Saint-Dizier (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃.di.zje]) is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.

It has a population of 23,382 (2018 figure) and is a subprefecture of the department. Although Saint-Dizier is marginally the most populous commune in Haute-Marne, the préfecture (capital) resides in the somewhat smaller commune of Chaumont.

Located approximately 120 miles (193 km) east of Paris, halfway to Strasbourg, it is five miles from Western Europe's largest man-made lake, Lake Der-Chantecoq.

The climate in Saint-Dizier is oceanic according to the Köppen climate classification (Cfb code). However, far from any ocean or sea, Saint-Dizier experiences continental climate characteristics resulting in cold winters with freezing nights and cool days with temperatures staying in the single digits and warm to hot summers with frequent thunderstorms.

Named after an unknown saint (possibly Desiderius of Fontenelle), the town originated as a fortified settlement around a thirteenth-century château, eventually becoming a royal fortress to guard the French kingdom's eastern approaches. The town was besieged and captured by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in the summer of 1544. A fire in 1775 destroyed two-thirds of the town center. The château was owned by the Orléans family until the French Revolution, was a base for German troops during World War II, and currently houses the Municipal Museum.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 5,500 —     1800 5,824 +0.82% 1806 5,614 −0.61% 1821 5,817 +0.24% 1831 6,163 +0.58% 1836 6,366 +0.65% 1841 5,705 −2.17% 1846 7,136 +4.58% 1851 7,429 +0.81% 1856 7,642 +0.57% 1861 8,077 +1.11% 1866 10,170 +4.72% 1872 11,229 +1.66% 1876 12,754 +3.23% 1881 12,773 +0.03% 1886 13,458 +1.05% 1891 13,372 −0.13% 1896 13,947 +0.85%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 14,601 +0.92% 1906 14,661 +0.08% 1911 16,019 +1.79% 1921 17,576 +0.93% 1926 19,019 +1.59% 1931 18,292 −0.78% 1936 19,149 +0.92% 1946 19,532 +0.20% 1954 25,515 +3.40% 1962 34,407 +3.81% 1968 36,616 +1.04% 1975 37,266 +0.25% 1982 35,189 −0.82% 1990 33,552 −0.59% 1999 30,900 −0.91% 2007 26,962 −1.69% 2012 25,280 −1.28% 2017 24,012 −1.02%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Saint-Dizier is the birthplace of

• Baroque-era musicologist André Pirro
• Organist André Isoir
• Conductor Jean-Paul Penin
• Physicist and materials scientist Christian Janot
• Former world middleweight boxing champion Marcel Thil. A street is named in his honor
• French YouTuber Mastu, formerly Masturbatman.

• Communes of the Haute-Marne department
• Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base

• Official website (in French)
• Haute-Marne in Champagne Tourism: Saint-Dizier