Loire, HAUTE

Loire, HAUTE, a department of central France, formed out of the former province of Languedoc, the duchy of Auvergne, and the district of Forez, and bounded on the south by Lozère and Ardèche. The Loire crosses it going northwards, the Allier going north-westwards. Area, 1915 sq. m.; pop. (1872) 308,732; (1891) 316,735. The surface forms a plateau, deeply trench'd by river-courses; it ranges in elevation from 2000 to 3000 feet, and rises in peaks and domes up to 5755 feet above sea-level (Mount Mézenc). In spite of the ungenerous nature of the soil, agriculture is the chief calling of the inhabitants. But about 120,000 persons find employment at home in making lace from wool, cotton, flax, silk, gold, and silver. Some thousands of the inhabitants leave their houses for a time every year, to work in other parts of France. Coal and building-stone are worked. The arrondissements are Le Puy, Yssingeaux, and Brioude; the capital, Le Puy.