Cusset

Cusset is a commune in the department of Allier, in the central French region of Auvergne. Situated in the foothills of the Bourbonnaise Mountains, the city is a suburb of Vichy and ranks fourth in population for the department.

Cusset
Commune
Cusset from Montbeton neighborhood
Coat of arms
Location of Cusset
Cusset Cusset
Coordinates: 46°08′07″N 3°27′26″E
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Allier
Arrondissement	Vichy
Canton	Cusset
Intercommunality	CA Vichy Communauté
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Sébastien Laloy
Area 1	31.93 km2 (12.33 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	12,909
• Density	400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	03095 /03300
Elevation	255–483 m (837–1,585 ft) (avg. 310 m or 1,020 ft)
Website	www.ville-cusset.com
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 3,827 —     1800 3,945 +0.43% 1806 4,547 +2.40% 1821 3,924 −0.98% 1831 4,910 +2.27% 1836 5,093 +0.73% 1841 5,138 +0.18% 1846 5,476 +1.28% 1851 5,510 +0.12% 1856 5,709 +0.71% 1861 6,113 +1.38% 1866 6,575 +1.47% 1872 6,279 −0.76% 1876 6,308 +0.12% 1881 6,330 +0.07% 1886 6,762 +1.33% 1891 6,454 −0.93% 1896 6,441 −0.04%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 6,598 +0.48% 1906 6,719 +0.36% 1911 6,941 +0.65% 1921 6,598 −0.51% 1926 7,672 +3.06% 1931 8,732 +2.62% 1936 9,026 +0.66% 1946 9,728 +0.75% 1954 10,405 +0.84% 1962 11,468 +1.22% 1968 13,117 +2.26% 1975 13,685 +0.61% 1982 14,355 +0.69% 1990 13,567 −0.70% 1999 13,385 −0.15% 2007 13,358 −0.03% 2012 13,497 +0.21% 2017 12,661 −1.27%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017)

Geography

Location

Located on the Sichon River, tributary of the Allier river, in the foothills of the Bourbonnaise Mountain, at an elevation of approximately 980 feet on top of the Mount Béton, Cusset is annexed to Vichy.

The city includes fifty or so Lieux-dit (part of a municipality nominated because of an historical particularity), the most important are Presle, Puy-Besseau, the Bartins, Champcourt, Chantegrelet, Chassignol and Viermeux.

Cusset is a part of the arrondissement of Vichy, for many years it was the capital of a unique canton until 1985, at which point a decree separated this canton into two parts : Northern Cusset and Southern Cusset. Following the boundary changes of 2014, only one canton shall remain in 2015.

The municipality is located, as the crow flies, at an equal distance between the administrative centers of the department of Moulins to the north and of the region of Clermont-Ferrand to the southeast (approx. 30 miles).

Geology and relief

The surface area of the municipality 7890 acres, its elevation varies between 837 and 1584 feet. The low-lying areas are located near Vichy (built residences on the Sichon riverside) whereas the high-elevation sectors are located to the east (Chassignol, Meunière, Viermeux, Les Acarins)

Hydrography

The Sichon passes through the municipality, tributary of the Allier river; the Bourbonnaise Mountain is the source of other waterways which cross the municipality ( le Jolan, le Rebusset, l’Abrion, le Dalbot).

Climate

The climate in this region is continental. The climate records come from the nearest weather station located in Charmeil, close to the airport. In 2011 the city was exposed to the sun for a total of 88 days (2096 hours), these results are very close to the national average. The municipality registered a rainfall of 23 inches and the maximal speed of the wind reached 52 mph.

Culture

Star Wars themed fan convention Générations Star Wars et Science Fiction occurs every year in the city's main auditorium Espace Chambon.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Cusset is twinned with:

• Neusäß, Germany

See also

• Communes of the Allier department

External links

• Town hall website (in French)