Balan, Ardennes

Geography

Balan is located just east of Sedan and north-east of Bazeilles. Access to the commune is by the D8043A road from Sedan which continues south-east to Bazeilles. The D17 also passes through the town and continues east to Rubécourt-et-Lamécourt. The Route nationale N43 (E46) highway passes through the commune with the nearest exit being Exit just south-east of the commune. Much of the central area of the commune is urban with the northern part farmland and some forest.

The Meuse river forms the south-western border of the commune as it flows north through Sedan.

Neighbouring communes and villages

History

From 1560 to 1642 Balan was part of the Principality of Sedan.

Heraldry

Blazon:

Party per pale, first Azure a chevron of Or; second Argent, a fess of Gules charged with a mullet of Or between 2 martlets of Sable.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

;Mayors from 1995

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balanais or Balanaises in French.

|1793 |632 |1800 |646 |1806 |662 |1821 |811 |1831 |1068 |1836 |1196 |1841 |1115 |1846 |1245 |1851 |1274 |1866 |1510 |1872 |1545 |1876 |1736 |1881 |1676 |1886 |1693 |1891 |1606 |1896 |1496 |1901 |1458 |1906 |1432 |1911 |1400 |1921 |1299 |1926 |1335 |1931 |1351 |1936 |1410 |1946 |1214 |1954 |1344 |1962 |1518 |1968 |1461 |1975 |1419 |1982 |1376 |1990 |1568 |1999 |1612 |2007 |1653 |2012 |1591 |2017 |1618

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has several buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:

• The Bonhomme Spinning Mill (Now a Community Hall) (19th century)
• The Godchaux Weaving Mill (Now a Warehouse) (20th century)
• The Stackler Textile Works (Now a Business incubator) (19th century)
• The Bazaille Chard Plant (1906)

Notable people linked to the commune

• (1765-1832): French General of the Revolution and the Empire, died at Balan.
• Élisabeth Lion (1904-1988), French aviator, born at Balan.

References

References

1. (13 September 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
2. [http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html Balan, Ardennes in the Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom] {{webarchive. link. (December 10, 2014 {{in lang). fr
3. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balan,+France/@49.688683,4.964384,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47ea6f18e955ed8f:0x40a5fb99a3f7e00 Google Maps]
4. [http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/chercher.php List of Mayors of France] {{in lang. fr
5. [https://www.habitants.fr/ardennes-08 Le nom des habitants du 08 - Ardennes], habitants.fr
6. {{Cassini-Ehess. 2474. Balan
7. [https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-08043#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
8. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA08000321. IA08000321 Bonhomme Spinning Mill {{in lang. fr
9. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA08000322. IA08000322 Godchaux Weaving Mill {{in lang. fr
10. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA08000323. IA08000323 Stackler Textile Works {{in lang. fr
11. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée. IA08000324. IA08000324 Bazaille Chard Plant {{in lang. fr