Of the entire area two-thirds are arable, and a twentieth is under wood. A large number of horned cattle are reared (98,000 oxen, 150,000 cows), and in no other French department are so many horses (92,500) found within the same area; the breed, that of Craon, is famed for its strength. Craon has also given its name to the most prized breed of pigs in western France. There are 83,000 pigs in the department, 80,000 sheep, and 5000 goats. Mayenne produces excellent butter, poultry, and game, and a large quantity of honey. The cultivation of the vine is very limited, and the most common beverage is cider, of which nearly 9,000,000 gallons are annually made. Agriculture is in a flourishing condition; in 1878 were produced upwards of 3⅜ million bushels of wheat, f million of meslin, nearly an equal amount of rye, 1⅛ million of barley, 2 million of oats, and nearly 3 million bushels of potatoes, besides a large quantity of flax and hemp. The timber grown is chiefly beech, oak, birch, elm, and chestnut. The department produces a little iron-ore and manganese; it is rich in anthracite and coal, of which, however, the annual production has recently decreased from 80,000 tons to 60,000. Marble and granite, limestone, slate, and porphyry are quarried; the last-named material is capable of a fine polish, and is also used for paving the streets of Paris. There are several chalybeate springs. The industries include iron and brass founding, brick and tile making, brewing, the manufacture of candles, cotton, linen, and woollen thread, and the production of various textile fabrics (that of ticking being the specialty of the department), agricultural implement making, wood and marble sawing, tanning, dyeing, and the like. The population in 1881 was 343,167. The arrondissements are those of Laval, Château-Gcntier, and Mayenne.

Mayenne, capital of an arrondissement in the above department of France, is an old feudal town irregularly built on two hillocks which overlook the river Mayenne, at the point where the railway from Caen to Laval is joined by that from Fougères to Alencon. The old castle still has towards the river five towers, one of which has retained its conical roof; the vaulted chambers and chapel are ornamented in the style of the 13th century; the building is now used as a prison. The church of Notre Dame, dating partly from the 12th century, is the only other building of any special interest. In the Place de Cheverus is a statue, by David of Angers, to the cardinal of that name, who was born in Mayenne. The chief industry of the place is the cloth manufacture, which occupies 8000 persons in the town and neighbourhood. The population in 1876 was 10,098.

Mayenne had its origin in the castle built here by Juhel, the son of Geoffroy of Maine, in the beginning of the 11th century. It was besieged by William the Conqueror, and afterwards by the earl of Salisbury; and the possession of it was disputed by the Royalists and the Leaguers, as also by the Republicans and the Vendeans.