# Coulanges

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q544373](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q544373)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulanges,_Allier)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/coulanges-q544373-2

## Summary

Coulanges is a commune located in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. Situated at coordinates 46.485°N latitude and 3.8597222222222°E longitude, it represents one of the 305 communes in Allier and operates as a territorial subdivision within the French departmental system. The commune falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Moulins and maintains a historical connection to the arrondissement of Vichy.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Coulanges, Allier
- **Country**: France
- **Department**: Allier (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- **Arrondissement**: Moulins (primary administrative jurisdiction)
- **Arrondissement**: Vichy (alternative jurisdiction)
- **Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision, inception: 1789)
- **Coordinates**: 46.485°N, 3.8597222222222°E
- **Population Range**: 285 to 460 inhabitants (historical census data)
- **Website**: http://www.coulanges-talenne.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Coulanges, Allier
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Allier, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42

## FAQs

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

Coulanges is situated in the Allier department, which is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**What administrative divisions govern Coulanges?**

Coulanges operates as a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. It falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Moulins, though it also maintains administrative connections to the arrondissement of Vichy. The commune system in France traces its origins to 1789.

**What is the population of Coulanges?**

Coulanges has experienced population fluctuations over time, with recorded figures ranging from 285 to 460 inhabitants according to historical census data. The population has varied across multiple demographic surveys.

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

Coulanges is located at latitude 46.485°N and longitude 3.8597222222222°E, positioning it in the central-eastern part of France within the Allier department.

**How can I find more information about Coulanges?**

The official website for Coulanges is available at http://www.coulanges-talenne.com, providing local information about the commune.

## Why It Matters

Coulanges represents a fundamental unit of French territorial organization as one of the 305 communes in the Allier department. While small in population, the commune system in France serves as the essential foundation for local governance, providing direct services to residents and representing the most granular level of democratic representation in the French administrative hierarchy. The commune of Coulanges contributes to the broader demographic and administrative landscape of Allier, a department historically significant for its thermal springs (Vichy) and agricultural traditions in the heart of France. Understanding Coulanges requires recognizing its place within the French departmental system, which dates back to the revolutionary period of 1790 and remains a cornerstone of France's administrative organization more than two centuries later.

## Notable For

- Historical administrative status as a French commune since the revolutionary period
- Location within the Allier department, one of the original departments created in 1790
- Part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of France's 18 administrative regions
- Proximity to the arrondissement of Moulins, the prefecture city of Allier
- Connection to the arrondissement of Vichy, known for its thermal waters and spa heritage

## Body

### Geography and Location

Coulanges is positioned at coordinates 46.485°N latitude and 3.8597222222222°E longitude, placing it in the central-eastern portion of France. The commune is located within the Allier department, which itself is situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This area of central France is characterized by a mix of agricultural land, forests, and rolling hills, typical of the Bourbonnais historical region. The geographical positioning places Coulanges within reasonable distance of several major French cities, though it maintains its identity as a rural commune.

### Administrative Structure

Coulanges operates as a commune, which represents the smallest territorial collective in France. The commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the fundamental unit of local government. Each commune has its own mayor and municipal council, responsible for local services, urban planning, and community representation. Coulanges falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Moulins, which serves as the administrative division between the department and the commune. The commune also maintains administrative connections to the arrondissement of Vichy, another administrative division within Allier.

### Department and Regional Context

Coulanges is part of the Allier department, which was officially created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary reorganization of French territory. Allier is one of France's original 83 departments created at that time. The department takes its name from the Allier River, which flows through the region. Within the broader administrative structure, Coulanges belongs to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of France's 18 metropolitan and overseas regions. This region was formed through the 2016 merger of Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes, creating one of France's largest regional units.

### Demographics and Population

The population of Coulanges has fluctuated over time, with historical census data showing figures ranging from 285 to 460 inhabitants. These population variations reflect broader demographic trends affecting rural communes across France, including urbanization patterns, employment opportunities, and quality of life factors. The commune's population size is consistent with many rural communes in central France, where smaller settlements serve surrounding agricultural areas rather than functioning as urban centers.

### Local Infrastructure and Services

As a French commune, Coulanges provides various local services to its residents, though specific details about municipal facilities would be available through the commune's official website at http://www.coulanges-talenne.com. French communes are responsible for functions including civil registration, local taxation, municipal planning, maintenance of local roads, and administration of local schools and community facilities. The commune system ensures that even small settlements maintain a direct connection to the national administrative framework.

### Historical Context

The commune of Coulanges exists within a historical context defined by the departmental reorganization of the French Revolution. The Allier department was created in 1790 from the former province of Bourbonnais. The commune system itself was established in 1789, replacing the previous parochial and seigniorial divisions of the Ancien Régime. This revolutionary transformation created a uniform administrative structure across France, with communes serving as the most local level of government. Coulanges, as a commune, inherits this administrative heritage and continues to function within this framework established over two centuries ago.

### Connection to Broader Administrative Entities

Coulanges maintains relationships with multiple levels of French administrative organization. At the departmental level, it connects to Allier, which encompasses 305 communes. At the regional level, it belongs to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which comprises multiple departments. At the arrondissement level, it falls primarily under Moulins, though Vichy represents another administrative connection. This hierarchical structure ensures coordination between local, departmental, regional, and national levels of government, allowing for both local autonomy and centralized national policy implementation.

## References

1. [prefectoral decree in France](https://www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/irecontenu/telechargement/112588/843056/file/3janvier2023_n°-2_recueil-84-2024-002-recueil-des-actes-administratifs-special.pdf)
2. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/----0000)
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
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. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)