This was a response to counter-revolutionary activities in Lyon which, by population, was the country's second largest city.

By splitting Rhône-et-Loire the government sought to protect the French Revolution from the potential power and influence of counter revolutionary activity in the Lyon region.

The departmental capitals (prefectures) throughout its history are as follows:[4] Loire is part of the current administrative region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and is surrounded by the départements of Rhône, Isère, Ardèche, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Allier, and Saône-et-Loire.

The Loire département is divided into three arrondissements: Parts of the department belong to Parc naturel régional Livradois-Forez.

As of 2019, there are 6 communes with more than 15,000 inhabitants:[3] The president of the Departmental Council is Georges Ziegler, elected in October 2017.