Situated on the D930 and D937 crossroads, some 13 miles southwest of Saint-Quentin, in the far southeast of the department, near the border with the department of the Aisne. The nearby villages of Estouilly and Saint-Sulpice joined the commune of Ham in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

[edit] Population

Population Growth
1851	1896	1954	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999
2375	3254	3598	5279	5697	6074	6041	5532	5398
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] History

Mentioned for the first time in 932 as a possession of the seigneur Erard, junior member of the Counts of Ponthieu. The town was later conquered by the Counts of Vermandois in the 12th century. In the 14th century it was owned by a family from Ham itself.

[edit] The Castle of Ham

Car park and approach to the Château entrance

The first stone ramparts were put up in the 13th century by the local nobleman, Odon IV.
In the 15th century, the château was transformed into a formidable fortress by John II of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny
In 1465, John's nephew, Louis of Luxembourg, built a huge donjon, 33m high, 33m in diameter with walls 11m thick^[1]
In 1917, the Germans blew up much of the château. All that remains are the entrance tower and vestiges of the donjon and ramparts.

[edit] People linked with the commune

Statue of General Foy

fr:François Ist of Saint-Pol, Duke of Estouteville was born at Ham in 1491
General Maximilien Sebastien Foy was born at Ham in 1775.
fr:Jacques Cassard, intrepid sailor, was imprisoned at the château of Ham from 1726 to 1740.
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, accused of plotting against the state, was imprisoned at the château of Ham from 1840 to 1846,
when he escaped, disguised as a worker, carrying a plank on his shouder.
fr:Léon Accambray, French député.
Jean-Charles Peltier, physicist and meteorologist.
fr:Jean-Baptiste-Henri du Trousset de Valincourt (1643-1730), biographer of Louis XIV.