| Ballon | |
| Commune Status: | Commune |
| Arrondissement: | Rochefort |
| Canton: | Surgères |
| Insee: | 17032 |
| Postal Code: | 17290 |
| Mayor: | Emmanuel Jobin[1] |
| Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
| Coordinates: | 46.0578°N -0.9511°W |
| Elevation M: | 12 |
| Elevation Min M: | 0 |
| Elevation Max M: | 47 |
| Area Km2: | 12.18 |
Ballon (in French pronounced as /balɔ̃/) is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department, region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Ballon is located some 12 km north of Rochefort and 6 km south of Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis. Access to the commune is by the D111 road from Thairé in the west which passes through the village and continues to Ciré-d'Aunis in the east. The D266 goes south-west from the village then west to join the D110 west of the commune. The commune is entirely farmland.[2]
The Canal de Charras forms the south-eastern border of the commune with the Canal des Roseaux joining it on the southern border and forming part of the south western border. In most of the commune – especially the south – there is an extensive network of canals including the Canal de Ceinture du Marais de Moullepieds and the Canal de Lileau.[2]
| From | To | Name | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2014 | Noël Gaynet | |
| 2014 | 2020 | Emmanuel Devaud | |
| 2020 | 2026 | Emmanuel Jobin |
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Ballonais or Ballonaises in French.[4]
The population of the town is younger than the departmental average.
Percentage Distribution of Age Groups in Ballon and Charente-Maritime Department in 2017
| Ballon | Charente-Maritime | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age Range | Men | Women | Men | Women | |
| 0 to 14 Years | 24.0 | 22.9 | 16.3 | 14.3 | |
| 15 to 29 Years | 11.6 | 13.0 | 15.4 | 13.1 | |
| 30 to 44 Years | 27.9 | 24.3 | 16.7 | 16.1 | |
| 45 to 59 Years | 18.0 | 18.3 | 20.2 | 19.9 | |
| 60 to 74 Years | 14.5 | 15.3 | 21.1 | 22.0 | |
| 75 to 89 Years | 4.1 | 5.2 | 9.4 | 12.3 | |
| 90 Years+ | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.4 | |