# Peipin > commune in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France **Wikidata**: [Q383608](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q383608) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peipin) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/peipin ## Summary Peipin is a commune located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Situated at coordinates 44.1369°N latitude and 5.9567°E longitude, the commune belongs to the arrondissement of Forcalquier and was historically part of the canton of Volonne until March 2015. As a commune of France—a territorial subdivision dating back to 1789—Peipin represents one of the fundamental administrative units of the French Republic. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Peipin is situated in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France - **Administrative divisions**: Arrondissement of Forcalquier; formerly canton of Volonne (until March 2015) - **Country**: France, a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union - **Department inception**: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence was established on March 4, 1790 - **Commune system inception**: The French commune system dates to 1789 - **Coordinates**: Latitude 44.136944444444°N, Longitude 5.9566666666667°E - **Website**: https://peipin.fr - **Wikipedia title**: Peipin - **Wikidata description**: commune in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France - **Sitelink count**: 44 - **Population values recorded**: 1490, 1476, 1509, 1464, 1455, 433, 534, 710, 1008, 1049, 1179, 1412, 1448, 1463, 1480, 1496, 1506 ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Peipin?** Peipin is a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial administrative division in France. Communes are analogous to municipalities or townships in other countries and serve as the fundamental unit of local government. The commune system in France was established in 1789 following the French Revolution, replacing the previous parish and seneschalty structures. **Which department and region does Peipin belong to?** Peipin is located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, which was created on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution. The department is part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France, a region known for its Mediterranean climate, alpine landscapes, and cultural heritage. **What is Peipin's administrative history?** Historically, Peipin was part of the canton of Volonne until March 2015, when French administrative boundaries were reorganized. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Forcalquier, which is one of the arrondissements (administrative districts) within Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. **How can I find more information about Peipin?** The official municipal website for Peipin is available at https://peipin.fr, where local government information, community news, and administrative services can be accessed. ## Why It Matters Peipin matters as an example of the granular administrative structure that defines French local governance. The commune system, with over 35,000 communes across France, represents one of the most decentralized administrative frameworks in Europe, allowing for local self-determination while remaining integrated into national structures. As part of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence—a department created during the foundational period of the French Republic—Peipin embodies the continuity of revolutionary administrative reforms that replaced the ancient regime's provinces with rational, uniform territorial divisions. The commune's location in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region positions it within one of France's most economically and touristically significant areas. The region attracts millions of visitors annually to destinations including the French Riviera, alpine ski resorts, and lavender fields of Provence, making communes like Peipin part of France's broader cultural and economic landscape. ## Notable For - **Historical administrative continuity**: Part of the French commune system established in 1789, representing over two centuries of continuous municipal organization - **Departmental heritage**: Located in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, a department with origins dating to the French Revolution - **Regional significance**: Situated in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, one of France's most recognizable and visited regions - **Local governance**: Operates under the French municipal system with its own website (https://peipin.fr) for citizen services and information ## Body ### Geography and Location Peipin is geographically positioned at coordinates 44.136944444444°N latitude and 5.9566666666667°E longitude, placing it in the southeastern portion of France within the alpine foothills of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. The commune lies within the arrondissement of Forcalquier, an administrative district that encompasses numerous villages and towns characteristic of the mountainous terrain of southern France. The location situates Peipin within the broader Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, which borders Italy to the east and extends to the Mediterranean coast to the south. This region is renowned for its diverse geography, ranging from coastal areas along the French Riviera to alpine peaks in the northern sections of the region. ### Administrative Structure Peipin operates as a commune, which is the basic territorial collectivity in France. The French commune system traces its origins to the revolutionary period of 1789, when the National Constituent Assembly abolished the previous administrative divisions based on parishes and seneschalties and replaced them with a uniform system of municipalities or communes. Today, France contains approximately 35,000 communes, making it one of the most decentralized systems of local government in Europe. Prior to March 2015, Peipin was part of the canton of Volonne, an administrative subunit used for elections to the General Council of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and other departmental functions. Following the 2014 French cantonal reforms, which reduced the number of cantons in many departments to better reflect population distribution, the administrative organization of the area was modified. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Forcalquier, one of the four arrondissements in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Arrondissements serve as intermediate administrative divisions between departments and communes, handling various governmental functions including social welfare, infrastructure, and administrative coordination. ### Departmental Context Peipin is located in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, a department created on March 4, 1790, during the initial wave of departmental reorganization following the French Revolution. The department was formed from portions of the former province of Provence and surrounding territories, part of a systematic effort to replace the feudal and provincial divisions of the ancient regime with rational, geometric administrative units. Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is one of the original 83 departments created in 1790 and remains an essential unit of French territorial organization. The department is characterized by its mountainous terrain, part of the French Alps, combined with Mediterranean influences in its southern portions. Its prefecture (administrative capital) is Digne-les-Bains, while other major towns include Manosque, Sisteron, and Forcalquier. ### National Context: France Peipin exists within the broader context of the French Republic, a country that serves as one of the founding members of the European Union and holds permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with a unitary system of government, characterized by significant central authority combined with decentralized local administration through regions, departments, communes, and other territorial collectivities. The French administrative model emphasizes uniform organization across the national territory, with communes like Peipin operating under the same fundamental legal and administrative framework as urban municipalities like Paris or Marseille. This uniformity coexists with regional diversity in culture, language, and economic activity, particularly evident in regions like Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. ### Population and Demographics While the source material provides multiple population figures for Peipin (1490, 1476, 1509, 1464, 1455, 433, 534, 710, 1008, 1049, 1179, 1412, 1448, 1463, 1480, 1496, 1506), these likely represent historical census data or annual population estimates across different years. The variation in these figures suggests that Peipin, like many rural French communes, has experienced demographic fluctuations over time, possibly reflecting broader trends of rural depopulation followed by stabilization or modest growth. The population figures indicate a small to medium-sized commune by French standards, consistent with the rural and semi-rural character of much of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. Many communes in this department maintain populations under 2,000 residents, reflecting the dispersed settlement pattern of the mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain. ### Digital Presence Peipin maintains an official municipal website accessible at https://peipin.fr, providing information about local government services, community events, administrative procedures, and other matters of local interest. This digital presence reflects the broader trend of French communes developing online platforms to serve their citizens and provide access to municipal information and services. The commune's Wikipedia presence (sitelink count: 44) indicates moderate visibility in the broader information ecosystem, with connections to related articles about French administrative divisions, the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, and other related topics. ### Historical Context The establishment of Peipin as a commune reflects the broader transformation of French local government initiated by the French Revolution. The revolutionary period saw the replacement of the complex, hierarchical administrative structure of the ancien régime—with its provinces, généralités, and parishes—with a simpler, more uniform system based on departments, arrondissements, and communes. The canton of Volonne, to which Peipin belonged until 2015, represents another layer of this administrative evolution. Cantons were originally created as judicial districts but evolved into electoral constituencies for the General Councils that govern each department. The 2014 reforms, which took effect in March 2015, restructured many cantons to better represent demographic changes and improve administrative efficiency. ### Regional Identity Peipin is situated in the historical and cultural region of Provence, which extends beyond the modern administrative boundaries of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region to encompass parts of the Vaucluse, Var, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence departments. Provence is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, distinctive landscape of lavender fields, olive groves, and limestone hills, as well as its cultural heritage including the cities of Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Marseille. The arrondissement of Forcalquier, to which Peipin belongs, takes its name from the town of Forcalquier, a historic center that was once the capital of the County of Forcalquier, an independent medieval territory that was eventually absorbed into the Kingdom of France. This historical legacy contributes to the regional identity of the area surrounding Peipin. ## References 1. [Sandre](https://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/geo/CoursEau/X---0000) 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. [Source](https://archives04.fr/fichier/110779/2581) 5. répertoire géographique des communes 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Annuaire de service-public.fr 8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 9. Populations légales 2016 10. Populations légales 2017 11. Populations légales 2018 12. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602) 13. Populations légales 2019 14. Populations légales 2020 15. Populations légales 2021 16. Populations de référence 2022 17. Populations de référence 2023 18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 20. GeoNames 21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 22. [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) 23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)