# La Bellière > commune in Orne, France **Wikidata**: [Q1095294](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1095294) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bellière,_Orne) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/la-belli-re ## Summary La Bellière is a commune located in the Orne department in the Normandy region of northwestern France. It sits at coordinates 48.625833333333° latitude and -0.034166666666667° longitude. As a French commune, it serves as a territorial subdivision within the French administrative system. ## Key Facts - **Country**: France - **Region**: Normandy - **Department**: Orne (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Arrondissements**: Argentan, Alençon - **Historical Canton**: Mortrée (until March 2015) - **Coordinates**: 48.625833333333°N, -0.034166666666667°W - **Population**: 121 (multiple recorded years), fluctuating between 121 and 132 - **Wikipedia Title**: La Bellière, Orne - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Orne, France - **Sitelink Count**: 43 - **Commune Status**: Territorial subdivision of France (commune system established: 1789) ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is La Bellière?** La Bellière is a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 and serves as the equivalent of a municipality or township. **Which department and region is La Bellière located in?** La Bellière is located in the Orne department, which is part of the Normandy region in northwestern France. The Orne department was created on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution. **What arrondissements does La Bellière belong to?** La Bellière is associated with both the arrondissement of Argentan and the arrondissement of Alençon, which are administrative divisions within the Orne department. **What was the historical administrative affiliation of La Bellière?** Prior to March 2015, La Bellière was part of the canton of Mortrée. Administrative reorganizations in France that year led to changes in cantonal boundaries and memberships. **What is the population of La Bellière?** The population of La Bellière has fluctuated between 121 and 132 residents across recorded years, with figures including 121, 124, 125, 128, 129, 131, and 132 inhabitants. ## Why It Matters La Bellière represents the granular administrative structure that forms the foundation of French territorial organization. As one of France's approximately 35,000 communes, it embodies the decentralized governance model that characterizes the French Republic. Communes like La Bellière serve as the most local level of government, responsible for basic municipal services and representing citizens' direct connection to the national administrative system. The commune's location in Normandy places it in a region of significant historical importance. Normandy is renowned for its role in medieval history, including the Norman Conquest of England, and for its World War II significance during the D-Day landings. The Orne department specifically contains numerous small communes that contribute to the agricultural character and rural heritage of the region. For researchers and those studying French administrative geography, La Bellière exemplifies the commune system that has been in place since the French Revolution. Its association with multiple administrative levels—canton (historical), arrondissement, department, and region—demonstrates the multi-tiered governance structure that France employs to balance local representation with regional coordination. ## Notable For - **Rural Normandy Location**: Situated in the agricultural heartland of the Normandy region - **Administrative History**: Part of the canton of Mortrée until the 2015 French cantonal reorganizations - **Coordinate Position**: Located at nearly 48.6° north latitude, placing it in the temperate climate zone of northern France - **Multi-Aroundness**: Connected to two arrondissements (Argentan and Alençon), demonstrating its administrative importance within the department ## Body ### Geography and Location La Bellière is situated in the northwestern French department of Orne, which is part of the Normandy region. The commune's precise geographic coordinates are 48.625833333333° north latitude and -0.034166666666667° east longitude. This places it in the southern portion of the Normandy region, within reasonable distance of both the Atlantic coast and the interior of France. The Orne department is named after the Orne River that flows through the region. Normandy as a whole is known for its rolling countryside, agricultural lands, and historical towns. The region experiences a temperate oceanic climate with moderate temperatures year-round, typical of northwestern France. ### Administrative Structure La Bellière functions as a commune, which is the fundamental territorial division in France. The French commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the basic unit of local government. France is divided into approximately 35,000 communes, each with its own mayor and municipal council. The commune belongs to the Orne department, which was created on March 4, 1790. Orne is one of the original departments created during the Revolution and is part of the Normandy region. The department is subdivided into arrondissements, and La Bellière is associated with both the arrondissement of Argentan and the arrondissement of Argentan. Historically, La Bellière was part of the canton of Mortrée until March 2015. Cantons serve as electoral districts for elections to the departmental council and also provide some administrative functions. The 2015 cantonal reforms in France led to significant changes in cantonal boundaries and the number of cantons nationwide. ### Population and Demographics The population of La Bellière has remained small, consistent with many rural communes in Normandy and throughout France. Recorded population figures show fluctuations between 121 and 132 residents across multiple census periods. This population size is typical of rural communes in the Orne department, where many small villages and communes have experienced population stability or modest decline in recent decades. Small communes like La Bellière often face challenges related to aging populations and limited services, which are common throughout rural France. However, they also preserve the traditional character and cultural heritage of the French countryside. ### Historical Context The commune system in France dates to 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the previous administrative divisions of the Ancien Régime (provinces, parishes, etc.) and replaced them with a uniform system of departments, districts, cantons, and communes. This reorganization was part of the broader revolutionary effort to create a rational, uniform administrative structure based on the principles of equality and centralization. The Orne department was established in March 1790, during the early Revolutionary period. The department was named after the Orne River, which flows through the region. Normandy as a whole has a rich history dating back to the Viking settlements of the 10th century, and the region played crucial roles in both medieval European history and the World War II Allied landings. ### Relationship to Other Administrative Entities La Bellière is connected to several layers of French administrative organization: - **Commune Level**: La Bellière itself as a municipal division - **Canton Level**: Formerly part of the canton of Mortrée (until 2015) - **Arrondissement Level**: Associated with both Argentan and Alençon arrondissements - **Department Level**: Part of the Orne department - **Regional Level**: Part of the Normandy region - **National Level**: Part of the French Republic This multi-tiered structure is characteristic of French administrative organization, which balances local autonomy with regional coordination and national unity. ### Significance in French Administrative Geography As a small rural commune, La Bellière exemplifies the French approach to local governance. The commune system ensures that even the smallest settlements have a recognized administrative identity and local government representation. This stands in contrast to administrative systems in some other countries where very small settlements might be incorporated into larger municipal units. The commune of La Bellière, with its population of approximately 120-130 residents, represents the thousands of small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial organization. These communes maintain municipal records, provide basic services to residents, and serve as the most immediate level of government for French citizens. ## 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 2019 11. Populations légales 2020 12. Populations légales 2021 13. Populations de référence 2022 14. Populations de référence 2023 15. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 16. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 17. GeoNames 18. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 19. [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) 20. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)