Short answers, pulled from the story.
The National Constituent Assembly decreed the creation of departments on the 26th of February 1790. This decision followed a decree from the 4th of August 1789 that eliminated provincial privileges.
The prefect is appointed directly by the President of the French Republic. From 1800 until 1982, the prefect served as the chief executive of the department before retaining only powers not delegated to the department councils since 1982.
The total reached 101 departments in the French Republic. As of 2019, Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse remain administrative departments though they no longer hold full territorial collectivity status.
Gironde stands as the largest department by area while Paris holds the smallest title. Most departments have an area between 4,000 and 8,000 square kilometers with a median land area of approximately 5,300 square kilometers.
Departmental Councils are elected using a two-round system that drastically limits fringe party chances. The Socialist Party and Union for a Popular Movement remain major forces in local governance under this structure.