In the administrative divisions of France, the department is one of the three levels of government under the national level, between the administrative regions and the communes. Ninety-six departments are in metropolitan France, and five are overseas departments, which are also classified as overseas regions. Departments are further subdivided into 334 arrondissements, and these are divided into cantons. The last two levels of government have no autonomy; they are the basis of local organisation of police, fire departments and, sometimes, administration of elections.
An arrondissement is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international church structures, as well as in antiquity a Roman district.
In France, a prefecture may be:
Hautes-Alpes is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located in and named after the Alps, it had a population of 141,107 in 2016, which makes it the third least populated French department, and the population is smaller than the U.S. State of Vermont. Its prefecture is Gap; its only subprefecture is Briançon.
Doubs is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the Doubs River, it had a population of 538,549 in 2016. Its prefecture is Besançon and subprefectures are Montbéliard and Pontarlier.
Jura is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the Jura Mountains, its prefecture is Lons-le-Saunier. Its subprefectures are Dole and Saint-Claude. In 2016, Jura had a population of 260,517. Its INSEE code is 39.
Saône-et-Loire is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of central-eastern France. Named after the Saône and Loire between which it lies, it had a population of 555,023 in 2016. Its prefecture is Mâcon and subprefectures are Autun, Chalon-sur-Saône, Charolles and Louhans.
Haute-Vienne is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve departments that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The neighbouring departments are Creuse, Corrèze, Dordogne, Charente, Vienne and Indre.
A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province.
An arrondissement is a level of administrative division in France generally corresponding to the territory overseen by a subprefect. As of 2019, the 101 French departments were divided into 332 arrondissements.
Dole is a commune in the Jura department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in eastern France, of which it is a subprefecture (sous-préfecture).
A prefect in France is the state's representative in a department or region. Subprefects are responsible for the subdivisions of departments, arrondissements. The office of a prefect is known as a prefecture and that of a sub-prefect as a subprefecture.
The Minister of the Interior is an important position in the Government of France. The office is equivalent to the Interior Minister of other countries, like the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, the Minister of Public Safety in Canada or similar to a combination of the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security in the United States.
An administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located.
The four arrondissements of the Haut-Rhin department are:
- Arrondissement of Altkirch, with 108 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 69,793 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Colmar-Ribeauvillé, with 98 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 211,668 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Mulhouse, with 79 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 351,012 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, with 81 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 130,270 in 2016.
The 4 arrondissements of the Martinique department are:
- Arrondissement of Fort-de-France, with 4 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 157,449 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Le Marin, with 12 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 117,168 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre, with 8 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 22,926 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of La Trinité, with 10 communes. The population of the arrondissement was 78,937 in 2016.
The 6 arrondissements of the Nord department are:
- Arrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe, with 151 communes. Its population was 230,372 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Cambrai, with 116 communes. Its population was 162,045 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Douai, with 64 communes. Its population was 245,280 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Dunkirk (Dunkerque), with 111 communes. Its population was 377,294 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Lille, with 124 communes. Its population was 1,237,472 in 2016.
- Arrondissement of Valenciennes, with 82 communes. Its population was 351,260 in 2016.
Vienne is a department in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It takes its name from the river Vienne.
A subprefect is a high government official in several countries, including Brazil and France.
