Houssay (Mayenne): small rural commune in Pays de la Loire, France

Geography and setting

Houssay lies in a rural part of Mayenne characterized by agricultural plots, pasture and small hamlets. Its recorded coordinates are 47°54′50″N 0°44′10″W (47.914°N, 0.736°W), which place it in the temperate landscape of north‑western France; see map data coordinates for exact location. The surrounding area is typical of the region: gently rolling land, lanes connecting dispersed farmsteads, and a modest local road network.

Administration and local life

As with other French communes, local affairs in Houssay are managed by a municipal council and a mayor, responsible for civil records, local planning, primary schooling where present, and community services. Small communes often cooperate with neighbouring communes through intercommunal structures for services such as waste collection, schooling and economic development.

History and development

Houssay shares the broad historical patterns of Mayenne and north‑western France: settlement that dates back through the medieval period and administrative reorganization under the modern French state. The modern department system placed Houssay within Mayenne, and later regional structures associated it with Pays de la Loire.

Population, economy and points of interest

With a small population, the local economy centers on agriculture, small‑scale trades and commuting to larger towns for work. Typical features of communes of this size include a parish church, a war memorial, scattered farmhouses and community buildings. Visitors or researchers often consult departmental records or regional guides for specific heritage listings and practical information.

• Official commune entry: Houssay commune
• 1999 census data: population (1999)
• Regional context: Pays de la Loire
• Department information: Mayenne
• Country overview: France
• Location coordinates: 47°54′50″N 0°44′10″W