# Auriat

> commune in Creuse, France

**Wikidata**: [Q188826](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188826)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auriat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/auriat

## Summary

Auriat is a commune located in the Creuse department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in south-central France. It sits at coordinates 45.873333° latitude and 1.644444° longitude and is part of the arrondissement of Guéret. As a French commune, Auriat operates under the administrative structure of the commune of France, a territorial subdivision that traces its institutional origins to 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Auriat is situated in the Creuse department (French department since March 4, 1790) in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-central France
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Guéret
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 45.873333333333°, Longitude 1.6444444444444°
- **Commune Type**: Territorial subdivision of France (commune of France, inception: 1789)
- **Population History**: 114, 110, 112, 111, 111, 241, 216, 180, 144, 113, 122, 121, 109, 109, 109, 116, 122 (across multiple census years)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Auriat
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Creuse, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 40

## FAQs

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

Auriat is located in the Creuse department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in south-central France. The Creuse department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

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

Auriat is a commune, which is the lowest-level administrative division in France. It belongs to the arrondissement of Guéret, which is one of the administrative divisions within the Creuse department. The commune system in France dates back to 1789.

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

Auriat is situated at latitude 45.873333333333° and longitude 1.6444444444444°, placing it in the rural, hilly terrain characteristic of the Creuse department in the Massif Central region.

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

Auriat has a sitelink count of 40, indicating that 40 Wikipedia language editions contain articles referencing this commune.

## Why It Matters

Auriat represents the small rural commune structure that forms the backbone of French territorial administration. While modest in size, communes like Auriat are essential to understanding France's decentralized governmental system. The commune of France, established in 1789, remains the fundamental unit for local governance, taxation, and administrative organization throughout the country. Auriat's location in Creuse—a department known for its sparsely populated, forested landscapes in the heart of France—illustrates the country's rural territorial organization beyond major urban centers. The preservation of historical population data for Auriat also contributes to demographic studies of rural France and the broader patterns of urbanization and depopulation affecting small communes in the French interior.

## Notable For

- **Rural French Communal Structure**: Represents the classic French commune system dating to 1789
- **Massif Central Location**: Situated in the Creuse department, part of the historical province of Marche
- **Historical Population Tracking**: Maintains population records spanning multiple census periods
- **Administrative Simplicity**: One of France's fundamental territorial units governed under the commune system

## Body

### Geography and Location

Auriat is positioned in the Creuse department, located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-central France. The department of Creuse was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. Geographically, Auriat sits at coordinates 45.873333333333° latitude and 1.6444444444444° longitude, placing it in the rolling, forested terrain characteristic of the northern Massif Central area. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Guéret, which serves as the administrative center for the surrounding area. This region is known for its rural character, with sparse population distribution across communes that often maintain traditional agricultural and forestry activities.

### Administrative Structure

As a commune of France, Auriat operates as the most fundamental level of territorial administration in the French Republic. The commune system in France traces its origins to the French Revolution, with the formal establishment occurring in 1789. This system creates approximately 35,000 communes across metropolitan France and overseas territories, each serving as a local governmental unit with its own mayor and municipal council. Auriat falls under the hierarchical structure of the French administrative divisions: France → Nouvelle-Aquitaine region → Creuse department → arrondissement of Guéret → Auriat commune. This多层 administrative structure reflects France's unitary state organization while allowing for local governance and representation.

### Demographics and Population

The population data recorded for Auriat shows variation across multiple census years: 114, 110, 112, 111, 111, 241, 216, 180, 144, 113, 122, 121, 109, 109, 109, 116, and 122 residents. This population trajectory reflects broader demographic trends affecting rural France, particularly in the central and southern departments where urbanization has drawn residents away from smaller communes toward larger cities. The population figures demonstrate the challenges facing rural communes in maintaining stable populations, with Auriat representing the category of small French communes that have experienced population decline over decades while sometimes showing periods of relative stability.

### Regional Context

Auriat's location in the Creuse department places it within one of France's least densely populated areas. The department of Creuse is part of the historical province of Marche, characterized by its granite landscapes, forests, and traditional rural architecture. The arrondissement of Guéret serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural center for the surrounding communes. This area of France maintains strong connections to agricultural traditions while facing contemporary challenges related to rural development, infrastructure maintenance, and demographic sustainability. The commune's sitelink count of 40 indicates moderate international visibility across Wikipedia language editions, suggesting some interest in this location from researchers, genealogists, or those studying French territorial organization.

## References

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