Climate

The climate type is semi-continental, with cold winters, hot summers and precipitation falling mainly in summer.

Heraldry

Blazon: Or, in chief a gusset couped of argent, in base a caliper with a branch to sinister all in sable debruised by two cutlasses of argent saltirewise with handles gules over all tied in Or.

Transport

A bus runs regularly in the town. It comes from the neighbouring town of Oyonnax. A railway station previously existed in the town but the proximity of Oyonnax caused disinterest and it closed. Arbent is located on the Andelot-en-Montagne - La Cluse railway line.

Air transport

The commune has an aerodrome shared with the commune of Oyonnax. It can accommodate helicopters and business aircraft but is mostly used by the Jean Coutty Aeroclub^[6] for leisure and pilot training. An air show is held every year.

Urban morphology

The commune of Arbent is divided into two areas. The first part is on the edge of the Jura department to the north. It is the location of the town hall. Two kilometres to the south is Marchon which is attached to the commune of Oyonnax.

Housing

The total number of dwellings in the town of 1182.^[7] Among these units, 96.4% are primary residences, 1.2% are second homes, and 2.5% are vacant housing. These lodging units are 60.1% of detached houses, 37.6% apartments, and only 2.3% are other types of housing. The proportion of people in their own home is 57.1%.^[7] This is higher than the national average which is 55.3%. As a result, the proportion of tenants is 39.5% of all housing which is inversely lower than the national average of 39.8%.^[7] It may also be noted that 3.4% of the population of the commune are people with free accommodation while at the level of the whole of France the average percentage is 4.9%. Of all the commune housing units: 1.3% are studio size, 9.7% are two bedroom accommodations, 19% have three bedrooms, 30.2% of homes have four bedrooms and 39.9% of homes have five or more bedrooms.^[7]

Intercommunal relations

The commune has developed twinning in order to promote school exchanges, sporting, cultural, and social relations between Communes.

• Plouhinec, Finistère (France) since 28 May 2005.

Income and taxation

According to the INSEE survey in 1999,^[10] the average household income is EUR 22,015 per year, while the national average is 15,027 euros per year. There is no liability for the solidarity tax on wealth (ISF) in Nantua.

Employment

The population of Arbent is divided into 48.2% working, which is higher than the national average of 45.2%, and 10.5% retired, a figure lower than the 18.2% national average. There are also 30.5% of the population of young people in school and 10.8% of other people without work.

The working rate for the population 20 to 59 years old is 85% with a rate of unemployment of 9% in 1999 - well below the national average of 12.9% unemployed.

Civil heritage

The commune has a number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments or historical objects:

• A Travellers Halt (1889)^[11]
• A Railway Bridge and 2 Tunnels at Rue du Point B (1886)^[12]
• A Railway Bridge in Montagre (1886)^[13]
• A Railway Crossing (No. 84) at Prés de Voye (1886)^[14]
• A Vaulted Aqueduct (1886)^[15]
• A Railway cutting Retaining Wall at Prés de Voye (1886)^[16]
• A Railway Bridge at Prés de Voye (1886)^[17]
• A Mechanical Disc Signal at Marais Sud (20th century)^[18]
• A Railway Telephone at Prés de Voye (20th century)^[19]

Other sites of interest

Other points of interest in Arbent include historical buildings, a sports complex, and walks in the surrounding woods.

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint Laurent (15th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[20] It contains a Lectern (17th century) which is registered as an historical object.^[21]

Gallery

• The Church of Saint-Laurent
• Old Lavoir at Marchon
• War Memorial
• Statue on the War memorial

• The Chapel Saint-Oyen

Education

The Jean-Rostand College at Marchon is classified as a successful ambition.

Media

The newspaper Le Progrès publishes a local edition for the communes of Upper Bugey. It appears from Monday to Sunday and discusses various news, sporting, and cultural events at the local, national, and international levels.

The newspaper La Voix de l'Ain is a weekly publication offering local information for different regions of the department of Ain.

France 3 Rhône Alpes Auvergne is available in the region.