Sonthonnax-la-Montagne
| Sonthonnax-la-Montagne | ||
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Ain | |
| Arrondissement | Nantua | |
| Canton | Pont d'Ain | |
| Community association | Haut-Bugey agglomeration | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 14 ' N , 5 ° 31' E | |
| height | 420-783 m | |
| surface | 14.14 km 2 | |
| Residents | 312 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 22 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 01580 | |
| INSEE code | 01410 | |
 Mairie Sonthonnax-la-Montagne |
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Sonthonnax-la-Montagne is a French commune with 312 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Ain in the region Auvergne Rhône-Alpes . It belongs to the canton of Pont-d'Ain in the Arrondissement of Nantua .
geography
Sonthonnax-la-Montagne is located at 675 m , about ten kilometers west-southwest of the city of Oyonnax and 23 kilometers east of the prefecture of Bourg-en-Bresse (as the crow flies). The farming village extends in the north of Bugey , on a plateau in the Jura , north of Mont Griset, between the gorge-like valley of the Ain in the west and the valley basin of Izernore in the east.
The area of the 14.14 km² municipal area covers a section of the southern French Jura. The main part of the area is taken up by the undulating plateau on the anticline of the Montagne de Berthiand . Here partly swampy hollows alternate with peaks and long ridges. The highest point is reached at 786 m on the hill above Chougeat; other important elevations are the Mont Griset ( 709 m ) and the Mont Fauvin ( 696 m ). In the west, the border runs mostly above the steep drop to the deeply cut valley of the Ain.
In addition to the actual village, Sonthonnax-la-Montagne also includes various hamlets and farm groups, including:
- Heyriat ( 630 m ) in a hollow south of Mont Griset
- Napt ( 655 m ) on Mont Fauvin
Neighboring communities of Sonthonnax-la-Montagne are Matafelon-Granges in the west and north, Izernore and Nurieux-Volognat in the east and Leyssard and Bolozon in the south.
history
Sonthonnax-la-Montagne is first mentioned in a document around 1250 under the name Centonas . Over time, the spelling changed via Sontona (1299), Sant Donas (1325), Sonthona (1337) and Sanctus Donatus Montis (1587) to the current name. The place name goes back to Saint Donatus. The area around Sonthonnax belonged to the Lords of Thoire-Villars and came under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy in 1402 . With the Treaty of Lyon , Sonthonnax-la-Montagne came to France in 1601. On January 1, 1974, the previously independent Napt was incorporated into Sonthonnax-la-Montagne.
Attractions
The Saint-Laurent church in Sonthonnax-la-Montagne was built in Gothic style, but has a modern bell tower. In Napt there is also a Gothic church from the 14th century. West of the village is the 19th century Chapelle des Chasseurs at a beautiful vantage point.
population
| year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 | 2011 |
| Residents | 195 | 166 | 153 | 194 | 242 | 302 | 315 | 315 |
With 312 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Sonthonnax-la-Montagne is one of the small communities in the Ain department. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (360 people were counted in 1896), a significant increase in population has been recorded since the beginning of the 1980s.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Sonthonnax-la-Montagne was predominantly a village characterized by agriculture , in particular dairy and cattle breeding, as well as forestry. In addition, there are now some local small businesses. In the meantime, the village has also turned into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who work in the larger towns in the area.
The village is located away from the larger thoroughfares. The main access is from Izernore. There are other road connections with Mornay (Nurieux-Volognat municipality) and Bolozon. The closest connection to the A404 motorway ( Saint-Martin-du-Frêne - Oyonnax) is around ten kilometers away.
In Sonthonnax-la-Montagne there is a state primary school ( école élémentaire ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ É. Philipon: Dictionnaire Topographique du Département de l'Ain . Imprimerie Nationale, 1911, p. 416 f . (French, online [PDF; accessed January 4, 2014]).
- ↑ a b Sonthonnax-la-Montagne - notice communale. In: cassini.ehess.fr. Retrieved on June 14, 2015 (French, INSEE population from 1968 ).
- ↑ French Statistics Institute ( www.insee.fr )