View source for Allier

{{short description|Department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France}}
{{about|the French department}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Allier
| native_name             = {{native name|oc|Alèir}}
| native_name_lang        = oc
| type                    = [[Departments of France|Department]]
| image_skyline           = Moulins (Allier) Hôtel de préfecture 003.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] building in [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]
| image_flag              = Drapeau fr département Allier.svg
| flag_alt                = Unofficial flag
| image_shield            = Blason comte fr Clermont (Bourbon).svg
| shield_alt              = Unofficial shield
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = Allier-Position.svg
| map_alt                 =
| map_caption             = Location of Allier in France
| pushpin_map             =
| pushpin_label_position  =
| pushpin_map_alt         =
| pushpin_map_caption     =
| coordinates             = {{coord|46|20|N|3|10|E|region:FR_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           =
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[France]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]
| established_title       =
| established_date        =
| founder                 =
| seat_type               = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat                    = [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]
| parts_type              = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefectures]]
| parts_style             = para
| p1                      = [[Montluçon]]<br />[[Vichy]]
| government_footnotes    =
| leader_party            = [[Union of Democrats and Independents|UDI]]
| leader_title            = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name             = [[Claude Riboulet]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_magnitude          =
| area_footnotes          = {{ref|area|1}}
| area_total_km2          = 7340
| area_note               =
| elevation_footnotes     =
| elevation_m             =
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| population_total        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank         = [[List of French departments by population|69th]]
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      =
| population_note         =
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Departments of France|Department number]]
| blank_info_sec1         = 03
| blank_name_sec2         = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissements]]
| blank_info_sec2         = [[Arrondissements of the Allier department|3]]
| blank1_name_sec2        = [[Cantons of France|Cantons]]
| blank1_info_sec2        = [[Cantons of the Allier department|19]]
| blank2_name_sec2        = [[Communes of France|Communes]]
| blank2_info_sec2        = [[communes of the Allier department|317]]
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        =
| postal_code             =
| area_code_type          =
| area_code               =
| iso_code                =
| website                 =
| footnotes               = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which excludes [[estuary|estuaries]], and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
}}
'''Allier''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|æ|l|i|eɪ}} {{respell|AL|ee|ay}},<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Allier |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229005004/https://www.lexico.com/definition/allier |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-12-29 |title=Allier |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|æ|l|ˈ|j|eɪ|,_|ɑː|l|ˈ|j|eɪ}} {{respell|a(h)l|YAY}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/allier|title=Allier|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Allier|access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|alje|lang|Fr-Paris--Allier.ogg}}; {{langx|oc|Alèir}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] [[Regions of France|region]] that borders [[Cher (department)|Cher]] to the west, [[Nièvre]] to the north, [[Saône-et-Loire]] and [[Loire (department)|Loire]] to the east, [[Puy-de-Dôme]] to the south, and [[Creuse]] to the south-west. Named after the river [[Allier (river)|Allier]], it had a population of 334,872 in 2021.<ref name=pop2021>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/7728806/dep03.pdf Populations légales 2021: 03 Allier], INSEE (in French)</ref> [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] is the [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]]; [[Montluçon]] and [[Vichy]] are the [[Subprefectures in France|subprefectures]]. Its [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (France)|INSEE]] and [[Postal codes in France|post code]] is 03.

Before 2018, the inhabitants of the department did not have a demonym. The inhabitants of the department have officially been known in French as ''Bourbonnais'' since 2018, a reference to the historic province of [[Bourbonnais]]. Until then, the unofficial term ''Elavérins'' had been used.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooke |first1=Virginie |title=Les habitants de l'Allier vont officiellement s'appeler les Bourbonnais |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/allier/habitants-allier-vont-officiellement-s-appeler-bourbonnais-1555084.html |publisher=France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr |date=9 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ména |first1=Stéphanie |title=Les habitants de l'Allier auront officiellement un nouveau nom ce jeudi : les Bourbonnais ! |url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/moulins/allier/2018/10/18/les-habitants-de-l-allier-auront-officiellement-un-nom-ce-jeudi-les-bourbonnais_13002333.html |website=La Montagne |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr |date=18 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ALLIER |url=https://www.habitants.fr/allier-03 |website=habitants.fr |publisher=SARL Patagos |access-date=28 February 2019 |language=fr}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Château de Billy.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Château de Billy]]]]

Allier department is composed of almost all of the former [[Duchy of Bourbonnais]]. It is part of the [[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]] and it was part of the historical, cultural and administrative region of [[Auvergne (administrative region)|Auvergne]] until 2016.

===Principal communes===

The most populous commune is [[Montluçon]]; the prefecture [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] is the third-most populous. As of 2021, there are 5 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants:<ref name=pop2021/>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2021)
|-
| [[Montluçon]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 33,342
|-
| [[Vichy]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 25,789
|-
| [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 19,343
|-
| [[Cusset]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 12,909
|-
| [[Yzeure]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 12,598
|}

The department also includes the spa towns [[Bourbon-l'Archambault]], [[Néris-les-Bains]] and Vichy.

=== Relief ===
Bourbonnais [[bocage]] covers most of the western and central parts of the department (including the [[Forest of Tronçais]]), followed by the Bourbonnais ''Sologne'' in the east north-east, the Bourbonnais Mountain (near Vichy) which is the highest point of Bourbonnais together with Montoncel (peaking at 1,287 metres), and finally in the south of the department, the Bourbonnais ''Limagne'', which extends from Varennes to Gannat, and is the breadbasket of the department.

;The Bourbonnais Bocage
To the north and just over 500 metres above sea level, the Bourbonnais Bocage occupies one-third of the department, with two parts: the centre and the west (for the part between the Val de Cher and western boundaries of the territory). The bocage is especially remarkable for its rich forests and woodlands including the [[Forest of Tronçais]] but also the forests of Moladier Bagnolet, Civrais, Soulongis, Grosbois, Dreuille, Lespinasse and Suave.

Almost all of the southern area consists of Combrailles which is sometimes called High Bourbonnais, in an area that goes beyond the departmental boundaries of Creuse and Puy-de-Dôme. This area of the department rises to 778 metres at Bosse. The rivers [[Sioule]], [[Bouble]], and [[Cher (river)|Cher]] have carved the most picturesque gorges in Allier.

;The Bourbonnais Sologne
To the east, between the Val d'Allier and the borders of Nièvre and Saône-et-Loire, the Bourbonnais Sologne has a nice balance between pastures, crops, woods and ponds: the balance between agriculture and semi-wilderness constituting a very favorable setting for fauna and flora.

;The Bourbonnais Mountains
In its southern extension, the Bourbonnais Mountain rises from the Puy Saint-Ambroise (442 metres) near [[Saint-Léon, Allier|Saint-Léon]] and then extends to the massif of Assise and the Black Woods at the edge of [[Puy-de-Dôme]] and [[Loire (department)|Loire]] which is marked by the Puy de Montoncel (1,287 metres) – the highest point in Allier.

;The Bourbonnais Limagne
Commonly grouped under the name of ''Val d'Allier'', the [[Limagne]] and Forterre extend on both sides of the river between [[Vichy]] and [[Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule]] with an essential quality of fertility. Limogne, together with Sioule and Allier, is part of the Gannat / Escurolles / Saint-Pourçain triangle while Forterre covers the Canton of [[Varennes-sur-Allier]] ending near Jaligny.

=== Hydrography ===

;Watercourses:
* to the west: the [[Cher (river)|Cher]]
* in the centre: the [[Allier (river)|Allier]] and its tributary the [[Sioule]]
* to the east the [[Loire]] and its tributary the [[Besbre]]

=== Climate ===
A transition zone in the middle of the country, Allier is actually a free zone between north and south. The department is wide open to Atlantic influences and enjoys a mild and humid climate dominated by westerly winds which helps a little to differentiate it from other parts of Auvergne. The weather variances coincide with the diversity of Bourbonnais territory such as: flat regions, low altitude Bourbonnais Sologne and large floodplains, the hill country, the average altitude of 300 to 600 metres, the central part of the department, and the semi-mountainous southern townships bordering the Combraille and Forez between 700 and 1,200 metres.

There are two periods of maximum precipitation in June and October and a minimum in January and February with average of 694 millimetres in [[Montluçon]] (altitude 207 metres), 763&nbsp;mm in [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] (245&nbsp;m), 778&nbsp;mm in [[Vichy]] (251&nbsp;m), 791&nbsp;mm in [[Lapalisse]] (285&nbsp;m) and nearly 1,200&nbsp;mm in Assisi (1,050&nbsp;m). As noted Atlantic winds are dominant from the west, northwest, or southwest. The influence of topography, especially in the valleys of Cher and Allier, also contributes to the south and north variance.

{{Meteo France
|Town=Vichy<ref>[http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1665-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-vichy Data from the Station at Vichy] from 1981 to 2010 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|Sunshine=1,862
|Rain=780
|Snow=18
|Storm=26
|Fog=35
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Vichy
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 7.4
|Feb high C = 9.0
|Mar high C = 13.0
|Apr high C = 15.8
|May high C = 20.0
|Jun high C = 23.5
|Jul high C = 26.4
|Aug high C = 26.1
|Sep high C = 22.2
|Oct high C = 17.6
|Nov high C = 11.2
|Dec high C = 7.8
|year high C = 16.7
|Jan mean C = 3.5
|Feb mean C = 4.4
|Mar mean C = 7.5
|Apr mean C = 9.9
|May mean C = 14.1
|Jun mean C = 17.4
|Jul mean C = 19.9
|Aug mean C = 19.5
|Sep mean C = 16.0
|Oct mean C = 12.5
|Nov mean C = 7.0
|Dec mean C = 4.1
|year mean C = 11.3
|Jan low C = -0.4
|Feb low C = -0.2
|Mar low C = 1.9
|Apr low C = 3.9
|May low C = 8.1
|Jun low C = 11.2
|Jul low C = 13.3
|Aug low C = 12.9
|Sep low C = 9.8
|Oct low C = 7.3
|Nov low C = 2.8
|Dec low C = 0.4
|year low C = 5.9
|Jan precipitation mm = 46.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 39.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 44.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 69.3
|May precipitation mm = 98.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 78.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 71.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 74.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 75.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 68.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 63.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 50.5
|year precipitation mm = 779.5
|Jan precipitation days = 9.8
|Feb precipitation days = 8.3
|Mar precipitation days = 8.4
|Apr precipitation days = 9.8
|May precipitation days = 11.6
|Jun precipitation days = 8.7
|Jul precipitation days = 7.6
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6
|Sep precipitation days = 8.3
|Oct precipitation days = 9.6
|Nov precipitation days = 10.0
|Dec precipitation days = 9.0
|year precipitation days = 109.7
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan sun = 78
|Feb sun = 95
|Mar sun = 154
|Apr sun = 175
|May sun = 203
|Jun sun = 225
|Jul sun = 249
|Aug sun = 238
|Sep sun = 184
|Oct sun = 128
|Nov sun = 77
|Dec sun = 56
|year sun = 1862
|source 1 = [http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1665-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-vichy Meteorological data for Vichy – 249&nbsp;m altitude, from 1981 to 2010] January 2015 {{in lang|fr}}
}}

== History ==
The history of Allier corresponds to the Duchy of Bourbon ([[Bourbonnais]]) with which it shares almost the entire territory.

Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former [[Provinces of France|provinces]] of [[Auvergne (province)|Auvergne]] and [[Bourbonnais]].

In 1940, the [[Vichy France|government]] of Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] chose the town of [[Vichy]] as its capital. Vichy also became the department's second [[Subprefectures in France|sub-prefecture]] in 1940, since the department now found itself split by the [[Demarcation line (France)|demarcation line]] between the [[Zone occupée|occupied]] and (relatively, at least initially) free zones of [[German occupation of France during World War II|France]].

=== Heraldry ===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason comte fr Clermont (Bourbon).svg
|legend1=Arms of Allier
|text=The arms of Allier are also those of the former province of [[Bourbonnais]] and are the arms of the third house of Bourbon of [[Robert, Count of Clermont|Robert de Clermont]], sixth son of [[Louis IX of France|Saint Louis]], who married [[Beatrice of Burgundy, Lady of Bourbon|Beatrice of Bourbon]] and was recognized as Sire of Bourbon in 1283.

'''Blazon:'''<br />
''Azure, Semé-de-lis of Or with a bend of Gules.''
}}

== Demography ==
[[File:Allier.jpg|thumb|425px|Map of Allier]]

On 1 January 2017 the population of Allier was estimated at 337,988 inhabitants which represented an average density of 46 people/km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=pophist/> Many areas have a density less than 20 people/km<sup>2</sup>. Because of its low population density, it is considered to fall within the [[empty diagonal]].

Since the early 1980s Allier has faced many demographic handicaps. The ratio of older people is important and with low fertility rates the natural growth is negative. Net migration was negative between 1968 and 1999, and slightly positive between 1999 and 2017.<ref name=pophist/>

Allier has three major cities: [[Montluçon]], [[Vichy]], and [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] by size. The rest of the department includes some small towns and villages, scattered mainly along the rivers. The few villages are far from one another, and it is generally a sparsely populated department. Until the end of the 19th century, however, the population was increasing because the development of its cities (industries at Montluçon and Moulins, spas in Vichy) compensated the rural exodus. The department then passed 420,000 inhabitants. After losses of the [[First World War]], the population stabilized and grew a little again in the 1960s. Since then, the continuing rural exodus and especially the decline of old industries has made the population decrease and age steadily, from 386,533 inhabitants in 1968 to 337,988 in 2017.

The population of the department is approximately equal of the country of [[Iceland]].

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = SPLAF<ref name=splaf>[http://splaf.free.fr/03his.html Historique de l'Allier], SPLAF</ref> and INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=DEP-03 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1791 |267126
|1801 |248864
|1806 |260046
|1821 |280025
|1831 |298257
|1836 |309270
|1841 |311361
|1846 |329540
|1851 |336758
|1856 |352241
|1861 |356432
|1866 |376164
|1872 |390812
|1876 |405783
|1881 |416759
|1886 |424582
|1891 |424382
|1896 |424378
|1901 |422024
|1906 |417961
|1911 |406291
|1921 |370950
|1926 |370562
|1931 |373924
|1936 |368778
|1946 |373481
|1954 |372689
|1962 |380221
|1968 |386533
|1975 |378406
|1982 |369580
|1990 |357710
|1999 |344615
|2007 |343114
|2012 |342911
|2017 |337988
|2019 |333065
}}

== Politics and administration ==

=== Prefecture ===
Valérie Hatsch is prefect of Allier since 28 March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=La préfète - Valérie HATSCH |url=https://www.allier.gouv.fr/la-prefete-valerie-hatsch-a3623.html |website=allier.gouv.fr |publisher=Prefecture of Allier |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=French |date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129185921/https://www.allier.gouv.fr/la-prefete-valerie-hatsch-a3623.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jean-Luc Marx, the prefect of [[Lot (department)|Lot]], was named the prefect of Allier on 1 June 2011, replacing Pierre Monzani who was appointed Prefect of [[Seine-et-Marne]] on 25 May 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hcfdc.org/trophees/docs/cv/monzani.pdf|title=HCFDC Pierre Monzani}}</ref>

=== Two senators ===
After 2020 Senate elections, the two senators of Allier are Bruno Rojouan and [[Claude Malhuret]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Résultats des élections sénatoriales 2020 |url=https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Archives/Archives-elections/Elections-senatoriales-2020/elecresult__senatoriales-2020/(path)/senatoriales-2020/003/index.html |website=interieur.gouv.fr |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=French}}</ref>

In the Senate elections in 2008 the left took one of the two Senate seats in Allier formerly held by the right. Mireille Schurch, [[French Communist Party|PCF]] Mayor of [[Lignerolles, Allier|Lignerolles]], was elected:

* [[Gérard Dériot]] [[Miscellaneous right|DVD]]
* [[Mireille Schurch]] [[French Communist Party|PCF]]

=== Representatives in the National Assembly ===
The elections of 2007 returned three Socialists ([[Bernard Lesterlin]] for Montluçon, [[Jean Mallot]] for Saint-Pourçain, and [[Guy Chambefort]] for Moulins) and one PRG ([[Gérard Charasse]] for Vichy).

The current representatives are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|French Communist Party}}" |
| [[Allier's 1st constituency]]
| [[Yannick Monnet]]
| [[French Communist Party]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|National Rally}}" |
| [[Allier's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Jorys Bovet]]
| [[National Rally]]
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|The Republicans (France)}}" |
| [[Allier's 3rd constituency]]
| [[Nicolas Ray]]
| [[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]]
|}

=== Departmental Council ===

{{main|Departmental Council of Allier}}

The current president of the Departmental Council is [[Claude Riboulet]], elected in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Delacou|first1=Antoine|title=Claude Riboulet succède à Gérard Dériot à la présidence du conseil départemental de l'Allier|url=http://www.lamontagne.fr/moulins/politique/allier/2017/09/25/claude-riboulet-succede-a-gerard-deriot-a-la-presidence-du-conseil-departemental-de-l-allier_12564770.html|website=Lamontagne.fr|language=fr|date=25 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/allier/moulins/claude-riboulet-succede-gerard-deriot-tete-du-conseil-departemental-allier-1334537.html|title=Claude Riboulet succède à Gérard Dériot à la tête du Conseil départemental de l'Allier|website=France 3|language=fr|date=25 September 2017}}</ref> In the [[2021 French departmental elections|2021 departmental election]], the Departmental Council of Allier was elected as follows:<ref>[https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Elections/Les-resultats/Departementales/elecresult__departementales-2021/(path)/departementales-2021/003/index.html Résultats des élections départementales 2021: Allier (03)], Ministère de l'intérieur</ref>

{| class=wikitable
!colspan=2| Party || Seats
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}" |
|[[Miscellaneous right]] ||align="right"| 20
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
|[[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] ||align="right"| 6
|-
! style="background-color: #82A2C6" |
|Centre-right ||align="right"| 4
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|French Communist Party}}" |
|[[French Communist Party]] ||align="right"| 2
|-
! style="background-color: #b9daff" |
|Right ||align="right"| 2
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|The Republicans (France)}}" |
|[[The Republicans (France)|The Republicans]] ||align="right"| 2
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Left Radical Party}}" |
|[[Left Radical Party]] ||align="right"| 2
|-
|}

In the local elections of March 2008, Allier department was won by a majority of the left. The URB (Republican Union for Bourbonnais, right) had headed the department between 2001 and 2008, with the last year with only one vote majority. From 2008 the left coalition was in control also with a majority of one vote (10 PC, 6 PS, 2 PRG, 18 seats in total), facing 17 councilors from the URB.

=== History of the left in Allier ===
The department was distinguished by communist votes in early voting which continued until after the [[Second World War]] with the two major political parties of the left being the [[French Communist Party|PCF]] and the [[SFIO]] which have now become the Socialist Party.

The small town of [[Commentry]] has the distinction of being the first town in France<ref name="Agnès Roche p. 111">Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), p. 111 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> to elect a socialist mayor in 1882: [[Christophe Thivrier]]. Another local figure, [[Pierre Brizon]], an MP in 1910, was typically a member for sharecroppers.<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), pp. 108–109 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Earlier, Ledru-Rollin achieved a very good result in 1848 (14%) with Democratic and socialist candidates in the following year (44% of the vote, against 35% for all of France).<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), p. 109 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Similarly, resistance to the coup of 2 December 1851 was important after an attempt to support the uprising in June 1849.<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), pp. 109–110 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Republicans were in the majority in 1876 and held all six parliamentary seats.<ref name="Agnès Roche p. 111" /> After neighbouring results of 15% of enrolled voters from 1893 to 1906 the Socialists rose to 31% of enrolled votes (42% of those cast) in 1910 and maintained this in 1914<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), pp. 111–112 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Allier remains a land of rural communism (still 14.66% in the 2004 regional elections – the second best result for the party after [[Somme (department)|Somme]]) in a sometimes difficult cohabitation with the Socialist Party.

For the causes of their success it may be noted that historically Allier has been a department where vast properties were combined into [[sharecropping]]. Sharecropping only spread in the 15th century<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), p. 105 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and was not disturbed by the sale of national assets to the Revolution.<ref name=Roche106>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), p. 106 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> In the 19th century large properties (100 hectares or more) occupied about half of the land, and even more than 70% in the north of the department. In the south, small properties dominate.<ref name=Roche106 />

Sharecropping continued as a form of land development and it involved 40% of the land in 1892 (only 7% overall for France).<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), p. 107 {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Adverse conditions made sharecroppers promote the creation of rural unions between 1904 and 1911 (the third greatest number per department in France after [[Hérault]] and [[Landes (department)|Landes]]). Despite poor results the mobilization was important and promoted the election of left-wing candidates.<ref>Agnès Roche, ''A favourable breeding-ground'', Études rurales 3/2004 (No. 171–172), pp. 107–108 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* [[List of senators of Allier]]
* [[Communes of the Allier department]]

== Economy ==
The industries most represented are the food industry, wood and furniture, chemical, foundries and metalworking, rubber, machinery and electrical equipment, automotive, weaponry, textiles, building, and the spas.

According to studies by [[INSEE]] agriculture would be about 7 to 8% of departmental gross domestic product.

== Transport ==
The department is served by two airports, [[Montluçon–Guéret Airport]] and [[Vichy — Charmeil Airport]]. However, both airports are not operating any passengers flights. The nearest airports to Allier are [[Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport]] and [[Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport]], which both are used by air travellers from the department.

== Tourism ==
Marked by the imprint of the [[Dukes of Bourbon]], Allier is a land of rivers, bocage, and small mountains. Landscapes such as Bourbonnais bocage, the gorges of the [[Sioule]], and the [[Forest of Tronçais]] are places suitable for the practice of outdoor activities: [[hiking]], [[fishing]], and white water sports. Hydrotherapy is one of the leading sectors of Bourbonnais tourism with the international spa at Vichy.

This nature preserve also features over 500 castles, [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] churches and a number of houses which represent the heritage of the [[Bourbons]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Bourbon cuisine reflects the history of the province and provides a number of local products, including [[Pâté aux pommes de terre]], [[Charolais cattle|Charolais]] beef, wines from [[Saint-Pourçain AOC]], [[Charroux, Allier|Charroux]] mustard, and [[Vichy pastilles]].{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Among the tourist sites to visit are:
;Monuments:
* the [[Château de La Palice]] and its Renaissance chambered ceilings,
* the ''Bourbon-l'Archambault Castle'', "Cradle of the Bourbons"

;Churches and abbeys:
* [[Moulins Cathedral]] and the [[triptych]] of the Virgin in glory
* the ''Priory Church of Saint Peter'' at [[Souvigny]], more commonly called the "Saint-Denis" of the Bourbons
* the Abbey of Saint Vincent de Chantelle

;Museums:
* The ''National Centre of Stage Costume''
* [[Maison Mantin]] in Moulins

;Activities:
* ''[[Le Pal]]'', an amusement and animal park in [[Dompierre-sur-Besbre]]
* ''Paleopolis'' in [[Gannat]], a site designed to understand life sciences and the earth through [[paleontology]]
* Three cities stand out:
* [[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]] for its historical heritage from the 15th century
* [[Montluçon]], a medieval and festive city dominated by its castle
* [[Vichy]], an important spa town.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
Moulins - Perspective3.JPG|[[Moulins, Allier|Moulins]]
11. Hérisson (Allier).JPG|[[Hérisson]]
Chateau de Bourbon l'Archambault 01.jpg|[[Bourbon-l'Archambault]]
Festival médiéval Montluçon 179.JPG|Medieval fair in [[Montluçon]]
</gallery>

== Gastronomy and viticulture ==
{{Main|French cuisine|French wine}}
The [[pâté aux pommes de terre]] is one of the specialities of the Allier, as well as of the neighboring Limousin region. The river [[Allier (river)|Allier]] is one of the rare places in Southern Europe where the freshwater [[Thymallus thymallus|grayling]] (''Thymallus thymallus''), known in French as ''ombre des rivières'', occurs in a natural habitat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecrr.org/pdf/3rd_confrence_abstracts/33_redeker_weyand_nusch.pdf|title=The grayling zones of rivers and their tributaries|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207210350/http://www.ecrr.org/pdf/3rd_confrence_abstracts/33_redeker_weyand_nusch.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> This fish is much valued in French gastronomy for its fine and delicate texture and is best eaten along with a light wine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cuisine.tv/cid17768/les-accords-vin-poisson.html|title=Les accords vin-poisson – Célébration d'un mariage réussi!|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127151025/http://www.cuisine-plus.tv/cid17768/les-accords-vin-poisson.html|archive-date=27 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''[[Pompe aux grattons]]'' or ''brioche aux griaudes'', a kind of [[brioche]]-like bread with [[cracklings]], is a specialty of the Bourbonnais.<ref>François-Régis Gaudry, ''Let's Eat France'', {{isbn|1579658768}}, p. 382</ref>

[[Saint-Pourçain AOC]] wine is produced in Allier and the [[Oak (wine)|oak]] from the [[forest of Tronçais]] is one of the most favoured in the construction of [[Oak (wine)#Wine barrel|wine barrels]].<ref>{{cite book  | last = Robinson  | first = Jancis  | author-link = Jancis Robinson  | title = [[The Oxford Companion to Wine]]  | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]  | year = 1999  | pages = 13, 495  | isbn = 0-19-866236-X}}</ref>

=== Second homes ===
In 2020 the quantity of dwellings in the department which were second homes was 7.2%.<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7632072?geo=DEP-03 Logement en 2020: Catégories et types de logements], [[INSEE]] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The table below shows the main communes of Allier with second homes and which exceed 10% of total housing.

The department has attracted many foreigners, English, Belgian, Swiss, and Dutch, and they have acquired many second homes. Therefore many communes have become "European", such as [[Pouzy-Mésangy]], which today has many English and Swiss residents.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+Communes with population over 1,000 and more than 10% of second homes in 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statistiques-locales.insee.fr/#bbox=229602,5944798,240200,210212&c=indicator&i=pop_legales.popmun&i2=bdcom.pt_log_rsecocc&s=2019&s2=2019&t=A01&t2=A01&view=map1|title=Statistiques locales: Part des résidences secondaires, population municipale|publisher=[[INSEE]]}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Town
! scope="col" | Municipal population
! scope="col" | Percentage of<br />secondary homes
|-
| [[Néris-les-Bains]]
| {{formatnum:2570}}
| 30.3%
|-
| [[Cérilly, Allier|Cérilly]]
| {{formatnum:1305}}
| 16.4%
|-
| [[Ébreuil]]
| {{formatnum:1270}}
| 14.5%
|-
| [[Bourbon-l'Archambault]]
| {{formatnum:2572}}
| 13.5%
|-
| [[Buxières-les-Mines]]
| {{formatnum:1026}}
| 13.5%
|-
| [[Le Mayet-de-Montagne]]
| {{formatnum:1384}}
| 10.0%
|}

== Culture ==

=== Sister regions ===
The Conseil Départemental of Allier co-operates with the following foreign administrative units:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allier.fr/732-les-cooperations.htm |title=Les coopérations |access-date=2021-04-07 |website=Conseil Départemental de l'Allier}}</ref>

* {{flagicon|Mali}} [[Niafunké]] ([[Mali]]) since 1988.
* {{flagicon|Morocco}} [[Khemisset]] ([[Morocco]]) since 2009.
* {{flagicon|Mongolia}} [[Övörkhangai Province|Övörkhangai]] ([[Mongolia]]) since 2000.
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Cluj County|Cluj]] ([[Romania]]) since 2002.
* {{flagicon|Senegal}} [[M'bour Department]] ([[Senegal]]) since 2016.
* {{flagicon|Senegal}} [[Nguékhokh]] (Senegal) since 2002.

=== Regional languages ===
Allier is traversed by the border between [[Occitan language|Occitan]] and [[French language|French]].<ref>Charles de Tourtoulon and Octavien Bringuier (1876), ''Study on the geographical limits of Occitan and French (with a map)'', Paris: Imprimerie Nationale [reprinted 2004, Masseret-Meuzac: Institut d’Estudis Occitans de Lemosin/Lo Chamin de Sent Jaume] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

For a long period the people of Allier did not speak standard French but one of the following local languages:

* [[Bourbonnais]]: Dialect [[Langues d'oïl|oïl]], north of a line from [[Montluçon]] to [[Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule]] to [[Lapalisse]]
* [[Auvergnat dialect|Auvergnat]]: (a dialect of [[Occitan language|Occitan]]) in the extreme south
* the area between the two, sometimes called ''Bourbon d'oc'' is part of the ''[[Crescent (Occitania)|Occitan Crescent]]'',<ref>Guylaine Brun-Trigaud (1990), ''The Crescent:the concept and the word. Contribution to the history of the French dialect of the 19th century (Thesis)'', coll. Série dialectologie, Lyon: Centre d’Études Linguistiques Jacques Goudet {{in lang|fr}}</ref> an area of mixing of French and Occitan considered by most linguists as Occitan with French pronunciation. Some<ref>E.g. Nicolas Quint, ''The marchois speech of Saint-Priest-la-Feuille (Creuse)'' {{in lang|fr}}</ref> consider the speech of the Crescent to be a full Occitan dialect and use the term ''Marchois''.

Qualifications:

* Note that in the south-east of the department (notably in Forterre<ref>Marcel Bonin, (1981), ''The dialect of Langy and of Forterre (region of Varennes-sur-Allier)'', Cagnes sur Mer: ''Cahiers Bourbonnais'' {{in lang|fr}}</ref> and the Bourbonnais Mountain<ref>Simone Escoffier (1958), ''The meeting of langue d’oïl, Occitan and francoprovençal between Loire and Allier: phonetic limits and morphologies'' (Thesis), Mâcon: impr. Protat [éd. identique de la même année: coll. Publications de l’Institut de Linguistique Romane de Lyon-vol. 11, Paris: Les Belles Lettres] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>) the influence of Francoprovencal arises.
* Similarly, in the north-west (and especially in the old part of the Bourbonnais department of [[Cher (department)|Cher]] to [[Saint-Amand-Montrond]]), the Bourbon dialects are close to the [[Berrichon dialect]].

== See also ==
* [[Arrondissements of the Allier department]]<!-- please keep this link: Dmoz page holds a Wikipedia back link -->
* [[Cantons of the Allier department]]
* [[Communes of the Allier department]]
* [[List of intercommunalities of the Allier department]]

== References ==
* [https://balarando.com/randonnee/allier/ La randonnée à Allier]

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{in lang|cap=yes|fr}} [http://www.allier.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* {{in lang|cap=yes|fr}} [http://www.allier.fr/ Departmental council website]
{{Departments of France}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Allier| ]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Departments of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]
[[Category:Massif Central]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1790]]