Balan is a commune. It is found in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the Ain department in the east of France. In 2010, 2,348 people lived in the commune. The inhabitants are the "Balanais". In the past they were called the "Balandrins" The local economy is mostly based around commerce and industry. The most important monuments in the commune are the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and the "Maison Forte de Montherot", a fortified house from the 17th century. Famous people from Balan include Jean Reverzy, a 20th-century doctor and author.