Villers-Chief
Villers-Chief | |
|---|---|
 The Audeux river at the Creuse mill in Villers-Chief | |
Location of Villers-Chief  | |
  Villers-Chief  Villers-Chief | |
| Coordinates: 47°13′38″N 6°26′27″E / 47.2272°N 6.4408°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté |
| Department | Doubs |
| Arrondissement | Pontarlier |
| Canton | Valdahon |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes des Portes du Haut-Doubs and Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Unique (SIVU) for the "Regroupement Pédagogique Intercommunal" (RPI) Landresse-Villers-Chief[1][2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Christian Bertin[3] |
Area 1 | 7.83 km2 (3.02 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[4] | 142 |
| • Density | 18/km2 (47/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 25623 /25530 |
| Elevation | 547–773 m (1,795–2,536 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Villers-Chief (French pronunciation: [vilɛʁ ʃjɛf]) is a commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France.
Geography
[edit]Villers-Chief is situated in the Jura Mountains, in the eastern part of the Doubs department. The commune's territory is characterized by a mix of agricultural land and forested areas, typical of the Franche-Comté region. The Audeux river, a tributary of the Doubs, flows through the commune, notably at the location of the historic Creuse mill, as depicted in the infobox image. The elevation within the commune ranges from 547 meters (1,795 ft) to 773 meters (2,536 ft) above sea level, indicating a varied terrain.
History
[edit]Like many communes in the region, Villers-Chief has an agricultural past. Its name, "Villers," is common in France and derives from the Latin villare, meaning "farm" or "hamlet." The "Chief" suffix likely distinguishes it from other "Villers" localities, possibly referring to a prominent geographical feature or a historical administrative status. While specific early historical records for Villers-Chief are scarce in readily available public sources, the presence of structures like the Creuse mill suggests a long-standing settlement with economic activity tied to local resources. The commune has evolved over centuries while largely retaining its rural character.
Administration
[edit]Villers-Chief is part of the Canton of Valdahon and the Arrondissement of Pontarlier. Since 2020, Christian Bertin has served as the mayor for the term 2020–2026.
The commune is a member of the **Communauté de communes des Portes du Haut-Doubs**, an intercommunal structure that allows it to pool resources and services with neighboring communes. This intercommunality manages various aspects of local administration, including economic development, environmental protection, and cultural initiatives.
Additionally, Villers-Chief is involved in a **Syndicat Intercommunal à Vocation Unique (SIVU)** for the "Regroupement Pédagogique Intercommunal" (RPI) Landresse-Villers-Chief. This SIVU specifically manages the joint primary education system for the children of Landresse and Villers-Chief, demonstrating cooperation in public services.
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- Population
The population of Villers-Chief has seen some fluctuations over the decades, as shown in the historical data below. The commune generally maintains a small, stable population.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 115 | — |
| 1968 | 141 | +22.6% |
| 1975 | 129 | −8.5% |
| 1982 | 112 | −13.2% |
| 1990 | 109 | −2.7% |
| 1999 | 119 | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 117 | −1.7% |
| 2014 | 115 | −1.7% |
| 2019 | 126 | +9.6% |
| 2022 | 142[4] | +12.7% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Commune Villers-Chief | Base nationale sur l'intercommunalité et autres collectivités" (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Synbd Intercom Gestion du Regroupement {edagogique Landresse Vilers Chief" (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Populations de référence 2022 − Commune de Villers-Chief (25623)" (in French). INSEE. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
| Authority control databases: National |
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