[3] The department, which encompasses a relatively small surface area of 609.4 km2 (235.3 sq mi), is located just southwest of the European Collectivity of Alsace.

The administrative district Territoire de Belfort was created under the terms of the 1871 Treaty of Frankfurt.

There were three principal reasons for this exceptional treatment: After retaining its unique status as a territoire for just over half a century, Belfort was officially recognized as France's 90th department in 1922.

Geographers might contend that Belfort lies on the ridge that divides two regions of France, but before 1870 it was politically part of Alsace.

However, in terms of the political regions established in 1982, the Territoire de Belfort has found itself in the Franche-Comté rather than Alsace.