Arrondissements of the Vienne department facts for kids
Arrondissements are like special districts within a larger area, often found in countries like France. Think of them as smaller parts that help organize a bigger region. In France, a department (which is similar to a state or province) is divided into these arrondissements.
The Vienne department in France has three main arrondissements. Each arrondissement has a main town or city called a subprefecture. If the main city of the whole department is inside an arrondissement, that city acts as both the department's capital and the arrondissement's subprefecture.
Arrondissements are further divided into even smaller areas called communes, which are like local towns or villages.
Vienne's Arrondissements
The Vienne department has three arrondissements, each with its own capital city and a certain number of communes:
- Châtellerault: This arrondissement has Châtellerault as its capital. It covers about 2,065 square kilometers and is home to around 112,313 people (as of 2014). It includes 92 communes.
- Montmorillon: The capital of this arrondissement is Montmorillon. It's the largest of the three, covering about 2,998.8 square kilometers, with a population of about 74,852 people (as of 2014). It has 95 communes.
- Poitiers: This arrondissement has Poitiers as its capital. Poitiers is also the main city for the entire Vienne department. It covers about 1,925.7 square kilometers and is the most populated, with about 246,038 people (as of 2014). It includes 87 communes.
A Look at History
The way the Vienne department is organized has changed over time:
- 1790: The Vienne department was first created. Back then, it was divided into six districts: Châtellerault, Civray, Loudun, Lusignan, Montmorillon, and Poitiers. Poitiers was chosen as the capital city for the whole department.
- 1800: The districts were changed into the arrondissements we know today. Five arrondissements were created: Châtellerault, Civray, Loudun, Montmorillon, and Poitiers. The Lusignan district was no longer an administrative area.
- 1926: Two of the arrondissements, Civray and Loudun, were removed. This left the Vienne department with the three arrondissements it has today: Châtellerault, Montmorillon, and Poitiers.
Images for kids
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Map of arrondissements of the Vienne department.
See Also
