Loiret

**Loiret** is a department in north-central France in the Centre-Val de Loire region. It is named after the Loiret river, a tributary of Loire that is completely within the department.

Its prefecture is Orléans and there are two subprefectures: Montargis and Pithiviers.

## 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 Orléanais.

The new department had seven districts: Orléans, Beaugency, Neuville, Pithiviers, Montargis, Gien and Boiscommun. The capital (now prefecture) was Orléans.

In 1800, with the creation of the _arrondissements_ in France, the seven districts were changed into four _arrondissements_: Orléans, Gien, Montargis and Pithiviers.

After the Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815), the department was occupied by the Bavarian army from June 1815 to November 1818.

On 10 September 1926, the _arrondissement_ of Gien and Pithiviers were eliminated but in 1942 Pithiviers became again an _arrondissement_ of the department.

## Geography

Loiret is part of the Centre-Val de Loire region. It has an area of .

The department is bordered by the 7 departments in 3 regions:

- Centre-Val de Loire region
    - Eure-et-Loir
    - Cher
    - Loir-et-Cher
- Île-de-France region
    - Essonne
    - Seine-et-Marne
- Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region
    - Yonne
    - Nièvre

The highest point of the department is in the place called _Col des Étourneaux_ (), in the _commune_ of Pierrefitte-ès-Bois, and that is  above sea level; it is in northwestern Massif Central.

The main rivers are:
- Loire, that flows through the department from the southeast to the west.
- Loiret, a short tributary of the Loire and that gives its name to the department.
- Loing, 142 km long.
- Cosson, 96.4 km long.
- Essonne, 97 km long.

There are several natural regions in the Loiret department:
1. The **Loire Valley**, the valley around the Loire river.
1. **Beauce**, to the northwest of the department; it is a limestone plateau and an important farming region where wheat is grown.
1. **Gâtinais**, to the east around the city of Montargis.
1. The **Forêt d'Orléans** ("Forest of Orléans"), the largest national forest of France; it is to the north of the Loire river and to the south of the Beauce region.
1. **Sologne**, south of the Loire river.
1. **Berry** (a small part), to the southeast.
1. **Puisaye**, between the Berry and the Gâtinais.

### Climate

The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Orléans 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 Orléans is . The month with the most precipitation on average is August with  of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is March with an average of .

The average temperature for the year in Orléans is . The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of . The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of .

## Administration

The department is managed by the _Departmental Council of the Loiret_ in Orléans. Loiret is part of the region of Centre-Val de Loire.

### Administrative divisions

There are 3 _arrondissements_ (districts), 21 _cantons_ and 326 _communes_ (municipalities) in Loiret.
|INSEE code !!Arrondissement !! Capital !! Population <small>(2014)</small> !! width=60px | Area <small>(km²)</small> !! Density <small>(Inh./km²)</small> !! _Communes_|||||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|451|Montargis|Montargis|170,781|2,631.3||126|
|452|Orléans|Orléans|435,676|2,945.8||121|
|453|Pithiviers|Pithiviers|63,280|1,198.1||79|

The following is a list of the 21 cantons of the Loir-et-Cher department, following the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015:

1. Beaugency <small>(4501)</small>
1. Châlette-sur-Loing <small>(4502)</small>
1. Châteauneuf-sur-Loire <small>(4503)</small>
1. Courtenay <small>(4504)</small>
1. La Ferté-Saint-Aubin <small>(4505)</small>
1. Fleury-les-Aubrais <small>(4506)</small>
1. Gien <small>(4507)</small>
1. Lorris <small>(4508)</small>
1. Malesherbes <small>(4509)</small>
1. Meung-sur-Loire <small>(4510)</small>
1. Montargis <small>(4511)</small>
1. Olivet <small>(4512)</small>
1. Orléans-1 <small>(4513)</small>
1. Orléans-2 <small>(4514)</small>
1. Orléans-3 <small>(4515)</small>
1. Orléans-4 <small>(4516)</small>
1. Pithiviers <small>(4517)</small>
1. Saint-Jean-de-Braye <small>(4518)</small>
1. Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle <small>(4519)</small>
1. Saint-Jean-le-Blanc <small>(4520)</small>
1. Sully-sur-Loire <small>(4521)</small>

## Demographics

The inhabitants of Loiret are known, in French, as _Loiretains_ (women: _Loiretaines_).

Loiret has a population, in 2014, of 669,737, for a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>. The _arrondissement_ of Orléans, with 435,676 inhabitants, is by far the largest.

**Evolution of the population in Loiret**

The main cities in the department are:

|City|Population <small>(2014)</small>|Arrondissement|
| --- | --- | --- |
|Orléans|114,977|Orléans|
|Olivet|21,192|Orléans|
|Fleury-les-Aubrais|20,791|Orléans|
|Saint-Jean-de-Braye|19,804|Orléans|
|Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle|16,415|Orléans|
|Saran|15,686|Orléans|
|Gien|14,617|Montargis|
|Montargis|13,997|Montargis|
|Amilly|12,672|Montargis|
|Châlette-sur-Loing|12,643|Montargis|
|La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin|10,117|Orléans|

## Related pages

- Arrondissements of the Loiret department
- Communes of the Loiret department

## Other websites

- Departmental Council website
- Prefecture website

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Loiret
- **type**: Departments of France, Department
- **image skyline**: PA45000024 Préfecture d'Orléans (2).jpg
- **image alt**: Prefecture building of the Loiret department
- **image caption**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture building of the Loiret department, in Orléans.
- **image flag**: Drapeau fr département Loiret.svg
- **image shield**: Blason département fr Loiret.svg
- **shield size**: 70
- **image map**: Loiret-Position.svg
- **map caption**: Location of Loiret in France
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: France
- **subdivision type1**: Regions of France, Region
- **subdivision name1**: Centre-Val de Loire
- **established title**: Département
- **established date**: 4 March 1790
- **seat type**: Prefectures in France, Prefecture
- **seat**: Orléans
- **parts type**: Prefectures in France, Subprefectures
- **parts style**: para
- **p1**: Montargis
- **p2**: Pithiviers
- **leader title**: President of the Departmental Council, President
- **leader name**: Marc Gaudet
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **area total km2**: 6775.2
- **population total**: 669737
- **population as of**: 2014
- **population density km2**: auto
- **population demonym**: Loiretains
- **blank name sec2**: Arrondissements of France, Arrondissements
- **blank info sec2**: 3
- **blank1 name sec2**: Cantons in France, Cantons
- **blank1 info sec2**: 21
- **blank2 name sec2**: Communes in France, Communes
- **blank2 info sec2**: 326
- **timezone1**: Central European Time, CET
- **utc offset1**: +1
- **timezone1 dst**: Central European Summer Time, CEST
- **utc offset1 dst**: +2
- **iso code**: FR-45
- **website**: [http://www.loiret.fr/ Official website]