# Arrouède

> commune in Gers, France

**Wikidata**: [Q549903](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q549903)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrouède)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/arrou-de

## Summary

Arrouède is a commune located in the Gers department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. Situated at coordinates 43.359722222222°N latitude and 0.58611111111111°E longitude, Arrouède belongs to the arrondissement of Mirande and the canton of Masseube. As a commune of France, it operates under the administrative framework established following the French Revolution, with the commune system originating in 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: Commune in Gers, France
- **Wikipedia Title**: Arrouède
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Gers, France
- **Coordinates**: 43.359722222222°N, 0.58611111111111°E
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Hierarchy**: Arrondissement of Mirande → Canton of Masseube → Department of Gers
- **Department Inception**: March 4, 1790
- **Commune System Inception**: 1789
- **Sitelink Count**: 41
- **Population History**: 98, 104, 109, 110, 103, 94, 81, 77, 70, 78, 82, 92, 96, 89, 87, 86, 85 (likely census years)
- **Region**: Occitanie
- **Historical Territory**: Part of Gascony region

## FAQs

**What region and department is Arrouède located in?**

Arrouède is situated in the Gers department, which is part of the Occitanie region in southwestern France. The department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What is the administrative structure of Arrouède?**

Arrouède is a commune that falls under the arrondissement of Mirande and the canton of Masseube. The commune system in France dates back to 1789, following the French Revolution, which reorganized local governance into municipalities.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Arrouède?**

Arrouède is located at latitude 43.359722222222°N and longitude 0.58611111111111°E, placing it in the southwestern part of France within the Gers department.

**How many Wikipedia articles link to Arrouède?**

Arrouède has a sitelink count of 41, meaning 41 Wikipedia articles (in various language editions) contain links to this commune's article.

**What is the population of Arrouède?**

Historical population data shows figures of 98, 104, 109, 110, 103, 94, 81, 77, 70, 78, 82, 92, 96, 89, 87, 86, and 85, indicating a generally declining trend over time, consistent with rural depopulation trends seen in many small French communes.

## Why It Matters

Arrouède represents the foundational unit of local governance in France, embodying the country's decentralized administrative structure. While a small rural commune, it participates in the historical tradition of French municipal organization that began in 1789, making it part of a system that governs over 34,000 communes across France. The commune's location in Gers places it in one of France's least densely populated departments, characterized by agricultural activity and small villages. Understanding Arrouède helps illustrate how France manages its rural territories through a system of communes that combine historical continuity with modern administrative needs. The commune serves as the lowest level of territorial administration, responsible for local services, urban planning, and maintaining civil records for its residents.

## Notable For

- **Historical Administrative Continuity**: Part of the French commune system established during the Revolution in 1789
- **Rural Location**: Situated in the Gers department, one of France's most rural and agricultural regions
- **Gascony Heritage**: Located in the historical Gascony region known for its distinct culture, architecture, and agricultural products
- **Small Population Scale**: Represents the many small communes that form the fabric of rural French life
- **Coordinate Specificity**: Precisely documented geographical location at 43.359722222222°N, 0.58611111111111°E

## Body

### Geography and Location

Arrouède is positioned at coordinates 43.359722222222°N latitude and 0.58611111111111°E longitude, placing it in the southwestern portion of the Gers department. The commune lies within the Occitanie region, France's largest region by area, which encompasses diverse landscapes from the Mediterranean coast to the Pyrenees mountains. Gers itself is characterized by its gently rolling hills, farmland, and small villages, representing quintessential southwestern French rural territory. The area experiences a continental climate with hot summers and relatively mild winters, typical of inland southern France.

### Administrative Structure

Arrouède operates as a commune, which is the smallest administrative division in France. The commune system was formalized during the French Revolution in 1789, replacing the previous system of parishes and jurisdictions. Today, France contains approximately 34,780 communes, each serving as a fundamental unit of local government. Arrouède belongs to the canton of Masseube, which serves as a constituency for elections to the departmental council. The commune is further grouped within the arrondissement of Mirande, one of the three arrondissements in the Gers department. At the departmental level, Gers was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial reorganization of France into departments following the Revolution. The prefecture (capital) of Gers is located in Auch, while the subprefectures include Condom, Mirande, and Lectoure.

### Historical Context

The commune of Arrouède exists within the historical territory of Gascony, a region with a distinct cultural identity that predates modern French administrative divisions. Gascony encompasses parts of southwestern France and has historically been characterized by its own language variant (Occitan/Gascon), traditions, and agricultural practices. The department of Gers was formed in 1790 as part of the rationalization of French territorial administration, dividing the former province of Gascony into manageable administrative units. The commune system that began in 1789 established the framework through which local governance operates, with each commune maintaining autonomy within limits set by national legislation. This system has persisted for over two centuries, adapting to changing social and political circumstances while maintaining its fundamental structure.

### Demographics and Population

The population data for Arrouède shows figures of 98, 104, 109, 110, 103, 94, 81, 77, 70, 78, 82, 92, 96, 89, 87, 86, and 85 across what appear to be successive census periods. This data reflects a population that has generally declined over time, dropping from a peak of 110 to approximately 85 residents. This demographic trend is consistent with the broader pattern of rural depopulation affecting many small French communes, particularly in regions like Gers where agricultural employment opportunities have diminished. Young people have increasingly moved to larger cities and urban areas in search of education and employment, while the aging population remains in rural communes. Despite these challenges, small communes like Arrouède continue to provide essential services and maintain community ties for their remaining residents.

### Relationship to Administrative Entities

Arrouède is connected to several higher-level administrative entities that structure French governance. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with a population of approximately 68.6 million people as of 2025. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with a unitary structure, organized into 18 administrative regions (12 metropolitan, 6 overseas). At the intermediate level, Arrouède belongs to the Gers department (inception: March 4, 1790), which is one of 101 departments in metropolitan France. The department is part of the Occitanie region. At the local level, the commune falls within the arrondissement of Mirande, which provides administrative coordination below the departmental level, and the canton of Masseube, which serves electoral functions. The commune of France as a territorial concept was established in 1789, creating the foundation for local self-governance that persists today.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

Arrouède's location in the Gers department places it within the historical and cultural region of Gascony. This region is renowned for its distinctive architecture, including half-timbered houses and fortified churches (les églises fortifiées), as well as its culinary traditions featuring duck and goose products, Armagnac brandy, and local wines. The area maintains elements of the Occitan cultural heritage, including aspects of the Gascon dialect of Occitan language. The rural landscape of Gers is characterized by farmland, vineyards, and small villages spaced apart in the rolling terrain. This region has historically been less industrialized than northern France, maintaining an agricultural economy based on grain, livestock, and viticulture. The commune's small size reflects the pattern of settlement in this area, where population has historically been distributed among numerous small villages and hamlets rather than concentrated in large towns.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
12. Populations légales 2019
13. Populations légales 2020
14. Populations légales 2021
15. Populations de référence 2022
16. Populations de référence 2023
17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
18. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
19. GeoNames
20. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
21. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
22. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)