La Mayenne is a department the northwest of France. It was named after the river "la Mayenne" and its number is 53. It is in the region Pays de la Loire. Its population is 285,338 (1999) and its land area is 5,175 km2. The population density is 55/km2. It has 261 communes, its prefecture is Laval ans its subprefectures are Mayenne and Château-Gontier. The inhabitants are called the "Mayennais".