Racquinghem

Racquinghem
Racquinghem
Location within Nord-Pas-de-Calais region  Racquinghem
Coordinates: 50°41′38″N 2°21′31″E / 50.6939°N 2.3586°ECoordinates: 50°41′38″N 2°21′31″E / 50.6939°N 2.3586°E
Country	France
Region	Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie
Department	Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement	Saint-Omer
Canton	Aire-sur-la-Lys
Intercommunality	Pays d'Aire
Government
• Mayor	Idzik Bernard
Area^1	5.32 km^2 (2.05 sq mi)
Population (2006)^2	2,278
• Density	430/km^2 (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

• Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department

References

• INSEE commune file

External links

• Racquinghem on the Quid website (French)