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{{Expand French|date=December 2008|Pyrénées-Atlantiques|topic=geo}}
{{short description|Department of France}} {{short description|Department of France}}
{{Infobox settlement {{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions --> <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name = Pyrénées-Atlantiques
| name = Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Pirinio Atlantikoak) | native_name = {{native name|oc|Pirenèus Atlantics}}<br>{{native name|eu|Pirinio Atlantikoak}}
| native_name_lang = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| native_name =
| type = ]
| native_name_lang = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| image_skyline = Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (lac), 4.jpg
| type = ]
| image_caption = ]
| image_skyline = Sara - Perro Pastor 01.jpg
| image_alt = | image_flag = Drapeau proposé pour les Pyrenees-atlantiques.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_caption = Catalan sheep dog in Sara, Basque Country, France
| image_shield = Arms of the French Department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques.svg
| image_flag = Drapeau proposé pour les Pyrenees-atlantiques.svg
| flag_alt = | shield_alt =
| nickname = 64, P-A
| image_shield = Arms of the French Department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques.svg
| shield_alt = | motto =
| nickname = | image_map = Pyrénées-Atlantiques-Position.svg
| motto = | map_alt =
| image_map = Pyrénées-Atlantiques-Position.svg | map_caption = Location of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France
| map_alt = | pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| map_caption = Location of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France
| pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt =
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| coordinates = {{coord|43|15|N|0|50|E|region:FR_type:adm2nd_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
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| coordinates_footnotes =
| coordinates = {{coord|43|15|N|0|50|E|region:FR_type:adm2nd_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_name = France
| subdivision_type = ] | subdivision_type1 = ]
| subdivision_name1 = ]
| subdivision_name = {{FRA}}
| established_title =
| subdivision_type1 = ]
| established_date =
| subdivision_name1 = ]
| established_title = | founder =
| seat_type = ]
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| seat_type = ] | parts_type = ]
| parts_style = para
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| parts_type = ] | p1 = ]<br>]
| government_footnotes =
| parts_style = para
| p1 = ]<br>] | leader_party = ]
| leader_title = ]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_name = Jean-Jacques Lasserre<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| leader_party =
| unit_pref = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| leader_title = ]
| area_magnitude =
| leader_name = Jean-Jacques Lasserre
| area_footnotes = {{ref|area|1}}
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| area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 7645
| area_footnotes = {{ref|area|1}} | area_note =
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| population_total = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
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| population_footnotes = | population_footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank = ]
| population_total = 677309
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_as_of = 2017
| population_demonym =
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| population_note = | blank_info_sec1 = 64
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| postal_code_type = | area_code_type =
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| footnotes = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
| iso_code =
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| footnotes = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude ], and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
}} }}


'''Pyrénées-Atlantiques''' ({{IPA|fr|pi.ʁe.nez‿at.lɑ̃.tik|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-GrandCelinien-Pyrénées-Atlantiques.wav}}; ] ]: ''Pirenèus Atlantics''; {{langx|eu|Pirinio Atlantikoak}}) is a ] located in the ] of ] in the southwest corner of ]. Named after the ] mountain range and the ], it covers the ] and the ]. It is divided in ] and its ] is ]. In 2019, it had a population of 682,621.<ref name=pop2019>, INSEE</ref>
] (left side) and the ] (right side)]]
'''Pyrénées-Atlantiques''' ({{IPA-fr|piʁene atlɑ̃tik}}; ]: ''Pirenèus-Atlantics''; {{lang-eu|Pirinio Atlantiarrak}} or {{lang|eu|Pirinio Atlantikoak}}) is a ] in the southwest corner of ] and of the region of ]. It takes its name from the ] mountains and the ]. It covers the ] and the ].


== History == ==History==
{{historical populations|13=1801|14=355,573|15=1811|16=383,502|17=1821|18=399,474|19=1831|20=428,401|21=1841|22=451,683|23=1851|24=446,997|25=1861|26=436,628|27=1872|28=426,700|29=1881|30=434,366|31=1891|32=425,033|33=1901|34=426,347|35=1911|36=433,318|37=1921|38=402,981|39=1931|40=422,719|41=1936|42=413,411|43=1946|44=415,797|45=1954|46=420,019|47=1962|48=466,038|49=1968|50=508,734|51=1975|52=534,748|53=1982|54=555,696|55=1990|56=578,516|57=1999|58=600,018|59=2006|60=636,845|61=2016|62=673,986|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref></ref>}}Originally named '''Basses-Pyrénées''', it is one of the first 83 ] created during the ], on 4 March 1790. It was created out of parts belonging to the former greater province of ] and ], as well as the ]-] (still, at least nominally, Kingdom of Navarre), i.e. the ] of ], ], ] (detached a few years before from Labourd), and ], and ].<ref>The history of the region, under the '']'', can be found in the articles about those individual regions.</ref> Originally named '''Basses-Pyrénées''', it was one of the 83 ] created during the ], on 4 March 1790.<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2X7S9G4eRsC&pg=PA128 |title=Collection générale des décrets rendus par l'Assemblée nationale |date=1790 |publisher=Baudouin |volume=11 |location=Paris |page=151 |language=fr |chapter=Décret général sur la division de la France en 83 départements}}</ref> It comprised the territories of ] and ] (in the provinces of ] and ]), as well as ] (still, at least nominally, part of the ]) and the Béarn.<ref>The history of the region, under the '']'', can be found in the articles about those individual regions.</ref> It was initially divided in six districts, with the prefecture at ], before being moved to Pau on 14 October 1790.


] (western side) and the ] (eastern side)]]
The 1790 administrative design brought about ]. All Basque estates representatives from Labourd overtly opposed the new administrative layout since it suppressed their institutions and laws. The representatives of Lower Navarre refused to vote in Paris arguing that they were not part of the Kingdom of France; those of Soule voted against. The brothers ], representing Labourd, eventually voted yes, thinking that it would give them a say in upcoming political decisions.
The 1790 administrative reform brought about ]. All Basque estates representatives from Labourd overtly opposed the new administrative layout since it suppressed their institutions and laws. The representatives of Lower Navarre refused to vote in Paris arguing that they were not part of the ]; those of Soule voted against. The brothers ], representing Labourd, eventually voted yes, thinking that it would give them a say in upcoming political decisions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bolinaga |first=Iñigo |title=La alternativa Garat |publisher=Txertoa |year=2012 |isbn=978-84-7148-530-4 |page=44 |language=es}}</ref>


In 1800, during the Consulate, the six initial districts were replaced by five ]: Pau, Orthez, Bayonne, Mauléon and Oloron.
On 10 October 1969, Basses-Pyrénées was renamed ''Pyrénées-Atlantiques''.


In 1926, as part of a vast reform launched by the government of ], the arrondissements of Orthez and Mauléon were abolished, resulting in the three current arrondissements.
== Geography ==
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is part of the ] ] of Southwest France. It is bordered by the ], ], ] departments and the ]. Principal settlements include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. ] is located here, as are the ].


In the 1950s, the Basses-Pyrénées were one of the departments composing the newly created ] of ].
== Economy ==
Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a border province, has cultivated a number of economic and cultural links with Spain.


In 1969, the name of the department was changed to "Pyrénées-Atlantiques", because the inhabitants of the department found the name of the Basses-Pyrénées pejorative compared to that of the ].<ref>{{Citation |title=Décret du 10 octobre 1969 AUTORISANT LE DEPARTEMENT DES BASSES-PYRENEES A PORTER LE NOM DE PYRENEES-ATLANTIQUES |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000332059 |access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref><ref>This process occurred in almost all departments whose name included the word "bas" or "inférieur", for example Loire-Inférieure, which became Loire-Atlantique in 1957. Exception: Bas-Rhin.</ref>
Two urban concentrations exist in the east and west of the département: Pau, which has 145,000 inhabitants, and 344,000 workers in the local area; and Bayonne - Anglet - Biarritz which has 166,400 inhabitants and 235 000 workers in the local area


On January 1, 2016, the regions of Aquitaine, ] and ] merged to form the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
== Culture ==
These parts of the department that were part of Guyenne and Gascony, and Béarn have a culture heavily influenced by the ], but clearly different identities.


==Geography==
Both the Gascon ] variant and ] are indigenous to the region in their respective districts. Gascon in turn is a dialect of ], formerly the main language of southern France. It is more closely related to ] than it is to ]. Basque is a ], not related to any known language. Today, ], the sole official language of the French Republic, is the predominant native language and is spoken by virtually all inhabitants.
The southernmost department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it is bordered by the departments of ], Hautes-Pyrénées and ] (to the north, east and northeast, respectively), by the ] to the west and by the Spanish provinces of ], ] and ] to the south. ] is located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, as are the ].d


The ] mountain range crosses the department from east to west from the ] to the mouth of the ] at ]. The border with Spain follows the Pyrenean chain.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including ] clubs ], ] and ]; ] club ]; and ] club ].

The highest point is at the Pic Palas (] of ]), in the ] massif, on the Franco-Spanish border, at 2,974 meters.

The summit of ] (900 m) is particularly well-known because of its proximity to the coast (about ten kilometers) and its ].

===Principal towns===

The most populous commune is ], the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 11 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:<ref name=pop2019/>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2021)
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 77,066
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 52,749
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 41,153
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 25,764
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 17,796
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 14,601
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 13,915
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 13,866
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,684
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,616
|-
| ]
| style="text-align: center;" | 10,543
|}

==Demographics==
There does not seem to be a particular name to designate the inhabitants of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The western part is mainly inhabited by the ] and the eastern part by the ]ais, who since the ] and the creation of the department have shared the same department. However, from 1790 to 1969, the inhabitants were called ''Bas-Pyrénéens''. The Pyrénées-Atlantiques have a fertility rate below the French average with 1.7 children per woman.

Population development since 1801:
{{historical populations|cols=2|align=none|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/64his.html|title=Historique des Pyrénées-Atlantiques|website=Le SPLAF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4176909?geo=DEP-64|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2016|publisher=INSEE}}</ref>|graph-pos=bottom
|13=1801|14=355,573|15=1811|16=383,502|17=1821|18=399,474|19=1831|20=428,401|21=1841|22=451,683|23=1851|24=446,997|25=1861|26=436,628|27=1872|28=426,700|29=1881|30=434,366|31=1891|32=425,033|33=1901|34=426,347|35=1911|36=433,318|37=1921|38=402,981|39=1931|40=422,719|41=1936|42=413,411|43=1946|44=415,797|45=1954|46=420,019|47=1962|48=466,038|49=1968|50=508,734|51=1975|52=534,748|53=1982|54=555,696|55=1990|56=578,516|57=1999|58=600,018|59=2006|60=636,845|61=2011|62=656,608|63=2016|64=673,986|65=2020|66=687,240}}

==Economy==
===Urban areas===
Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a border department, has cultivated a number of economic and cultural links with Spain.

Two urban concentrations exist in the east and west of the department: Pau, which has 145,000 inhabitants and 344,000 workers in the local area; and Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz which has 166,400 inhabitants and 235,000 workers in the local area.

===Tourism===
The department is known for its tourism industry:
<gallery>
File:Château de Pau 01.JPG|]
File:Villa belza.jpg|Villa Belza in ]
File:Ossau sur Lac.jpg|]
File:Gave Aspe Oloron-Sainte-Marie.jpg|]
File:Ainhoa, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.jpg|]
</gallery>

==Culture==
]

The parts of the department that were part of Guyenne and Gascony, as well as Béarn, have a culture heavily influenced by the ], but clearly different identities.

Both the Gascon ] variant and ] are indigenous to the region in their respective districts. Gascon in turn is a dialect of ], formerly the main language of southern France. It is more closely related to ] than it is to French. Basque is a ], not related to any known language. Today, French, the sole official language of the French Republic, is the predominant native language and is spoken by virtually all inhabitants.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including ] clubs ], ] and ]; basketball club ]; and association football club ].


The ], an auto race first held in 1901, has hosted the ], ], ] and ]. The ], an auto race first held in 1901, has hosted the ], ], ] and ].


==Politics== ==Politics==

{{Main|Politics of Pyrénées-Atlantiques}} {{Main|Politics of Pyrénées-Atlantiques}}
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a stronghold of the centrist ] (MoDem). Its founder and president, ], has served as Mayor of Pau since ].

===Departmental politics===
The ] has 54 seats. Its president has been Jean-Jacques Lasserre of the Democratic Movement since ].


===Current National Assembly Representatives=== ===National representation===
In the ], Pyrénées-Atlantiques elected the following members of the ]:


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/</ref>!!Party !colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Democratic Movement (France)/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Democratic Movement (France)/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Socialist Party (France)/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Independent/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ]
| ]
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Democratic Movement (France)/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
|style="background-color: {{Democratic Movement (France)/meta/color}}" | |style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|} |}


In the ], the department is represented by ]: ] (since 2011), ] (since 2017) and Denise Saint-Pé (since 2017).
== Tourism ==
<gallery>
File:Château de Pau 01.JPG|]
File:Villa belza.jpg|Villa Belza in ]
File:Gentau Pic du Midi Ossau.jpg|]
File:Gave Aspe Oloron-Sainte-Marie.jpg|]
File:Ainhoa, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.jpg|]
</gallery>

== Heraldry ==
]


==Heraldry==
]
The ] of Pyrénées-Atlantiques combines those of four traditional provinces: The ] of Pyrénées-Atlantiques combines those of four traditional provinces:


Line 166: Line 236:
# ] # ]


==Twinning and cooperation==
== See also ==
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is twinned with:
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} ], ] (since 2012)

==See also==
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]


==References==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Basses-Pyrénées}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Basses-Pyrénées}}


* {{in lang|fr}} * {{in lang|fr}}
* {{in lang|fr}}
* {{in lang|fr}} * {{in lang|fr}}
* {{in lang|fr}} * {{in lang|fr}}
* {{in lang|fr}}
* {{in lang|en}} {{ODP|Regional/Europe/France/Regions/Aquitaine/Pyrenees-Atlantiques|Pyrenees-Atlantiques}}<!-- please keep this link: Dmoz page holds a Misplaced Pages back link -->
* {{in lang|en}} * {{in lang|en}}
* {{in lang|en}} * {{in lang|en}}

{{Departments of France}} {{Departments of France}}

{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyrenees-Atlantiques}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pyrenees-Atlantiques}}
Line 191: Line 265:
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 19 December 2024

Department of France Department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Pyrénées-Atlantiques Pirenèus Atlantics (Occitan)
Pirinio Atlantikoak (Basque)
Department
Lake of Saint-Pée-sur-NivelleLake of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle
Flag of Pyrénées-AtlantiquesFlagCoat of arms of Pyrénées-AtlantiquesCoat of arms
Nickname: 64, P-A
Location of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in FranceLocation of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France
Coordinates: 43°15′N 0°50′E / 43.250°N 0.833°E / 43.250; 0.833
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
PrefecturePau
SubprefecturesBayonne
Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Government
 • President of the Departmental CouncilJean-Jacques Lasserre (MoDem)
Area
 • Total7,645 km (2,952 sq mi)
Population
 • Total693,027
 • Rank36th
 • Density91/km (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Department number64
Arrondissements3
Cantons27
Communes546
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km

Pyrénées-Atlantiques (French pronunciation: [pi.ʁe.nez‿at.lɑ̃.tik] ; Gascon Occitan: Pirenèus Atlantics; Basque: Pirinio Atlantikoak) is a department located in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest corner of metropolitan France. Named after the Pyrenees mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, it covers the French Basque Country and the Béarn. It is divided in three arrondissements and its prefecture is Pau. In 2019, it had a population of 682,621.

History

Originally named Basses-Pyrénées, it was one of the 83 departments of France created during the French Revolution, on 4 March 1790. It comprised the territories of Labourd and Soule (in the provinces of Guyenne and Gascony), as well as Lower Navarre (still, at least nominally, part of the Kingdom of Navarre) and the Béarn. It was initially divided in six districts, with the prefecture at Navarrenx, before being moved to Pau on 14 October 1790.

French Basque Country (western side) and the Béarn (eastern side)

The 1790 administrative reform brought about the end of native institutions and laws. All Basque estates representatives from Labourd overtly opposed the new administrative layout since it suppressed their institutions and laws. The representatives of Lower Navarre refused to vote in Paris arguing that they were not part of the Kingdom of France; those of Soule voted against. The brothers Garat, representing Labourd, eventually voted yes, thinking that it would give them a say in upcoming political decisions.

In 1800, during the Consulate, the six initial districts were replaced by five arrondissements: Pau, Orthez, Bayonne, Mauléon and Oloron.

In 1926, as part of a vast reform launched by the government of Raymond Poincaré, the arrondissements of Orthez and Mauléon were abolished, resulting in the three current arrondissements.

In the 1950s, the Basses-Pyrénées were one of the departments composing the newly created region of Aquitaine.

In 1969, the name of the department was changed to "Pyrénées-Atlantiques", because the inhabitants of the department found the name of the Basses-Pyrénées pejorative compared to that of the Hautes-Pyrénées.

On January 1, 2016, the regions of Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes and Limousin merged to form the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Geography

The southernmost department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, it is bordered by the departments of Landes, Hautes-Pyrénées and Gers (to the north, east and northeast, respectively), by the Bay of Biscay to the west and by the Spanish provinces of Huesca, Navarre and Gipuzkoa to the south. Lac Gentau is located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques, as are the Lacs de Carnau.d

The Pyrenees mountain range crosses the department from east to west from the Col d'Aubisque to the mouth of the Bidasoa at Hendaye. The border with Spain follows the Pyrenean chain.

The highest point is at the Pic Palas (commune of Laruns), in the Balaïtous massif, on the Franco-Spanish border, at 2,974 meters.

The summit of La Rhune (900 m) is particularly well-known because of its proximity to the coast (about ten kilometers) and its ancient tourist tradition.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Pau, the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 11 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:

Commune Population (2021)
Pau 77,066
Bayonne 52,749
Anglet 41,153
Biarritz 25,764
Hendaye 17,796
Saint-Jean-de-Luz 14,601
Lons 13,915
Billère 13,866
Orthez 10,684
Oloron-Sainte-Marie 10,616
Urrugne 10,543

Demographics

There does not seem to be a particular name to designate the inhabitants of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The western part is mainly inhabited by the Basques and the eastern part by the Béarnais, who since the Revolution and the creation of the department have shared the same department. However, from 1790 to 1969, the inhabitants were called Bas-Pyrénéens. The Pyrénées-Atlantiques have a fertility rate below the French average with 1.7 children per woman.

Population development since 1801:

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1801355,573—    
1811383,502+0.76%
1821399,474+0.41%
1831428,401+0.70%
1841451,683+0.53%
1851446,997−0.10%
1861436,628−0.23%
1872426,700−0.21%
1881434,366+0.20%
1891425,033−0.22%
1901426,347+0.03%
1911433,318+0.16%
1921402,981−0.72%
1931422,719+0.48%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1936413,411−0.44%
1946415,797+0.06%
1954420,019+0.13%
1962466,038+1.31%
1968508,734+1.47%
1975534,748+0.71%
1982555,696+0.55%
1990578,516+0.50%
1999600,018+0.41%
2006636,845+0.85%
2011656,608+0.61%
2016673,986+0.52%
2020687,240+0.49%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Sources:

Economy

Urban areas

Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a border department, has cultivated a number of economic and cultural links with Spain.

Two urban concentrations exist in the east and west of the department: Pau, which has 145,000 inhabitants and 344,000 workers in the local area; and Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz which has 166,400 inhabitants and 235,000 workers in the local area.

Tourism

The department is known for its tourism industry:

Culture

Topographic map of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques

The parts of the department that were part of Guyenne and Gascony, as well as Béarn, have a culture heavily influenced by the Basques, but clearly different identities.

Both the Gascon Bearnese variant and Basque language are indigenous to the region in their respective districts. Gascon in turn is a dialect of Occitan, formerly the main language of southern France. It is more closely related to Catalan than it is to French. Basque is a language isolate, not related to any known language. Today, French, the sole official language of the French Republic, is the predominant native language and is spoken by virtually all inhabitants.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is also home to a number of professional sports teams, including rugby union football clubs Aviron Bayonnais, Biarritz Olympique and Section Paloise; basketball club Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez; and association football club Pau FC.

The Pau Grand Prix, an auto race first held in 1901, has hosted the World Touring Car Championship, British Formula Three, Formula 3 Euro Series and FIA European Formula 3 Championship.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a stronghold of the centrist Democratic Movement (MoDem). Its founder and president, François Bayrou, has served as Mayor of Pau since 2014.

Departmental politics

The Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques has 54 seats. Its president has been Jean-Jacques Lasserre of the Democratic Movement since 2015.

National representation

In the 2022 legislative election, Pyrénées-Atlantiques elected the following members of the National Assembly:

Constituency Member Party
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 1st constituency Josy Poueyto Democratic Movement
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 2nd constituency Jean-Paul Mattei Democratic Movement
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 3rd constituency David Habib Socialist Party
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 4th constituency Iñaki Echaniz Socialist Party
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 5th constituency Florence Lasserre-David Democratic Movement
Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 6th constituency Vincent Bru Democratic Movement

In the Senate, the department is represented by three members: Frédérique Espagnac (since 2011), Max Brisson (since 2017) and Denise Saint-Pé (since 2017).

Heraldry

Coat of arms of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques

The coat of arms of Pyrénées-Atlantiques combines those of four traditional provinces:

  1. Lower Navarre
  2. Béarn
  3. Labourd
  4. Soule

Twinning and cooperation

Pyrénées-Atlantiques is twinned with:

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. ^ Populations légales 2019: 64 Pyrénées-Atlantiques, INSEE
  4. "Décret général sur la division de la France en 83 départements". Collection générale des décrets rendus par l'Assemblée nationale (in French). Vol. 11. Paris: Baudouin. 1790. p. 151.
  5. The history of the region, under the Ancien Régime, can be found in the articles about those individual regions.
  6. Bolinaga, Iñigo (2012). La alternativa Garat (in Spanish). Txertoa. p. 44. ISBN 978-84-7148-530-4.
  7. Décret du 10 octobre 1969 AUTORISANT LE DEPARTEMENT DES BASSES-PYRENEES A PORTER LE NOM DE PYRENEES-ATLANTIQUES, retrieved 2024-12-02
  8. This process occurred in almost all departments whose name included the word "bas" or "inférieur", for example Loire-Inférieure, which became Loire-Atlantique in 1957. Exception: Bas-Rhin.
  9. "Historique des Pyrénées-Atlantiques". Le SPLAF.
  10. "Évolution et structure de la population en 2016". INSEE.
  11. Nationale, Assemblée. "Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français". Assemblée nationale.

External links

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  • 69M Lyon (collectivity with special status)
  • 75 Paris (collectivity with special status)
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