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Deux-Sèvres

Deux-Sèvres
Department
Coat of arms of Deux-Sèvres
Coat of arms
Location of Deux-Sèvres in France
Location of Deux-Sèvres in France
Coordinates: 46°30′N 00°20′E / 46.500°N 0.333°E / 46.500; 0.333Coordinates: 46°30′N 00°20′E / 46.500°N 0.333°E / 46.500; 0.333
Country France
Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Prefecture Niort
Subprefectures Bressuire
Parthenay
Government
 • President of the General Council Eric Gautier (PS)
Area
 • Total 5,999 km2 (2,316 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 371,632
 • Rank 65th
 • Density 62/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Department number 79
Arrondissements 3
Cantons 17
Communes 297
^1 French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries, and lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km2

Deux-Sèvres (French pronunciation: ​[dø sɛvʁ]) is a French department. Deux-Sèvres literally means "two Sèvres": the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise are two rivers which have their sources in the department.

Deux-Sèvres was one of the 83 original départements created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790.

Departmental borders were changed in 1973 when the inhabitants of the little commune of became formally associated with the rapidly growing adjacent commune of Cholet. Cholet is in the neighbouring department of Maine-et-Loire: in order to avoid the associated communes being administered in separate departments, Puy-Saint-Bonnet was transferred into Maine-et-Loire.

The climate is mild, the annual temperature averaging 11 degrees Celsius.

The département remains rural: three-quarters of the area consists of arable land. Wheat and oats are the main products grown, as well as potatoes, apples, and walnuts. Niort is the center for growing vegetables and angelica. Some beetroot is grown in the district of Melle. Vineyards are numerous in the north (Haut-poitou (AOVDQS) ()), and there are some in the south. The département is also well known for the breeding of cattle, mules, and horses. The Parthenais breed of cattle is named after the town of Parthenay in the north of the département. Also, dairy products are produced in significant quantities (butter in Échiré and goats' cheese).


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