Commentry
Commune in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commentry (French pronunciation: [kɔmɑ̃tʁi]; Auvergnat: Comentriac; Marchois: Comentric) is a commune in the department of Allier in central France. It lies 42 miles (68 km) southwest of Moulins in the valley of the Œil. It is within 8 km of one of the geographic centres of France. The film actress Yvonne Rozille (1900–1985) was born in Commentry.
Commentry | |
|---|---|
 Town hall | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Commentry | |
  Commentry  Commentry | |
| Coordinates: 46°17′23″N 2°44′32″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Allier |
| Arrondissement | Montluçon |
| Canton | Commentry |
| Intercommunality | Commentry Montmarault Néris Communauté |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Sylvain Bourdier[1] |
Area 1 | 20.96 km2 (8.09 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 6,017 |
| • Density | 287.1/km2 (743.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 03082 /03600 |
| Elevation | 332–462 m (1,089–1,516 ft) (avg. 385 m or 1,263 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Population
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| Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2023)[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History
Commentry was home to Compagnie de Commentry-Fourchambault-Decazeville, thanks to an important coal deposit. The coal mine fueled a huge growth in population, from under 1,000 to more than 12,000, while Stéphane Mony was its CEO (1840–1884).[5] Commentry was the first commune ever to elect a socialist mayor: Christophe Thivrier was elected 6 June 1882.[6]
During the repression of January and February 1894, the police conducted raids targeting the anarchists living there, without much success.[7][8][9]
The Socialist Party of France was founded in Commentry in September 1902.
Economy
Commentry gave its name to a coal field over 21 square kilometres in extent, and historically had important foundries and forges.[10]
Science
Charles Brongniart discovered many fossils near Commentry, including Meganeura in the Stephanian stage coal measures in 1880.
Personalities
- Jean Bayet (1882–1969) Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the Sorbonne, whose grandfather Gilbert Bayet was mayor of Commentry 1871–1873.
- Henri Fayol (1841–1925) mining engineer, developed Fayolism, an approach to management and administration.
- Abel Gance (1889–1981) film director and producer, raised by maternal grandparents in Commentry until the age of eight.
- Jacques Hillairet (1886-1984) historian specializing in the history of Paris, officer of the Legion of Honour.
- Émile Mâle (1862–1954) art historian and member of the Académie française.
- Stéphane Mony (1800–1884) Engineer, director of the colliery at Commentry; mayor from 1854 to 1883; deputy from 1868 to 1871.
- Christophe Thivrier (1841–1895) first elected Socialist mayor in France.
- Roger Vergé (1930–2015) Celebrated chef and restaurateur.
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