Arrondissements of the Allier department facts for kids

Have you ever wondered how big areas like countries are divided into smaller parts? In France, a department like Allier is split into smaller areas called arrondissements. You can think of an arrondissement as a district or a borough.

Each arrondissement has a main city, which is like its capital. This main city is called a subprefecture. If the main city of the whole department is inside an arrondissement, then that city acts as both the department's capital and the arrondissement's capital!

These arrondissements are then divided even further into very small local areas called communes.

Here are the three arrondissements in the Allier department:

A Look Back: History of Allier's Arrondissements

The way the Allier department is divided has changed a few times since it was first created.

How Allier Started (1790)

• In 1790, when the Allier department was first made, it had seven smaller areas called districts.
• These districts were Cérilly, Moulins, Le Donjon, Cusset, Gannat, Montmarault, and Montluçon.
• The city of Moulins was chosen as the main capital for the whole department.

Changes in the 1800s

• By 1800, the seven districts were reorganized.
• They became four arrondissements: Moulins, Gannat, Lapalisse, and Montluçon.

Later Changes (1926-1942)

• In 1926, the arrondissement of Gannat was removed.
• Then, in 1942, something interesting happened. The main city of the arrondissement of Lapalisse was moved to Vichy.
• Because of this move, the arrondissement itself changed its name to the arrondissement of Vichy.

See Also

• Arrondissement of Montluçon
• Arrondissement of Moulins
• Arrondissement of Vichy
• List of arrondissements of France

Images for kids

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  Map of arrondissements of the Allier department.