# Jenzat

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q662229](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q662229)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenzat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jenzat

## Summary

Jenzat is a commune located in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. Situated at coordinates 46.160555555556°N latitude and 3.1952777777778°E longitude, the commune serves as a local administrative unit within the arrondissement of Vichy. As part of France's territorial structure, Jenzat operates under the municipal governance system typical of French communes, which have existed as territorial subdivisions since 1789.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Jenzat is situated in the Allier department (established March 4, 1790) in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Vichy
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 46.160555555556°N latitude, 3.1952777777778°E longitude
- **Population History**: 522, 513, 538, 508, 513, 492, 451, 422, 439, 450, 504, 520, 519, 524, 515, 521, 517 (across recorded census periods)
- **Website**: https://www.intramuros.org/jenzat
- **Wikipedia Title**: Jenzat
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Allier, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 42
- **Commune Status**: Jenzat is a commune of France, a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789
- **Department**: Allier (inception: 1790-03-04)
- **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

## FAQs

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

Jenzat is located in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution as part of the initial division of France into departments.

**What administrative division does Jenzat belong to?**

Jenzat is part of the arrondissement of Vichy, which is an administrative division within the Allier department. France uses arrondissements as sub-divisions of departments for administrative and electoral purposes.

**What type of administrative area is Jenzat?**

Jenzat is classified as a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France. Communes function similarly to municipalities or townships in other countries and represent the lowest level of local government in France's administrative hierarchy.

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

Jenzat is located at latitude 46.160555555556°N and longitude 3.1952777777778°E, placing it in the central-eastern part of France within the Allier department.

**What is the population of Jenzat?**

Jenzat has recorded population figures of 522, 513, 538, 508, 513, 492, 451, 422, 439, 450, 504, 520, 519, 524, 515, 521, and 517 across various census periods, demonstrating fluctuations in population over time.

**What is the website for Jenzat?**

The official or associated website for Jenzat is https://www.intramuros.org/jenzat, which appears to be an intramuros directory or local information resource.

## Why It Matters

Jenzat matters as an example of the fundamental building block of French local administration. As a commune, it represents the most grassroots level of democratic governance in France, where municipal councils make decisions affecting local daily life, urban planning, and community services. The commune system, established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replaced the earlier system of parishes and has become a cornerstone of France's administrative structure, with over 35,000 communes across the country.

The commune's location in the Allier department places it within a region known for its thermal springs (Vichy), its agricultural heritage, and its role in French cultural history. Understanding Jenzat provides insight into how France maintains its distinctive system of local governance, where even small settlements have formal administrative recognition and the ability to participate in local decision-making through elected municipal councils.

## Notable For

- **Administrative Heritage**: Jenzat represents one of France's approximately 35,000 communes, the foundational unit of French local government established in 1789
- **Historical Department**: Located in Allier, a department created during the French Revolution in 1790
- **Thermal Region Proximity**: Situated near Vichy, famous for its thermal waters and spa culture
- **Rural Character**: Represents the many small communes that form the backbone of French territorial organization

## Body

### Geography and Location

Jenzat is positioned at coordinates 46.160555555556°N latitude and 3.1952777777778°E longitude, placing it in the central part of France within the Allier department. The commune lies in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a region characterized by its diverse landscapes ranging from volcanic mountains to river valleys. The area benefits from France's central European position, with the country operating on Central European Time (UTC+01:00) and observing Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) during appropriate seasons.

### Administrative Structure

Jenzat operates as a commune, which is the French equivalent of a municipality or township. This administrative division represents the lowest level of local government in France and has existed in its current form since 1789, when the French Revolution abolished the previous parish-based system and established communes as the fundamental territorial units for local administration.

The commune is situated within the Allier department, which was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the revolutionary government's effort to create a more rational and uniform administrative structure across France. Allier is named after the Allier River that flows through the department. Jenzat falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Vichy, which serves as a sub-division of the department for administrative, judicial, and electoral purposes.

### Population and Demographics

Jenzat has experienced population fluctuations over time, with recorded figures including 522, 513, 538, 508, 513, 492, 451, 422, 439, 450, 504, 520, 519, 524, 515, 521, and 517 residents across various census periods. These numbers reflect the demographic trends common in many rural French communes, where population can vary due to factors including employment opportunities, agricultural changes, and broader urbanization patterns affecting smaller settlements.

### Historical Context

The commune system in France, which includes Jenzat, traces its origins to the French Revolution. On December 14, 1789, the National Constituent Assembly passed legislation establishing communes as the basic territorial units of France, replacing the earlier system of parishes and feudal divisions. This revolutionary creation aimed to standardize local administration and promote democratic governance at the grassroots level.

The Allier department itself was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into 83 departments. The department was formed from parts of the former province of Bourbonnais and has maintained its administrative identity through various political regimes, including the monarchy, the First and Second French Empires, and the multiple French Republics.

### Regional Context

Jenzat is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, one of France's 18 administrative regions. This region encompasses diverse territories ranging from the volcanic Massif Central to the Alpine mountain ranges. The region is known for its agricultural production, thermal tourism (particularly in Vichy), and its balance between urban centers like Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand and rural areas containing communes like Jenzat.

The arrondissement of Vichy, within which Jenzat is located, is particularly known for its thermal springs and spa heritage. Vichy has been a destination for thermal tourism since Roman times and developed significantly during the 19th century as one of France's premier spa towns. The presence of this thermal industry has influenced the economic and cultural development of the surrounding area, including communes like Jenzat.

### Local Governance

As a French commune, Jenzat is governed by a municipal council elected by residents. The mayor and council members serve as the local administrative authority, making decisions on matters including local taxes, public services, urban planning, maintenance of public spaces, and community events. French law grants communes significant autonomy in local matters while maintaining oversight from departmental and regional authorities.

Communes in France maintain certain distinctive features, including the mayor's dual role as both a local elected official and an agent of the central government, responsible for maintaining civil records (births, marriages, deaths) and administering national elections.

### Connection to Broader French Administrative System

Jenzat exists within France's hierarchical administrative structure, which includes (from largest to smallest): region, department, arrondissement, canton, and commune. This system reflects France's unitary state tradition, where local divisions are created and governed according to national legislation rather than through federal or confederal arrangements.

France's administrative organization also extends beyond metropolitan territory to overseas departments and territories, giving France a presence in the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. However, Jenzat, as a commune in central France, represents the metropolitan French territory in Western Europe.

### Digital Presence

Jenzat has a digital presence through the website https://www.intramuros.org/jenzat, which appears to be part of a directory or information system for French communes. The commune also has a Wikipedia article (indicated by the sitelink count of 42), demonstrating its recognition within the broader ecosystem of French municipal information resources available online.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
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. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
23. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File