# Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs

> commune in Allier, France

**Wikidata**: [Q867915](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q867915)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-nicolas-des-biefs

## Summary

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is a commune located in the Allier department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in central France. Situated in the mountainous southeastern part of the department, this small rural municipality falls within the arrondissement of Vichy and the canton of Le Mayet-de-Montagne. The commune sits at coordinates 46.059722222222°N latitude and 3.7827777777778°E longitude, representing a traditional French rural community in the heart of the Bourbonnais territory.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: Southeastern Allier department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, France
- **Administrative Status**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision established 1789)
- **Canton**: Le Mayet-de-Montagne
- **Department**: Allier (established March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Vichy
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 46.059722222222°N, 3.7827777777778°E
- **Official Website**: https://www.saint-nicolas-des-biefs.com/
- **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Allier, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 43
- **Historical Population**: 176, 178, 179, 171, 168, 333, 226, 168, 145, 160, 176, 180, 165, 163, 162, 153, 146 (various census years)

## FAQs

**What region and department is Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs located in?**

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, specifically within the Allier department. The commune is part of the arrondissement of Vichy and the canton of Le Mayet-de-Montagne, placing it in the southeastern portion of the Allier department.

**What type of administrative area is Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs?**

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is classified as a commune, which is the lowest-level territorial subdivision in France for municipalities. The French commune system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution and serves as the fundamental unit of local government throughout France.

**What are the geographic coordinates of Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs?**

The commune is located at latitude 46.059722222222 degrees north and longitude 3.7827777777778 degrees east, positioning it in the southeastern part of the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

**How can I find more information about Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs?**

Additional information about the commune can be found on its official website at https://www.saint-nicolas-des-biefs.com/. The commune also has a presence on Wikipedia and Wikidata, with a sitelink count of 43 indicating moderate cross-referencing with other Wikimedia projects.

## Why It Matters

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs represents the traditional rural commune structure that forms the backbone of French territorial administration. While small in population, such communes are essential to understanding France's decentralized governance system, where municipalities handle local affairs ranging from urban planning to civil registration. The commune's location in the Allier department places it within the historical region of Bourbonnais, which contributes to the cultural and administrative identity of central France. The presence of 17 distinct population figures across different census years reflects the demographic fluctuations common in rural French communes, where population trends often mirror broader socioeconomic shifts affecting small agricultural communities. Understanding Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs provides insight into how France maintains its extensive network of over 35,000 communes, each serving as a vital link between citizens and national government while preserving local traditions and identities.

## Notable For

- Part of the historic Bourbonnais region in central France
- Located in the southeastern mountainous portion of Allier department
- Member of the canton of Le Mayet-de-Montagne
- Official website presence demonstrating digital local governance
- Moderate Wikimedia cross-referencing with 43 sitelinks

## Body

### Geography and Location

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is positioned in the southeastern part of the Allier department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France. The commune's geographic coordinates place it at 46.059722222222 degrees north latitude and 3.7827777777778 degrees east longitude. This location situates the commune in a predominantly rural and somewhat mountainous area of the department, distinguishing it from the more urbanized northern portions of Allier. The commune falls within the administrative framework of the arrondissement of Vichy, which serves as a regional administrative center for the surrounding municipalities. The territory of Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs contributes to the overall geographic and administrative diversity of the Allier department, which spans both more fertile lowland areas in the north and more elevated terrain in the south and east.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs operates as a territorial subdivision within the French administrative hierarchy. The commune system in France traces its origins to 1789, when the French Revolution established municipalities as the fundamental units of local government. Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs is part of the canton of Le Mayet-de-Montagne, which serves as an electoral district for certain departmental elections and represents an intermediate level of administrative organization between communes and the department. The commune belongs to the Allier department, which was officially established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution when France was reorganized into departments. At the higher regional level, Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs falls within Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, one of France's 18 administrative regions created through regional reorganization. The arrondissement of Vichy provides another layer of administrative coordination for the commune and surrounding municipalities.

### Demographics and Population

The population data for Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs reveals a series of figures across multiple census years: 176, 178, 179, 171, 168, 333, 226, 168, 145, 160, 176, 180, 165, 163, 162, 153, and 146 residents. These figures demonstrate significant population fluctuation over time, with the commune experiencing periods of growth and decline typical of rural French municipalities. The variation between figures such as 333 (likely representing a peak period) and lower figures around 145-171 reflects the demographic challenges facing many small rural communes in France, where limited economic opportunities have sometimes led to population decline. However, the more recent figures in the 150-180 range suggest a relatively stable population level, indicating that the commune has maintained a consistent presence as a residential community. The population figures collectively represent over a century or more of demographic history, capturing the evolution of this small rural community through various periods of French history.

### Local Governance and Services

Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs maintains local governance through the commune administrative system, which in France typically includes a mayor and municipal council. The commune's official website at https://www.saint-nicolas-des-biefs.com/ indicates that the municipality has developed digital infrastructure to communicate with residents and provide administrative services. This online presence reflects the modernization of French local government and the commitment to maintaining public services in rural communities. The commune likely provides essential services including civil registration (births, marriages, deaths), local taxation, municipal planning, and coordination of local public works. As part of the canton of Le Mayet-de-Montagne, residents of Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs also participate in cantonal elections and benefit from services coordinated at that level. The administrative structure ensures that even small communes like Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs maintain direct connections to departmental and regional governance while preserving local autonomy in matters affecting the community.

### Cultural and Historical Context

The commune's name, Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs, reflects the French tradition of naming settlements after patron saints and local geographic features. The "des Biefs" portion likely refers to local water features or irrigation channels, common in rural French toponymy. The commune's location in the historical region of Bourbonnais contributes to its cultural identity, as this former province of France has its own distinct traditions, architecture, and social customs. The Allier department as a whole is known for its thermal springs (particularly in Vichy), its bourbon heritage (giving the name to American bourbon whiskey), and its role in French agricultural production. Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs participates in this broader regional identity while maintaining its own unique local character as a small rural community in the French administrative system.

### External References and Digital Presence

The commune has established a digital presence through its official website and cross-referencing with Wikimedia projects. With a sitelink count of 43, Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs maintains moderate visibility in the digital information ecosystem, indicating that the commune appears in various Wikipedia language editions and related Wikimedia projects. The Wikipedia title "Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs" and Wikidata description "commune in Allier, France" provide standardized digital identifiers for the municipality. This digital presence facilitates access to information about the commune for researchers, travelers, and citizens interested in French local administration. The official website serves as a primary point of contact for municipal information, providing residents and visitors with access to local news, administrative procedures, and community information.

## 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)