# Grand-Corent > commune in Ain, France **Wikidata**: [Q659440](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q659440) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand-Corent) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/grand-corent ## Summary Grand-Corent is a commune located in the Ain department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It is situated in the arrondissement of Bourg-en-Bresse and is part of the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse, an agglomeration community established in 2017. The commune sits at coordinates 46.199166667°N latitude and 5.430833333333°E longitude. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Grand-Corent, Ain department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France - **Administrative Status**: Commune in the Ain department - **Arrondissement**: Bourg-en-Bresse - **Intercommunality**: Communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse (since January 1, 2017) - **Country**: France - **Coordinates**: 46.199166667°N, 5.430833333333°E - **Website**: http://grand.corent.free.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Grand-Corent - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Ain, France - **Sitelink Count**: 50 - **Population History**: 174 (1793), 177 (1800), 181 (1806), 177 (1821), 180 (1831), 79 (1841), 60 (1851), 76 (1861), 104 (1872), 111 (1876), 123 (1881), 167 (1886), 174 (1891), 183 (1896), 184 (1901), 184 (1906), 186 (1911), 183 (1921) - **Commune of France Status**: Established in 1789 as part of the French territorial subdivision system - **Ain Department Established**: March 4, 1790 - **Agglomeration Community Inception**: January 1, 2017 ## FAQs **What region and department is Grand-Corent located in?** Grand-Corent is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France, specifically within the Ain department. It belongs to the arrondissement of Bourg-en-Bresse, which is one of the administrative divisions within the department. **What intercommunal structure does Grand-Corent belong to?** Grand-Corent is a member of the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse, an agglomeration community (intercommunal structure) that was established on January 1, 2017. This community has its headquarters in Bourg-en-Bresse, the principal city of the Ain department. **What is the population of Grand-Corent?** The population of Grand-Corent has fluctuated significantly throughout its history. According to historical records, the population was 174 in 1793, peaked at 186 in 1911, experienced a significant low of 60 in 1851, and stood at 183 by 1921. More recent population data would need to be consulted for current figures. **What are the geographic coordinates of Grand-Corent?** Grand-Corent is located at latitude 46.199166667°N and longitude 5.430833333333°E, placing it in the eastern part of the Ain department near the regional capital of Lyon. **What type of administrative division is Grand-Corent?** Grand-Corent is classified as a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, and Grand-Corent has been part of this administrative structure since that time. ## Why It Matters Grand-Corent represents a small but integral part of the French administrative landscape in the Ain department. While a modest commune in terms of population, it contributes to the broader regional identity of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, one of France's most populous and economically significant regions. The commune's membership in the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse connects it to a larger collaborative framework aimed at regional development, resource sharing, and administrative efficiency among municipalities in the Bourg-en-Bresse area. The historical population data of Grand-Corent reflects broader demographic patterns experienced by rural French communes throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the rural depopulation trend that affected many small agricultural communities during the Industrial Revolution and both World Wars. The commune's population fluctuations from 174 residents in 1793 to a low of 60 in 1851, followed by recovery to nearly 186 by 1911, illustrate the socioeconomic transformations that shaped rural France during this period. From a geographic perspective, Grand-Corent's location in the Ain department places it within a region that straddles the boundary between the Alps and the Saône river valley, contributing to the diverse landscape and agricultural character of eastern France. The department of Ain is notable for its proximity to major urban centers including Lyon and Geneva, making it a strategically important area for both transportation and economic activity. ## Notable For - **Historical Continuity**: As a commune established in 1789, Grand-Corent represents over two centuries of continuous municipal administration within the French Republic - **Intercommunal Membership**: Participation in the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse, a modern administrative structure promoting regional cooperation - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Ain, one of France's original departments created on March 4, 1790, during the foundational period of the French Revolutionary administrative system - **Regional Significance**: Part of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France's largest region by area ## Body ### Geography and Location Grand-Corent is situated in the eastern French department of Ain, which is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The commune is located at coordinates 46.199166667°N latitude and 5.430833333333°E longitude. This positioning places Grand-Corent in a region characterized by diverse topography, including plains, hills, and mountainous terrain as the region transitions from the Saône valley toward the Alpine foothills. The Ain department shares borders with Switzerland to the north and east, and is situated between the larger metropolitan areas of Lyon to the west and Geneva to the northeast. The department's geography includes the Jura mountains in the east, the Bresse plain in the west, and the Val de Saône along its central axis. ### Administrative Structure Grand-Corent operates as a commune, which is the fundamental territorial collectivity in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, replacing the previous feudal administrative divisions. As a commune, Grand-Corent functions as the smallest unit of local government, responsible for municipal services and administration. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Bourg-en-Bresse, which serves as an administrative division within the Ain department. Bourg-en-Bresse serves as the prefecture (administrative capital) of the Ain department, housing the departmental government offices and serving as the primary urban center for the surrounding area. At the intercommunal level, Grand-Corent belongs to the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse. This agglomeration community was established on January 1, 2017, as part of France's ongoing administrative reforms aimed at promoting cooperation between municipalities and efficient resource allocation. The community has its headquarters in Bourg-en-Bresse and operates across multiple sectors including economic development, transportation, environmental protection, and public services. ### Historical Demographics The population history of Grand-Corent provides insight into the demographic evolution of this rural French commune: - 1793: 174 inhabitants - 1800: 177 inhabitants - 1806: 181 inhabitants - 1821: 177 inhabitants - 1831: 180 inhabitants - 1841: 79 inhabitants (significant decline) - 1851: 60 inhabitants (lowest recorded point) - 1861: 76 inhabitants - 1872: 104 inhabitants - 1876: 111 inhabitants - 1881: 123 inhabitants - 1886: 167 inhabitants - 1891: 174 inhabitants - 1896: 183 inhabitants - 1901: 184 inhabitants - 1906: 184 inhabitants - 1911: 186 inhabitants (highest recorded point) - 1921: 183 inhabitants This demographic trajectory reflects the broader patterns experienced by rural French communes during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The dramatic population decline between 1831 and 1851, with numbers dropping from 180 to 60, corresponds to the period of rural depopulation that affected much of provincial France during the Industrial Revolution. Many rural inhabitants migrated to growing urban centers, particularly Lyon and Paris, in search of industrial employment opportunities. The subsequent recovery in population from the 1860s through 1911 demonstrates a period of relative stability, with the population reaching its peak of 186 inhabitants in 1911, just before the devastations of World War I. ### Regional Context Grand-Corent is located in the Ain department, which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial 83 departments established during the French Revolution. The department was formed from territory previously part of the province of Bresse, along with portions of Dombes and Bugey. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in which Ain is located, is France's largest region both by area (697,011 km²) and serves as a major economic and cultural hub. The region encompasses diverse landscapes from the volcanic Massif Central in the west to the Alpine mountains in the east. Major cities include Lyon (the regional capital), Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, and Clermont-Ferrand. The communauté d'agommation du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse, to which Grand-Corent belongs, represents a cooperative framework that unites multiple communes in the Bourg-en-Bresse area. This type of intercommunal structure was developed to enable municipalities to pool resources and coordinate planning for services that benefit from larger-scale administration, including public transportation, economic development initiatives, waste management, and environmental protection. ### Administrative Relationships Grand-Corent exists within a hierarchical administrative structure that includes multiple levels: At the local level, the commune operates under the French municipal system, with a mayor and municipal council responsible for local governance. At the departmental level, the Ain prefecture in Bourg-en-Bresse coordinates state services and represents the central government within the department. At the regional level, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council manages matters requiring coordination across the larger region. The commune's classification as part of the French territorial system dates to the revolutionary period when the ancient provinces of France were replaced by the department system. This reorganization aimed to create uniform administrative divisions based on rational principles rather than historical feudal boundaries. ### Cultural and Community Identity As a small rural commune, Grand-Corent represents the traditional French municipal structure that forms the foundation of local governance throughout France. With a historical population that has generally remained under 200 inhabitants, the commune exemplifies the small rural communities that dot the French landscape, particularly in the eastern regions. The commune maintains connections to the broader French municipal tradition, with local services and community life organized around the municipal center. The website http://grand.corent.free.fr provides digital presence for the commune, reflecting modern efforts to maintain communication between local government and residents. ### Economic and Social Context While specific economic data for Grand-Corent is not provided in the source material, the historical population patterns suggest an economy historically based on agriculture, consistent with the rural character of the Bresse region in Ain. The Ain department has developed a diversified economy that includes agriculture (particularly poultry and dairy production), manufacturing, and services, with proximity to major urban centers providing employment opportunities for residents. The department's location between Lyon and Geneva has contributed to its economic development, with good transportation infrastructure connecting the area to these major metropolitan regions. The presence of the communauté d'agglomération du Bassin de Bourg-en-Bresse facilitates coordinated economic development efforts across the region's communes. ## References 1. French National Directory of Representatives 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)