# Échassières

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q271951](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q271951)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Échassières)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chassi-res

## Summary
Échassières is a commune located in the Allier department of France. It is classified as a French territorial subdivision for municipalities and is administratively linked to the canton of Ébreuil (until March 2015) and the arrondissements of Vichy and Montluçon. The entity is situated within the broader national context of France, a semi-presidential republic and major global power.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Commune of France (inception: 1789).
- **Department**: Allier (inception: March 4, 1790).
- **Historical Canton**: Canton of Ébreuil (status held until March 2015).
- **Arrondissements**: Arrondissement of Vichy and Arrondissement of Montluçon.
- **Coordinates**: 46.184444444444 latitude, 2.9344444444444 longitude.
- **Population Data Points**: 392, 390, 398, 385, 381, 602, 489, 408, 349, 380, 376, 402, 376, 373, 370, 369, 364.
- **Sitelink Count**: 42.
- **National Country**: France (ISO codes: FR, FRA, 250).
- **National Capital**: Paris.
- **National Population**: 68,605,616 (2025 estimate).
- **National Area**: 643,801 square kilometres.
- **National Government**: Semi-presidential system, unitary state, republic.
- **Head of State**: Emmanuel Macron.
- **Head of Government**: Sébastien Lecornu.
- **National Currency**: Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France; CFP Franc in overseas territories.
- **National Motto**: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité".
- **National Anthem**: "La Marseillaise".
- **National Flag**: Tricolore (blue, white, red).
- **Independence/Founding**: Treaty of Verdun (843 AD) established West Francia; First French Empire (1804).
- **National GDP**: $2.78 trillion USD (2022).
- **National Budget**: €455.2 billion (2023).
- **UN Membership**: Permanent member of the Security Council (since October 24, 1945).
- **EU Membership**: Founding member (since March 25, 1957).
- **NATO Membership**: Since April 4, 1949.
- **Nuclear Weapons**: State possesses nuclear weapons (since 1960).
- **National Driving Side**: Right.
- **Electricity**: 230 volts, 50 Hz; plugs: Europlug, Type E.
- **Calling Code**: +33.
- **Internet TLD**: .fr.

## FAQs
**Where is Échassières located?**
Échassières is a commune situated in the Allier department within the country of France. Its geographic coordinates are 46.184444444444°N and 2.9344444444444°E.

**What administrative divisions is Échassières part of?**
The commune belongs to the Allier department and is associated with the arrondissements of Vichy and Montluçon. Historically, it was part of the canton of Ébreuil until March 2015.

**What is the population of Échassières?**
Recorded population figures for the commune include 392, 390, 398, 385, 381, 602, 489, 408, 349, 380, 376, 402, 376, 373, 370, 369, and 364.

**What type of government oversees Échassières?**
As a commune in France, it falls under the jurisdiction of the French Republic, a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration led by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

**What is the economic and social context of the region?**
The region uses the Euro (EUR) as currency and is part of the European Union. The national life expectancy is 82 years, and the country maintains a high Human Development Index (0.903 in 2021).

## Why It Matters
Échassières matters as a fundamental administrative unit within the French Republic. As a commune, it represents the lowest level of administrative division in France, playing a crucial role in local governance and decentralization. Its existence ties into the broader historical and political structure of France, which emerged from the Treaty of Verdun in 843 and evolved into the Fifth Republic. The commune is part of the Allier department, contributing to the local demographic and economic landscape of a nation that is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union.

## Notable For
- **Administrative History**: Formerly part of the canton of Ébreuil until March 2015.
- **Geographic Scope**: Located in the arrondissements of both Vichy and Montluçon.
- **National Significance**: Situated in France, the country with the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world due to overseas territories.
- **Demographic Data**: Possesses a specific set of historical population records ranging from 349 to 602.
- **Cultural Integration**: Part of a nation renowned for "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" and a distinct cultural heritage including UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

## Body

### Geography and Territory
Échassières is defined by its precise geographic coordinates at 46.184444444444 latitude and 2.9344444444444 longitude. It is located within the Allier department, a French department established on March 4, 1790. The commune is situated in metropolitan France, which is located in Western Europe and shares borders with countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra.

The broader national territory encompasses 643,801 square kilometres, with the highest point being Mont Blanc (4,808.72 meters) and the lowest point being Étang de Lavalduc (-10 meters). France also possesses overseas territories in the Americas (e.g., French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique), Africa (e.g., Mayotte, Réunion), Oceania (e.g., New Caledonia, French Polynesia), and Antarctica (Adélie Land).

### Administrative Structure
As a commune of France, Échassières is a territorial subdivision for municipalities, a status that has existed since the inception of the commune system in 1789. Administratively, it is linked to the canton of Ébreuil, a relationship that persisted until March 2015. The commune also falls within the jurisdiction of two arrondissements: the arrondissement of Vichy and the arrondissement of Montluçon.

France operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration. The current constitution, establishing the Fifth Republic, was founded on October 4, 1958. The executive branch is shared between the Head of State, President Emmanuel Macron, and the Head of Government, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The legislative branch is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

### Demographics
Échassières has recorded various population figures over time, including 392, 390, 398, 385, 381, 602, 489, 408, 349, 380, 376, 402, 376, 373, 370, 369, and 364.

At the national level, France has an estimated population of 68,605,616 as of January 1, 2025. The country is highly urbanized, with an urban population of approximately 55.4 million compared to a rural population of 12.5 million (2022 data). The national life expectancy is 82 years, with a birth rate of 10.6 per 1,000 people and a death rate of 9.8 per 1,000 people. The official language is French, though regional languages such as Basque, Occitan, Catalan, Breton, and Alsatian are recognized.

### Economy and Infrastructure
The local economy of Échassières operates within the framework of France's mixed economy. Nationally, France has a nominal GDP of $2.78 trillion USD (2022) and a government budget of €455.2 billion (2023). The standard VAT rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 10% and 5.5%, and a specific rate of 2.1% for medication. The currency used is the Euro (€), which replaced the French franc in 1999, while the CFP Franc is used in overseas territories like New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna.

Infrastructure standards include driving on the right-hand side of the road and using the metric system. The electrical grid operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz using Europlug and Type E plugs. Speed limits are generally 130 km/h on highways, 110 km/h on dual carriageways, 90 km/h on other roads, and 50 km/h in built-up areas. The country uses Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and observes Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

### Symbols and Culture
Échassières shares in the national symbols of France. The national flag is the tricolore (blue, white, red), and the motto is "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, equality, fraternity). The national anthem is "La Marseillaise." Public holidays observed include New Year's Day, Easter Monday, International Workers' Day (May 1), Victory in Europe Day (May 8), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), and Christmas (December 25).

### International Relations
The commune is part of France, a founding member of the European Union (March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). France is also a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949), the G7, the G20, the World Trade Organization, the Schengen Area, and the Council of Europe. The nation possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960, and is a founder member of Interpol (since 1923). France's international calling code is +33, and its internet top-level domain is .fr.

## References

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