Allier
Information
Number	03
Region	Auvergne
Prefecture	Moulins
Subprefectures	Montluçon Vichy
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 63rd 344,721 47 /km²
Area	7,340 km²
Arrondissements	3
Cantons	35
Communes	320
President of the general council	XX
Location

Allier is a département in south-central France named after the Allier River.

History

Allier was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais .

In 1940, the government of Marshal Philippe Pétain chose the town of Vichy as its capital.

Geography

The department is surrounded by the following French departments: Cher, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, and Creuse.

The following rivers run through Allier:

• Allier
• Loire
• Cher
• Besbre
• Sioule

See also: List of the communes of the Allier département.

Economy

Allier is the most productive agricultural area of the Auvergne. Vichy has long been known for its water, which is exported throughout the world.

Demographics

Montluçon, Vichy, and Moulins are the principal cities. The rest of the department consists of smaller towns, mostly along the rivers. In general, the department is sparsely populated. The population increased until the end of the 19th century because of the growth of industry in Montluçon and Moulins and development of the thermal resources at Vichy. At that time the department had over 420,000 inhabitants. After the losses of World War I, the population stagnated, with a small increase in the 1960s. Since then, it has decreased slightly from 386,533 in 1968 to 344,721 in 1999.

External links

• Prefecture website (in France)
• Conseil Général website (in French)
• Map of Allier