# Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses > commune in Ain, France **Wikidata**: [Q515730](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q515730) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-germain-les-paroisses ## Summary Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses is a commune located in the Ain department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France, situated approximately 45.77°N latitude and 5.62°E longitude. The commune, which also operates under the alternative names Mont-Challière and Mont-les-Paroisses, is part of the arrondissement of Belley and serves as a territorial subdivision within the French municipal system. With a historical population trajectory spanning from 264 to 438 residents across various census periods, this small rural commune represents the typical administrative structure of rural France. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses - **Alternative Names**: Mont-Challière, Mont-les-Paroisses - **Country**: France - **Administrative Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - **Department**: Ain (inception: March 4, 1790) - **Arrondissement**: Belley - **Commune Type**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789) - **Coordinates**: Latitude 45.773611111111° N, Longitude 5.6180555555556° E - **Population**: Historical data shows values ranging from 264 to 438 residents across multiple census years (264, 258, 273, 294, 307, 357, 397, 408, 422, 423, 425, 426, 429, 431, 434, 438) - **Website**: http://saintgermainlesparoisses.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Ain, France - **Sitelink Count**: 49 ## FAQs **What region and department is Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses located in?** Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses is situated in the Ain department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. The commune falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Belley, which oversees smaller territorial units in this portion of the Ain department. **What is the geographical position of Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses?** The commune is positioned at coordinates 45.773611111111° north latitude and 5.6180555555556° east longitude, placing it in the southeastern portion of the Ain department near the geographical center of what could be considered eastern France. **What type of administrative entity is Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses?** Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses is classified as a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France. This municipal structure has been in place since 1789, following the French Revolution, and represents the fundamental unit of local government throughout France. **What alternative names is Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses known by?** Beyond its primary designation, the commune has historically been referred to as Mont-Challière and Mont-les-Paroisses, reflecting perhaps local geographical features or historical naming conventions specific to the area. **How many people live in Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses?** Population figures for Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses have fluctuated over time, with recorded values spanning from 264 to 438 residents across various census periods. These figures indicate a relatively small rural commune typical of the departmental interior of Ain. **What is the administrative relationship between Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses and higher-level French governance?** The commune is subordinate to multiple levels of French administrative organization: it belongs to the Ain department (established March 4, 1790), which is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and falls within the arrondissement of Belley for administrative and electoral purposes. ## Why It Matters Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses, while a small commune, represents an essential component of the French administrative fabric that has governed the nation since the revolutionary period of 1789. The commune system in France serves as the most fundamental level of local governance, responsible for municipal services, local planning, and community organization. As part of the Ain department—a region known for its diverse geography spanning the Jura mountains, the Rhône valley, and the Bresse plain—Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses contributes to the administrative infrastructure that manages rural populations and maintains territorial organization across France. The commune's position within the arrondissement of Belley places it in an area of historical and administrative significance. Belley itself has served as a subprefecture, and the arrangement of communes within this arrondissement reflects centuries of territorial organization. For residents of Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses, this administrative structure provides local governance, access to departmental services, and representation within the broader French political system. From a geographical perspective, the commune's coordinates at 45.77°N and 5.62°E situate it in a region characterized by transitional climate patterns between continental and mountain influences. The area represents the type of rural France that maintains agricultural traditions, local cultural practices, and community structures that have defined French provincial life for generations. ## Notable For - **Historical Municipal Structure**: As a commune established under the revolutionary administrative reforms of 1789, Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses represents one of the foundational territorial units of modern French governance. - **Alternative Naming**: The commune's historical names (Mont-Challière and Mont-les-Paroisses) reflect local geographical and cultural heritage. - **Departmental Heritage**: Located in Ain, one of France's original 83 departments created during the Revolution, the commune participates in a system of territorial organization that dates back over two centuries. - **Rural Character**: The population figures demonstrate the commune's maintained status as a small rural settlement, typical of the interior regions of eastern France. ## Body ### Geography and Location Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses is geographically positioned at latitude 45.773611111111° north and longitude 5.6180555555556° east. This location places the commune in the eastern portion of the Ain department, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The terrain of this area generally reflects the characteristics of the Bresse plain and the foothills leading toward the Jura mountains, offering agricultural land interspersed with forested areas typical of this transitional zone between the Rhône valley and the mountainous eastern frontier. ### Administrative History and Structure The commune of Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses operates within the French administrative hierarchy that was fundamentally restructured during the French Revolution. The commune system itself dates to 1789, when the revolutionary government abolished the previous feudal administrative divisions in favor of a uniform system of municipalities. This system has persisted through subsequent regime changes, including the Napoleonic era, the restoration of the monarchy, and the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958. Ain department, to which Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses belongs, was created on March 4, 1790, as part of the initial division of France into departments. This department was formed from territory previously part of the province of Bresse, along with portions of Dombes and other historical regions. The department takes its name from the Ain River, which flows through the region. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Belley, which serves as an administrative subdivision responsible for coordinating departmental services and representing state authority at the local level. Belley, as a subprefecture, maintains administrative facilities and services that serve the surrounding communes including Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses. ### Demographics and Population The population data for Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses reveals fluctuations typical of small rural French communes. The recorded population values across multiple census periods include figures ranging from 264 to 438 residents. These variations reflect broader demographic trends affecting rural France, including urbanization pressures that have drawn younger populations toward larger cities, while sometimes experiencing counter-urbanization as individuals seek rural lifestyles. The relatively small population places Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses among the numerous communes in rural France that maintain essential municipal services for their residents while participating in intercommunal structures for shared services such as waste management, school transportation, and economic development initiatives. ### Local Identity and Community The alternative names Mont-Challière and Mont-les-Paroisses suggest historical connections to local topography and religious institutions. The suffix "-les-Paroisses" (meaning "the parishes") indicates the commune's historical relationship with church parishes, while "Mont-Challière" likely references a local hill or elevation. Such naming conventions are common in French rural communes, where geographical features and religious institutions often provided the basis for place names. The commune maintains a municipal website at http://saintgermainlesparoisses.fr, demonstrating contemporary efforts to maintain digital presence and communication with residents and visitors. This online presence reflects the integration of modern administrative practices within the traditional commune structure. ### Regional Context Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses exists within a region of considerable geographical and cultural diversity. The Ain department encompasses multiple distinct geographical zones: the Bresse plain to the west, characterized by agricultural land and poultry farming; the Dombes region, known for its lakes and fish farming tradition; the Jura mountains in the east, offering skiing and mountaineering opportunities; and the Rhône valley corridor, which provides transportation routes and economic connectivity toward Lyon and Geneva. The arrondissement of Belley specifically covers the southeastern portion of the department, an area that includes both mountainous terrain and valley settlements. This region has historically served as a transition zone between the Alpine regions and the more gentle terrain of central France. ### Administrative Classification The commune's classification as a "commune in Ain, France" (as per Wikidata description) represents its fundamental designation within the French territorial taxonomy. This classification system, managed through Wikidata and Wikipedia, provides standardized identifiers that enable cross-referencing of geographical and administrative entities across knowledge bases. The sitelink count of 49 indicates the number of Wikipedia language editions that contain an entry for Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses, suggesting moderate international recognition for this commune within the broader Wikipedia ecosystem. ### Relationship to Connected Entities Saint-Germain-les-Paroisses maintains administrative relationships with several higher-level entities within the French state structure. The chain of administrative hierarchy flows from the commune itself upward through the arrondissement of Belley, to the Ain department, to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, and ultimately to the national government in Paris. This hierarchical structure, while modified over time, remains the foundation of French territorial administration. The commune also connects to the broader system of French communes, of which there are approximately 35,000 nationwide. Each commune, regardless of population size, maintains certain legal personality and administrative responsibilities, making the commune system one of the most extensive systems of local government in Europe. ## 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)