Balan, Ardennes

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 {{Motorway exit|3}} just south-east of the commune. Much of the central area of the commune is urban with the northern part farmland and some forest.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Balan,+France/@49.688683,4.964384,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47ea6f18e955ed8f:0x40a5fb99a3f7e00 Google Maps]

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

{{Geographic location

|width=auto

|Centre = Balan

|North = Givonne

|Northeast = Daigny

|East = La Moncelle

|Southeast = Bazeilles

|South = Thelonne

|Southwest = Wadelincourt

|West = Sedan

|Northwest =

}}

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

{{Blazon-arms

|img1=Blason ville fr Balan 08.svg

|legend1=Arms of Balan

|text=

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.

}}

List of Successive Mayors[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/chercher.php List of Mayors of France] {{in lang|fr}}

{{incomplete list|date=April 2021}}

{{Hidden begin

|title=Mayors from the 16th century to 1935

|titlestyle = background:palegreen;

}}

{{Hidden end}}

;Mayors from 1995

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balanais or Balanaises in French.[https://www.habitants.fr/ardennes-08 Le nom des habitants du 08 - Ardennes], habitants.fr

{{Historical populations

| align = none

| cols = 2

| percentages = pagr

| source = EHESS{{Cassini-Ehess|2474|Balan}} and INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-08043#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE

|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

}}

File:Filature Bonhomme 107.JPG

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

• The Bonhomme Spinning Mill (Now a Community Hall) (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA08000321|IA08000321 Bonhomme Spinning Mill}} {{in lang|fr}}
• The Godchaux Weaving Mill (Now a Warehouse) (20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA08000322|IA08000322 Godchaux Weaving Mill}} {{in lang|fr}}
• The Stackler Textile Works (Now a Business incubator) (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA08000323|IA08000323 Stackler Textile Works}} {{in lang|fr}}
• The Bazaille Chard Plant (1906){{Mérimée Icon}}Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA08000324|IA08000324 Bazaille Chard Plant}} {{in lang|fr}}

• {{ill|Jean-Baptiste Herbin-Dessaux|fr}} (1765-1832): French General of the Revolution and the Empire, died at Balan.
• Élisabeth Lion (1904-1988), French aviator, born at Balan.

• Communes of the Ardennes department

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Balan (Ardennes)|Balan, Ardennes}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311111225/http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1087&CommuneId=93751 Balan on the old National Geographic Institute website] {{in lang|fr}}
• [http://rumsey.geogarage.com/maps/cassinige.html?lat=49.6897&lon=4.9611&zoom=13 Balan on the 1750 Cassini Map]

{{Ardennes communes}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Communes of Ardennes (department)