# La Touche

> commune in Drôme, France

**Wikidata**: [Q266206](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q266206)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Touche,_Drôme)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/la-touche

## Summary
La Touche is a commune located in the Drôme department of France, within the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence. It is a small rural municipality with a population fluctuating around 250 residents, situated in the southeastern part of the country.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Commune in the Drôme department, France.
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence.
- **Population**: Varies historically between 110 and 261 residents (e.g., 239 in one record, 258 in another).
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.515, Longitude 4.8869444444444.
- **Aliases**: Also known as "La Toscha."
- **Website**: http://www.la-touche.fr.
- **Wikidata Description**: "commune in Drôme, France."
- **Sitelink Count**: 40 (Wikidata).
- **Wikipedia Title**: "La Touche, Drôme."
- **Image License**: Public domain (CC0), attributed to Romainbehar.

## FAQs
**Where is La Touche located?**
La Touche is a commune in the Drôme department of France, situated within the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence in the southeastern region of the country.

**What is the population of La Touche?**
The population of La Touche has varied over time, with recorded figures ranging from 110 to 261 residents. Recent estimates include 258, 261, and 260 inhabitants.

**What are the administrative divisions associated with La Touche?**
La Touche is part of the Drôme department and falls under the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence. It is classified as a commune, a type of territorial subdivision in France established in 1789.

**What is the significance of the name "La Touche"?**
The commune is also known by the alias "La Toscha," though its primary name remains La Touche. The origin or meaning of the name is not specified in the provided data.

**What visual representations exist for La Touche?**
An image of La Touche, taken from its cemetery with a view of the village, is available under a public domain license (CC0). The photograph is attributed to Romainbehar and can be accessed via Wikimedia Commons.

## Why It Matters
La Touche represents the small-scale administrative and cultural fabric of rural France. As a commune within the Drôme department, it contributes to the local governance and community structure that defines France’s decentralized administrative system. Its existence reflects the broader historical and political organization of French municipalities, which have been in place since the French Revolution (1789). While not a major urban center, La Touche’s role as a rural commune highlights the diversity of French settlements and the importance of preserving local identities within a larger national framework.

## Notable For
- **Rural Commune**: A small municipality in the Drôme department, exemplifying France’s administrative structure at the local level.
- **Population Fluctuations**: Historical population records show variability, with figures ranging from 110 to 261 residents.
- **Dual Arrondissement Affiliation**: Unique in being part of both the Nyons and Valence arrondissements.
- **Public Domain Imagery**: Features a publicly available image of the village, providing visual documentation of its landscape.
- **Alias**: Known alternatively as "La Toscha," adding a layer of linguistic or historical interest.

## Body

### Geography and Location
La Touche is situated in the Drôme department of France, a region known for its diverse landscapes, including the Rhône Valley and the foothills of the Alps. The commune’s coordinates are approximately 44.515° N latitude and 4.8869444444444° E longitude, placing it in the southeastern part of the country. It is administratively divided between the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence, which are key regional divisions within Drôme.

### Administrative Structure
As a commune, La Touche is part of France’s lowest level of administrative division, established during the French Revolution in 1789. Communes are responsible for local governance, including public services, urban planning, and community development. La Touche’s affiliation with two arrondissements (Nyons and Valence) is notable, as most communes typically fall under a single arrondissement. This dual affiliation may reflect historical or logistical considerations in the region’s administrative organization.

### Demographics
The population of La Touche has experienced fluctuations over time, with recorded figures including:
- 239, 245, 258, 253, 255, 123, 110, 118, 123, 161, 184, 227, 258, 261, 261, 260, and 260 residents.
These variations suggest changes in local economic conditions, migration patterns, or administrative adjustments. The most recent figures hover around 250–260 inhabitants, classifying La Touche as a small rural commune.

### Visual and Cultural Representation
An image of La Touche, captured from its cemetery with a view of the village, is available under a public domain license (CC0). The photograph, attributed to Romainbehar, provides a visual representation of the commune’s landscape and architectural character. This imagery is accessible via Wikimedia Commons and serves as a cultural and historical record of the area.

### Related Administrative Entities
La Touche is connected to several higher-level administrative entities:
- **Drôme Department**: A French department created in 1790, encompassing a diverse range of landscapes and communities.
- **Arrondissement of Nyons**: One of the three arrondissements in Drôme, known for its agricultural and tourist attractions.
- **Arrondissement of Valence**: Another key arrondissement in Drôme, serving as a regional hub for commerce and administration.
- **Commune of France**: The broader category of municipal divisions to which La Touche belongs, established in 1789.

### Online Presence
La Touche maintains an official website at http://www.la-touche.fr, which likely provides local information, administrative details, and community updates. The commune’s Wikipedia page, titled "La Touche, Drôme," offers additional contextual information, though specific details are limited in the provided data.

### Historical Context
The commune system in France, of which La Touche is a part, was introduced during the French Revolution to replace the previous feudal and ecclesiastical divisions. This system aimed to create a more rational and uniform administrative structure, reflecting the revolutionary ideals of equality and decentralization. La Touche’s existence as a commune thus ties it to this broader historical narrative of French governance and local autonomy.

### Unique Features
La Touche’s dual affiliation with the arrondissements of Nyons and Valence is a distinctive administrative feature. Additionally, its alias "La Toscha" adds a layer of linguistic or historical intrigue, though the origin of this name is not detailed in the provided data. The availability of public domain imagery further distinguishes La Touche as a visually documented rural commune.

## References

1. BnF authorities
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)