Argenton-sur-Creuse is a commune in the Indre department in central France.

Argenton-sur-Creuse
The Creuse river and surrounding buildings
The Creuse river and surrounding buildings
Coat of arms of Argenton-sur-Creuse
Location of Argenton-sur-Creuse
Map
Argenton-sur-Creuse is located in France
Argenton-sur-Creuse
Argenton-sur-Creuse
Argenton-sur-Creuse is located in Centre-Val de Loire
Argenton-sur-Creuse
Argenton-sur-Creuse
Coordinates: 46°35′23″N 1°31′12″E / 46.5897°N 1.52°E / 46.5897; 1.52
CountryFrance
RegionCentre-Val de Loire
DepartmentIndre
ArrondissementChâteauroux
CantonArgenton-sur-Creuse
IntercommunalityCC Éguzon - Argenton - Vallée Creuse
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Vincent Millan[1]
Area
1
29.34 km2 (11.33 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
4,848
 • Density170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
36006 /36200
Elevation99–234 m (325–768 ft)
(avg. 119 m or 390 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Argenton-sur-Creuse lies on the river Creuse, about 28 km southwest of Châteauroux. Argenton-sur-Creuse station has rail connections to Vierzon, Limoges and Paris. The A20 autoroute (Vierzon–Limoges–Montauban) passes west of the town. The village of Saint-Benoît-du-Sault is 20 minutes away by road. South of Argenton is the valley of the river Creuse. The village of Gargilesse is nearby; there the home of the writer George Sand may be visited.

History

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The modern city is built close to the site of the Gallo-Roman city of Argentomagus which lies a little to the north.[3] The site has been developed as a museum visitor attraction. The name of the ancient town probably derives from the Latin word for "silver", as the town was a center of silver work.

The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911) described the city as follows: "The river is crossed by two bridges, and its banks are bordered by picturesque old houses. There are numerous tanneries, and the manufacture of boots, shoes and linen goods is carried on".[3] Since then, one of the riverside mills has been converted into the "Museum of the Shirt and Masculine Elegance".

Notable people

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Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 4,064—    
1821 3,770−0.27%
1846 4,546+0.75%
1886 6,388+0.85%
1911 6,122−0.17%
1936 5,710−0.28%
1946 6,111+0.68%
1962 6,344+0.23%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 6,400+0.15%
1975 6,424+0.05%
1982 5,848−1.33%
1990 5,193−1.47%
1999 5,146−0.10%
2007 5,180+0.08%
2012 5,021−0.62%
2017 4,927−0.38%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968-2017)[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Argenton" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 475.
  4. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Argenton-sur-Creuse, EHESS (in French).
  5. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
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