# Meillard

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q243666](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243666)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meillard)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/meillard

## Summary
Meillard is a commune located in the Allier department of France. It is a small rural municipality in the Bourbonnais region, part of the administrative arrondissement of Moulins and historically associated with the canton of Le Montet.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Meillard is situated in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France.
- **Country**: France.
- **Administrative Region**: Part of the arrondissement of Moulins.
- **Historical Canton**: Le Montet (until March 2015).
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 46.389444444444, Longitude 3.235.
- **Population Trends**: Ranging from 249 to 342 inhabitants over recent decades, with the latest figures showing a population of approximately 303.
- **Website**: [http://www.mairiedemeillard.com](http://www.mairiedemeillard.com)
- **Wikipedia Title**: Meillard.
- **Wikidata Description**: Commune in Allier, France.
- **Sitelink Count**: 42.
- **Commune Classification**: Part of the commune of France territorial subdivision system, established in 1789.

## FAQs

**What is Meillard?**  
Meillard is a commune in the Allier department in central France. It is a small rural municipality located in the historical region of Bourbonnais and is part of the arrondissement of Moulins.

**Where is Meillard located?**  
Meillard is located in the Allier department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 46.3894° N and 3.235° E.

**What is the population of Meillard?**  
The population of Meillard has varied over time, with recent figures ranging from 249 to 342 residents. As of the latest data, the population is approximately 303.

**What administrative divisions is Meillard part of?**  
Meillard is part of the Allier department, which was created on March 4, 1790. It belongs to the arrondissement of Moulins and was historically within the canton of Le Montet until March 2015.

**What is the significance of Meillard's website?**  
The official website of Meillard is [http://www.mairiedemeillard.com](http://www.mairiedemeillard.com), which serves as a resource for local governance and community information.

**What distinguishes Meillard from other French communes?**  
Meillard is a typical small rural commune in central France, notable for its historical ties to the canton of Le Montet and its integration into the broader administrative structure of the Allier department.

## Why It Matters
Meillard represents a small but integral part of France's decentralized administrative structure. As a commune, it plays a role in local governance, community identity, and regional cohesion within the Allier department. Its historical and administrative connections to the canton of Le Montet and the arrondissement of Moulins highlight its place within the evolution of French local government reforms. Though small, Meillard contributes to the cultural and demographic fabric of rural France, reflecting trends in population change and local civic engagement.

## Notable For
- **Rural Identity**: A small commune in the Allier department, representing rural France.
- **Historical Canton**: Formerly part of the canton of Le Montet, reflecting pre-2015 French administrative divisions.
- **Population Trends**: Displays demographic fluctuations typical of small French communes.
- **Local Governance**: Operates under the French municipal system established in 1789.
- **Geographic Position**: Located in the Bourbonnais region, contributing to the cultural landscape of central France.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Meillard is a commune located in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 46.3894° N latitude and 3.235° E longitude. The commune is part of the historical and cultural region of Bourbonnais, which is known for its rural character and traditional French countryside.

### Administrative Structure
Meillard is classified as a commune, a territorial subdivision for municipalities in France established in 1789. It is part of the Allier department, which was created on March 4, 1790. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Moulins, one of the administrative divisions within Allier. Prior to March 2015, it was part of the canton of Le Montet, which was dissolved as part of broader French administrative reforms.

### Demographics
The population of Meillard has fluctuated in recent decades, with recorded figures including 299, 310, 321, 318, 328, 342, 340, 300, 280, 249, 296, 331, 323, 315, 307, and most recently 303. These variations reflect the demographic trends common to small rural communes in France, where population sizes can be sensitive to economic and social changes.

### Governance and Local Representation
As a commune, Meillard is part of the French municipal system, which is the foundational level of local governance in France. The commune likely operates under a mayor and municipal council, in line with the standard structure for French communes. The official website, [http://www.mairiedemeillard.com](http://www.mairiedemeillard.com), provides a platform for civic engagement and local information dissemination.

### Historical Context
The commune is historically linked to the canton of Le Montet, which was in existence until it was restructured in 2015. This reflects the broader administrative evolution in France, particularly the redrawing of cantonal boundaries and the reorganization of local governance structures.

### Cultural and Regional Significance
Meillard is part of the broader cultural region of Bourbonnais, which has a distinct historical identity within France. The commune contributes to the preservation of rural French heritage and traditions, maintaining its place within the decentralized French administrative model.

### Related Entities
- **Allier Department**: The administrative department to which Meillard belongs, established in 1790.
- **Arrondissement of Moulins**: The larger administrative unit overseeing Meillard.
- **Canton of Le Montet**: The former canton that included Meillard until 2015.
- **France**: The sovereign state in which Meillard is located, with a complex administrative and historical background dating to the Treaty of Verdun (843 AD) and the founding of the modern French state.

### Online Presence and Visibility
Meillard has a modest but functional digital presence through its official website, which supports local governance and communication. It is also documented on Wikipedia and Wikidata, with a sitelink count of 42, indicating a moderate level of digital documentation and public interest.

## 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 communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [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)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)