Nord

Nord, the most northerly department in France (whence its name), corresponding with the former province of French Flanders, and bordering on Belgium and the Strait of Dover. Area, 2193 sq. m.; pop. (1881) 1,603,259; (1891) 1,736,341. It is watered by the Scheldt and the Sambre, with their affluents, and has many canals. Next to that of the Seine, it is the most densely-peopled department in France; Lille has 200,000 inhabitants, Roubaix 115,000, and several towns have over 30,000. In blood the people are Flemish and Walloon in about equal proportions; some 177,000 still speak Flemish. The soil is fertile, the fisheries are productive, the mineral wealth very great, especially in coal; and for manufactures Nord is one of the foremost of French departments. It possesses five first-class fortresses, and has been the scene of many great campaigns and battles.