Nontron

Subprefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

(2020–2026) Nadine Herman-Bancaud^[1]Area24.67 km² (9.53 sq mi)Population3,041 • Density120/km² (320/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)INSEE/Postal codeElevation183–274 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.

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

History

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

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 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%	Year Pop. ±% 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

• Communes of the Dordogne department
• The Soufflaculs of Nontron

References

• Lapouge, Herve. Anciennes demures du Périgord.