16), Avranches (2), Granville (1), Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (1), and the Mont-Saint-Michel (1).
  • Sailing: the Solitaire du Figaro has come to Cherbourg several times.
  • Tennis: hosts the Challenger La Manche tournament.
  • Thai boxing: Villedieu-les-Poêles
  • Badminton: Two local clubs compete in the national championship (N3): St Hilaire du Harcouet and Hainneville.
  • Golf: course: Granville, Bréhal, Coutainville, Cherbourg, Centre Manche, Fontenay, Côte des Isles

Tourism

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 4 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Populations légales 2019: 50 Hérault, INSEE
  4. ^ Boselli, Muriel (12 January 2022). "EDF delays Flamanville start-up to end 2023 on weld issue". Montel.
  5. ^ "Historique de la Manche". Le SPLAF.
  6. ^ "Évolution et structure de la population en 2016". INSEE.
  7. ^ "Résultats élections: Manche". Le Monde.
  8. ^ Nationale, Assemblée. "Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français". Assemblée nationale.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manche.
Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Manche.
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