French Historical GIS, 1700-2020. Administrative units, Populations, Transports

Historical Geospatial Data for France (19th–21st Century) This repository provides a set of geospatial datasets for France. The data are organised into separate directories, each containing a dataset and a dedicated README with detailed documentation and usage instructions. Each dataset is described in a standalone data paper which should be read carefully before using the data. Repository Structure TRANSPORT/ ├── TRANSPORT.gpkg ├── INLAND_WATERWAYS_README.md └── RAILWAYS_README.md COMMUNES_1790_2020/ ├── COMMUNES_22042026.gpkg ├── COMMUNES_CENTROIDS_22042026.gpkg ├── COMMUNES_NAMES/ │ ├── cassini_communes.csv │ ├── cassini_settlements.csv │ ├── commune_parish_links.csv │ └── communes_historical_names.csv └── README.md POPULATIONS_1782_2020/ ├── POPULATIONS_1782_2020.csv ├── make_missing_data_maps.py └── README.md Dataset Overview Transport The transport dataset contains historical infrastructure layers for France, including: - Railway networks - Inland waterways - Railway station locations These layers enable the study of connectivity, market integration, and infrastructure development over time. Communes (1790–2020) This dataset provides a harmonised representation of French administrative units over the long run, including polygon boundaries, centroids, and historical commune-name resources. The GeoPackages contain: - Polygon geometries and temporal attributes for communes. - Centroid geometries for the same temporal commune records. - Historical names, Cassini commune and settlement references, and commune-parish links in the `COMMUNES_NAMES` directory. The structure allows users to track administrative changes (e.g. mergers, splits) while maintaining consistent spatial units for longitudinal analysis. Populations (1782–2020) This dataset provides longitudinal population data for French administrative units over the long run. `POPULATIONS_1782_2020.csv`: population counts for each administrative unit. The dataset is designed to be used in conjunction with the communes dataset, allowing users to track demographic change consistently despite administrative boundary modifications. It supports the analysis of long-run population dynamics, urbanisation and demographic transitions, and regional inequality and spatial development. Documentation Each dataset directory includes a dedicated README.md file with documentation and, where applicable, a link to the relevant data paper containing: - Detailed variable descriptions - Data construction methodology - Usage guidelines Users should consult these papers before working with the data. Use Cases These datasets are suitable for: - Historical GIS analysis - Economic history and regional development research - Transport and infrastructure studies - Long-run administrative and demographic analysis Additional Information Further details about the broader research project can be found at [anrcommunes.fr](https://www.anrcommunes.fr). License Licence and reuse. Unless a file or component is expressly identified as subject to different terms, this dataset is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC 4.0). You may copy, share, analyse, and adapt it for noncommercial purposes, provided you give appropriate credit, link to the licence, and indicate changes. For permission to use the dataset for commercial purposes, please contact the authors to discuss a separate licence. This statement applies only to material for which the licensors hold the necessary rights; any third-party exceptions are identified in the relevant dataset README. Citations Dataset Litvine, A., Thévenin, T., Séguy, I., Starzec, A., Hare, D., Mille, P., & Mimeur, C. (2026). *French Historical GIS, 1700-2020. Administrative units, Populations, Transports* [Dataset]. Zenodo. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3727273](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3727273) Data paper Litvine, A., Séguy, I., Thévenin, T., Starzec, A., Hare, D., & Boissard, R. (2026). *French Historical GIS, 1790-2020. Administrative Units and Population*. Cambridge Data Paper in Economic and Social History. [https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.134128](https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.134128)