Cricqueville-en-Bessin

Cricqueville-en-Bessin (French pronunciation: [kʁikvil ɑ̃ bɛsɛ̃] , literally Cricqueville in Bessin) is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France.

Cricqueville-en-Bessin
La Pointe du Hoc
La Pointe du Hoc
Location of Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Map
Cricqueville-en-Bessin is located in France
Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Cricqueville-en-Bessin is located in Normandy
Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Cricqueville-en-Bessin
Coordinates: 49°22′38″N 1°00′01″W / 49.3771°N 1.0002°W / 49.3771; -1.0002
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentCalvados
ArrondissementBayeux
CantonTrévières
IntercommunalityCC Isigny-Omaha Intercom
Government
 • Mayor (2022–2026) Pascale Vibet[1]
Area
1
8.55 km2 (3.30 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
170
 • Density20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
14204 /14450
Elevation0–39 m (0–128 ft)
(avg. 50 m or 160 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The municipality takes its name from its deep-water creek that forms a natural harbor, from Crycavilla.

History

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World War II

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Just outside Cricqueville, the United States Army Air Forces established an airfield shortly after D-Day on 9 June 1944, just three days after the Allied landings in France. The airfield was one of the first established in the liberated area of Normandy. Known as Advanced Landing Ground "A-2" (Cricqueville), it was used from early June though September 1944. After the Americans moved east into Central France, the airfield was dismantled and the land returned to agricultural use.[3][4]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962197—    
1968200 1.5%
1975190−5.0%
1982157−17.4%
1990171 8.9%
1999182 6.4%
2008186 2.2%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ AAF Airfields in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Archived January 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Air Force History Index