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Indre (department) facts for kids

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Indre
Prefecture building of the Indre department
Prefecture building of the Indre department, in Châteauroux
Flag of Indre
Flag
Coat of arms of Indre
Coat of arms
Location of Indre in France
Location of Indre in France
Country France
Region Centre-Val de Loire
Département 4 March 1790
Prefecture Châteauroux
Subprefectures Le Blanc, La Châtre, Issoudun
Area
 • Total 6,790.6 km2 (2,621.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total 226,175
 • Density 33.3071/km2 (86.2649/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Indriens
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code FR-36
Arrondissements 4
Cantons 13
Communes 243
Website Official website: http://www.indre.fr/

Indre is a department in the centre of France in the Centre-Val de Loire region. It is named after the Indre river, the most important river in the department.

Its prefecture is Châteauroux.

History

The department is one of the 83 French departments made during the French revolution, on 4 March 1790. The department was created from part of the former province of Berry.

The new department had six districts: Issoudun, Châteauroux, Argenton, Le Blanc, La Châtre and Marennes. The capital (now prefecture) was Châteauroux.

In 1800, with the creation of the arrondissements in France, the six districts were changed into four arrondissements: Saintes, Châteauroux, Le Blanc, La Châtre and Issoudun.

On 10 September 1926, the arrondissement of Issoudun was eliminated but in 1942 it was made again an arrondissement.

Geography

Indre is part of the Centre-Val de Loire region. It has an area of 6,790.6 km2 (2,622 sq mi).

The highest point of the department is Terrior Randoin (46°27′7″N 1°58′59″E / 46.45194°N 1.98306°E / 46.45194; 1.98306), in the commune of Pouligny-Notre-Dame, and that is 457 m (1,499 ft) above sea level.

The department is bordered by the 6 departments in 2 regions:


The main rivers are:

  • Creuse, a tributary of the Vienne, is 264 kilometres (164 mi) long.
  • Claise, 88 kilometres (55 mi) long and a tributary of the Creuse.
  • Indre, that flows centrally through the department from south to north, through the major towns of La Châtre, Châteauroux and Loches. It is a tributary of the Loire, joining it at Chinon in the neighbouring department of Loir-et-Cher.

Climate

The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Châteauroux is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Marine West Coast Climate) and of the subtype Cfb.

The average amount of precipitation for the year in Châteauroux is 736.6 mm (29.0 in). The month with the most precipitation on average is May with 73.7 mm (2.9 in) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is February with an average of 48.3 mm (1.9 in).

The average temperature for the year in Châteauroux is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 20.2 °C (68.4 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 4.2 °C (39.6 °F).

Administration

The department is managed by the Departmental Council of the Indre in Châteauroux. Indre is part of the region of Centre-Val de Loire.

Administrative divisions

There are 4 arrondissements (districts), 13 cantons and 243 communes (municipalities) in Indre.

INSEE
code
Arrondissement Capital Population
(2014)
Area
(km²)
Density
(Inh./km²)
Communes
361 Le Blanc Le Blanc 31,821 1,760.8 18.1 57
362 Châteauroux Châteauroux 126,428 2,524.3 50.1 86
363 La Châtre La Châtre 32,962 1,323.2 24.9 51
364 Issoudun Issoudun 34,964 1,182.3 29.6 49

The following is a list of the 13 cantons of the Indre department, following the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015:

  1. Ardentes (3601)
  2. Argenton-sur-Creuse (3602)
  3. Le Blanc (3603)
  4. Buzançais (3604)
  5. Châteauroux-1 (3605)
  6. Châteauroux-2 (3606)
  7. Châteauroux-3 (3607)
  8. La Châtre (3608)
  9. Issoudun (3609)
  10. Levroux (3610)
  11. Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre (3611)
  12. Saint-Gaultier (3612)
  13. Valençay (3613)

Demographics

The inhabitants of Indre are known, in French, as Indriens (women: Indriennes).

Indre has a population, in 2014, of 226,175, for a population density of 33.3 inhabitants/km2. The arrondissement of Châteauroux, with 126,428 inhabitants, is by far the largest.

Evolution of the population in Indre

The main cities in the department are:

City Population
(2014)
Arrondissement
Châteauroux 44,479 Châteauroux
Issoudun 12,270 Issoudun
Déols 7,744 Châteauroux
Le Blanc 6,602 Le Blanc
Le Poinçonnet 5,880 Châteauroux
Argenton-sur-Creuse 5,007 Châteauroux
Buzançais 4,473 Châteauroux
La Châtre 4,278 La Châtre
Ardentes 3,886 Châteauroux
Saint-Maur 3,522 Châteauroux

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