Châlons-en-Champagne

**Châlons-en-Champagne** is a _commune_ in the Marne department in the Grand Est region in northeastern France. It is the _préfecture_ (capital) of the department.

Even if Châlons-en-Champagne is the capital of the department, it is only the second largest city in population after Reims. It should not be confused with Chalon-sur-Saône, a city in the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

## History

Formerly called **Châlons-sur-Marne**, the name of the city was changed to **Châlons-en-Champagne** in 1995 but it was rejected in 1997. But, finally, this change was accepted in 1998.

## Geography

Châlons-en-Champagne is in the centre of the Marne department. The Marne river flows through the western part of the city.

It has an area of . Its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The distances from Châlons-en-Champagne to other cities are:
- Paris, the national capital - ;
- Strasbourg - ;
- Reims - ;
- Bordeaux - ;
- Toulouse - ;
- Montpellier - ;
- Lyon - ;
- Nantes - ;
- Marseille - .

The _commune_ of Châlons-en-Champagne is surrounded by the _communes_ L'Épine, Saint-Memmie, Sarry, Compertrix, Fagnières and Saint-Martin-sur-le-Pré.

### Climate

The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Châlons-en-Champagne is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".

The average temperature for the year in Châlons-en-Champagne is . The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of . The coolest month, on average is January, with an average temperature of .

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Châlons-en-Champagne is . The month with the most precipitation on average is July with  of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is February with an average of .

## Population

The inhabitants of Châlons-en-Champagne are known, in French, as _Châlonnais_ (women: _Châlonnaises _).

With a population of 45,002, Châlons-en-Champagne has a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Châlons-en-Champagne**

Châlons-en-Champagne forms, with other 4 _communes_, the urban area of Châlons-en-Champagne with a population of 57,571 inhabitants (2014) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Châlons-en-Champagne, formed by 66 _communes_, with a population of 81,486 inhabitants (2014) and an area of .

## Administration

Châlons-en-Champagne is a prefecture of the Marne department since 1800. It is also the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Châlons-en-Champagne and the administrative centre () of three cantons:
- Châlons-en-Champagne-1 formed by 3 _communes_ and part of Châlons-en-Champagne, with 26,915 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Châlons-en-Champagne-2 formed by 18 _communes_ and part of Châlons-en-Champagne, with 25,837 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.
- Châlons-en-Champagne-3 formed by 41 _communes_ and part of Châlons-en-Champagne, with 25,430 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

It is part of the intercommunality _Châlons Agglo_ ().

### Twinned and partner towns

Châlons-en-Champagne is twinned with:

- Ilkeston, United Kingdom, since 1957
- Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, since 1970
- Neuss, Germany, since 1972

- Wittenberge, Germany, since 1978
- Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, since 2000
- Razgrad, Bulgaria, since 2005

## Related pages

- Arrondissement of Châlons-en-Champagne
- Communes of the Marne department

## Other websites

- Ville de Châlons-en-Champagne - official website
- Tourism office website
- Châlons Agglo website

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Châlons-en-Champagne
- **commune status**: Prefectures of France, Prefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image**: Hôtel de ville de Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne).JPG
- **caption**: City Hall of Châlons-en-Champagne
- **arrondissement**: Châlons-en-Champagne
- **canton**: Canton of Châlons-en-Champagne-1, Châlons-en-Champagne-1, Canton of Châlons-en-Champagne-2, 2 and Canton of Châlons-en-Champagne-3, 3
- **image coat of arms**: Blason Chalons-en-Champagne.svg
- **insee**: 51108
- **postal code**: 51000
- **mayor**: Benoist Apparu
- **term**: 2014-2020
- **intercommunality**: Communauté d'agglomération de Châlons-en-Champagne, CA Châlons-en-Champagne
- **elevation m**: 83
- **elevation min m**: 82
- **elevation max m**: 84
- **area km2**: 26.05
- **population**: 45002
- **population date**: 2014
- **website**: [http://www.chalonsenchampagne.fr/ Official website]