Commentry (French pronunciation: [kɔmɑ̃tʁi]; Auvergnat: Comentriac) is a commune in the department of Allier in central France. It lies 42 miles (68 km) 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.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 600 —     1800 498 −2.63% 1806 565 +2.13% 1821 601 +0.41% 1831 1,277 +7.83% 1836 1,126 −2.49% 1841 1,424 +4.81% 1846 3,015 +16.19% 1851 5,465 +12.63% 1856 8,484 +9.19% 1861 8,582 +0.23% 1866 9,978 +3.06% 1872 11,698 +2.69% 1876 12,978 +2.63% 1881 12,416 −0.88% 1886 12,515 +0.16% 1891 12,618 +0.16% 1896 12,632 +0.02% 1901 11,169 −2.43%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1906 10,205 −1.79% 1911 10,112 −0.18% 1921 10,256 +0.14% 1926 10,089 −0.33% 1931 10,136 +0.09% 1936 8,827 −2.73% 1946 9,119 +0.33% 1954 9,259 +0.19% 1962 9,711 +0.60% 1968 10,026 +0.53% 1975 10,043 +0.02% 1982 9,195 −1.25% 1990 8,021 −1.69% 1999 7,204 −1.19% 2007 6,803 −0.71% 2012 6,592 −0.63% 2017 6,239 −1.09% 2020 6,100 −0.75%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

History

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). Commentry was the first commune ever to elect a socialist mayor: Christophe Thivrier was elected 6 June 1882. The Socialist Party of France was founded in Commentry in September 1902.

Economy

Commentry gave its name to a coal field over 21 square kilometres in extent, and historically had important foundries and forges.

Science

Charles Brongniart discovered many fossils near Commentry, including Meganeura in the Stephanian stage coal measures in 1880.

Personalities

• Jean Bayet (1882–1969) Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the Sorbonne, whose grandfather Gilbert Bayet was mayor of Commentry 1871–1873.
• Henri Fayol (1841–1925) mining engineer, developed Fayolism, an approach to management and administration.
• Abel Gance (1889–1981) film director and producer, raised by maternal grandparents in Commentry until the age of eight.
• Jacques Hillairet (1886-1984) historian specializing in the history of Paris, officer of the Legion of Honour.
• Émile Mâle (1862–1954) art historian and member of the Académie française.
• Stéphane Mony (1800–1884) Engineer, director of the colliery at Commentry; mayor from 1854 to 1883; deputy from 1868 to 1871.
• Christophe Thivrier (1841–1895) first elected Socialist mayor in France.
• Roger Vergé (1930–2015) Celebrated chef and restaurateur.

See also

• Communes of the Allier department