Commentry should not be confused with commentary (disambiguation).
Commentry | |
Commune Status: | Commune |
Image Coat Of Arms: | Blason de la ville de Commentry (03).svg |
Arrondissement: | Montluçon |
Canton: | Commentry |
Insee: | 03082 |
Postal Code: | 03600 |
Mayor: | Sylvain Bourdier[1] |
Term: | 2020 - 2026 |
Intercommunality: | Commentry Montmarault Néris Communauté |
Coordinates: | 46.2897°N 2.7422°W |
Elevation M: | 385 |
Elevation Min M: | 332 |
Elevation Max M: | 462 |
Area Km2: | 20.96 |
Commentry (in French pronounced as /kɔmɑ̃tʁi/; Auvergnat: Comentriac) is a commune in the department of Allier in central France. It lies 42miles 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 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).[2] Commentry was the first commune ever to elect a socialist mayor: Christophe Thivrier was elected 6 June 1882.[3] The Socialist Party of France was founded in Commentry in September 1902.
Commentry gave its name to a coal field over 21 square kilometres in extent, and historically had important foundries and forges.
Charles Brongniart discovered many fossils near Commentry, including Meganeura in the Stephanian stage coal measures in 1880.