Nontron (French pronunciation: [nɔ̃tʁɔ̃] ; Occitan: Nontronh [nunˈtɾuɲ]) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Nontron
The town hall in Nontron
The town hall in Nontron
Coat of arms of Nontron
Location of Nontron
Map
Nontron is located in France
Nontron
Nontron
Nontron is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nontron
Nontron
Coordinates: 45°31′46″N 0°39′43″E / 45.5294°N 0.6619°E / 45.5294; 0.6619
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentDordogne
ArrondissementNontron
CantonPérigord Vert Nontronnais
IntercommunalityPérigord Nontronnais
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nadine Herman-Bancaud[1]
Area
1
24.67 km2 (9.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
3,041
 • Density120/km2 (320/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
24311 /24300
Elevation183–274 m (600–899 ft)
(avg. 200 m or 660 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

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The name Nontron probably derives from the Gallo-Roman personal name Nantironius.[3] Over time, the placename has been spelt Natadun, Nattun, Nantrun and Nontroun, before the current Nontron.[4]

The town was probably founded around 1100 BC and has been invaded or sacked several times, including by Saracens in the eighth century.[4] In the Hundred Years' War, Nontron was besieged several times, sitting on the border between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France.[4] In 1800, after the French Revolution, it became a subprefecture of the department of the Dordogne.[5]

The town's railway station served passengers between 1883 and 1940, continuing to handle freight until 1975.[6] The town is known for producing a type of folding knife, known as the Nontron knife.[7]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 2,356—    
1800 2,809 2.54%
1806 2,990 1.05%
1821 2,865−0.28%
1831 3,246 1.26%
1836 3,573 1.94%
1841 3,609 0.20%
1846 3,692 0.46%
1851 3,704 0.06%
1856 3,546−0.87%
1861 3,581 0.20%
1866 3,557−0.13%
1872 3,223−1.63%
1876 3,427 1.55%
1881 3,687 1.47%
1886 4,151 2.40%
1891 3,585−2.89%
1896 3,657 0.40%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 3,686 0.16%
1906 3,426−1.45%
1911 3,508 0.47%
1921 3,059−1.36%
1926 3,112 0.34%
1931 3,019−0.60%
1936 2,943−0.51%
1946 3,204 0.85%
1954 3,280 0.29%
1962 3,593 1.15%
1968 3,792 0.90%
1975 3,954 0.60%
1982 3,850−0.38%
1990 3,558−0.98%
1999 3,500−0.18%
2007 3,458−0.15%
2012 3,212−1.47%
2017 3,050−1.03%
Source: EHESS[8] and INSEE (1968-2017)[9]

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. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Nontronh, Le nom occitan des communes du Périgord
  4. ^ a b c Histoire de Nontron, official website of Nontron, accessed 20 January 2021.
  5. ^ Historique de la Dordogne, SPLAF
  6. ^ La gare, official website of Nontron, accessed 20 January 2021.
  7. ^ "History of the Nontron Knife". Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Nontron, EHESS (in French).
  9. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  • Lapouge, Herve. Anciennes demures du Périgord.