Laigné is a former rural commune in the northwest of France. Situated in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region, the settlement was recorded as having 674 inhabitants in 1999. As an administrative entity it is described as a former commune, with population data available in older national statistics from 1999. Its regional placement is within Pays de la Loire and the departmental authority of Mayenne, in the territory of France.
Geography and administration
Laigné occupies a small area typical of northwestern French rural settlements: a compact village nucleus surrounded by farmland, hedgerows and minor lanes. Local administration followed the French commune model until consolidation; municipal services and planning were managed at the commune level and coordinated with cantonal and departmental bodies. The locality is now administered as part of a larger municipal structure following the merger described below.
History and merger
Like many small communes in rural France, Laigné experienced administrative change in the twenty-first century. On 1 January 2018 it was merged into the newly created commune of Prée-d'Anjou. Such mergers aim to pool resources, simplify governance and maintain local services for dispersed populations while preserving village identities.
Historical traces in places like Laigné typically include parish churches, traditional farm buildings and local memorials. While detailed historical records are modest, the village shares the long agricultural history of Mayenne and the broader Pays de la Loire region, shaped by small-scale farming, seasonal rhythms and regional markets.
Economy and community life: the local economy has generally been based on agriculture, small trades and services serving nearby residents. Community life in former communes often centers on communal facilities, seasonal festivals and intercommunal cooperation for schooling and public services.
For further administrative or statistical details consult regional and departmental resources: the entry for Laigné as a former commune, archived population tables from national data, regional guides for Pays de la Loire, departmental information for Mayenne, national context for France and the official notices concerning the creation of Prée-d'Anjou.