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Timiș County

Timiș is a county (județ) of western Romania on the border with Hungary and Serbia, in the historical region of Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the westernmost and the largest county in Romania in terms of land area. The county is also part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion.

Name
The name of the county comes from the Timiș River, known in Roman antiquity as Tibisis or Tibiscus. According to Lajos Kiss' etymological dictionary, the name of the river probably comes from the Dacian language: thibh-isjo ("marshy"). In Hungarian, Timiș County is known as Temes megye, in German as Kreis Temesch, in Serbian as Тамишки округ/Tamiški okrug, in Ukrainian as Тімішський повіт, and in Banat Bulgarian as okrug Timiš.

Geography
Timiș is the largest county in Romania, occupying 8,696.7 km2, i.e. 3.65% of the country's area. It is crossed by the 46th parallel north, the 21st meridian east and the 22nd meridian east. On its territory is the westernmost point of Romania, i.e. Beba Veche, at 20°15'44", in the Triplex Confinium point.

Timiș County is part of the West Development Region along with the counties of Arad, Caraș-Severin and Hunedoara, being located in the center of the historical province of Banat. Due to its geographical position, almost a third of the county's borders are at the same time state borders. Thus, in the northwestern part, it borders Csongrád-Csanád County (Hungary), 18 km of this border being on the Mureș River. To the southwest, between Beba Veche and Lățunaș, Timiș County borders the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Serbia). The land connection with the counties of the neighboring countries is ensured by the border crossing points from Cenad, Moravița and Jimbolia. The neighboring Romanian counties with Timiș County are Arad to the north, Hunedoara to the east and Caraș-Severin to the southeast.

Relief
The relief is characterized by the predominance of plains, which cover the western part (low plain) and the central part (high plain) of the county. Timiș County features all landforms, with altitudes between 75 m in Banat Plain and 1,374 m in Poiana Ruscă Mountains. Proportionally, the plain covers about 6,700 km2, representing 77.2% of the county's area; the hills cover about 1,650 km2, i.e. 19.01%; and the mountains cover a relatively small area of 300 km2, i.e. 3.45%.

The plain penetrates in a gulf-like manner the hilly areas, on the valleys of Timiș (towards Lugoj) and Bega (towards Făget). In the east of the county lie the pre-mountain hills of Buziaș and the southern sector of the Lipova Plateau, whose peaks rise to altitudes between 200 and 400 m. The hills of Lăpugiu, Făget, Lugoj, Lipova, Silagiu and Sacoș are rich in pastures, orchards of fruit trees, vineyards, but also in cereal crops. The relief in the eastern part of the county is dominated by the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, with deep valleys and steep slopes, with heights that rarely exceed 1300 m (Padeș peak – 1374 m, Rusca peak – 1355 m).

Natural resources
Located in the southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain, the subsoil of Timiș County there are deposits of lignite (Sinersig), basalt (Lucareț–Șanovița), manganese (Pietroasa), clay (Biled, Cărpiniș, Jimbolia, Lugoj and Sânnicolau Mare), crude oil and gas (in the western part of the county), sand (Șag) and glass sand (Groși–Făget, Tomești and Gladna Montană). Mineral waters are also exploited in Buziaș, Călacea, Ivanda, Bogda and Timișoara. The soil of Timiș County offers extremely favorable conditions for the cultivation of agricultural plants, especially for the cultivation of cereals, but also for technical and fodder plants, as well as for fruit growing and viticulture. The forests are relatively few. In the eastern part there are forests of fir, spruce and beech. In the other parts of the county there are small forests of oak, Austrian oak, Hungarian oak, and in the meadows – poplars and willows.

Hydrography
The hydrographic network of Timiș County, spread over 3,104 km, is composed of two hydrographic basins: Bega–Timiș–Caraș and Mureș. The most important rivers in size and hydropower potential in the county, which cross the territory through the center, dividing it into two halves, south and north, are Timiș and Bega. Timiș is the largest inland river in Banat, which has its sources on the eastern slopes of the Semenic Mountains, in Caraș-Severin County. The river is formed at the confluence of three branches: Semenic, Grădiște and Brebu. It crosses the whole of Timiș County, then passes into Serbia where it flows into the Danube, to Pančevo. Bega River springs from the Poiana Ruscă Mountains and flows into the Tisza after a route of 244 km, being its southernmost tributary. Downstream, towards the western edge, up to the border, the course of the Bega River is completely canalized. The Bega Canal is navigable both in Romania and in Serbia, having a length of 44 km only in Romania. The natural lakes, with small areas and depths, are represented by the lake complex of Satchinez (40 ha; 1.5 m deep), the two lakes of Becicherecu Mic (one of 33 ha and another of 13 ha), the Petra pond of Jebel, etc. Between 1969 and 1975, pond-like lakes for flood control, irrigation and fishing were arranged on the courses of both Timiș and Bega. The largest of these, Lake Surduc, was arranged on Gladna stream, a tributary of the Bega, and has an area of 460 ha and a volume of 51 million m3. In the county there are also two lakes with hot (20 °C) and mineral water at Românești, with an area of 50 m2 and the muddy volcano from Ohaba-Forgaci, in the Magheruș valley, of 50 m2.

The high density of the hydrographic network, the low slopes of the riverbeds in the plain sector, the reduced depth of the groundwater, the presence of ultisols, all favor the floods and marshes. To reduce the amplitude of these phenomena, since the first half of the 18teenth century, large engineering works (damming, canalization, draining etc.) were made in the region, most of which are still functional today. Among the major flash floods and floods in the Banat Plain, the most important were those of May 1912, June 1966 and April 2005.

Flora
The natural vegetation, strongly influenced by human activities, is characterized by the small-scale presence of forest-steppe plants and by a higher frequency of hydro- and hygrophilous vegetation in low plains and meadows with excess moisture. The extensive agricultural crops in the plain alternate with small areas of secondary meadows dominated by fescue associations (Festuca valesiaca, Festuca rupicola and Festuca pseudovina) mixed with wormwood (Artemisia austriaca) and others. The deciduous forests, made up of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), Austrian oak (Quercus cerris) and Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto), occupy insularly or on compact areas the Lipova Plateau, the Lugoj and Pogăniș Hills and partly the Gătaia Plain. In the eastern extremity of Timiș County there are sessile oak forests (Quercus petraea) mixed with Austrian oak (Quercus cerris), beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) mixed with hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), and the upper slopes of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains are covered with spruce forests mixed with fir and beech.

In Timiș County there are 45 nature reserves that total 134,766.49 ha or about 13% of the county's area.

Fauna
The fauna, adapted to the relief and vegetation conditions, includes steppe species (hares, ground squirrels, polecats, field mice, moles, rollers, quails, partridges, larks, starlings, lizards, various insects), forest species (deer, squirrels, bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, wildcats, dormice, jays, salamanders, etc.) and water species (herons, mallards, geese, storks, frogs and a wide variety of fish, such as pike, barbel, Prussian carp, wels, perch, carp, etc.).

Climate
The climate has a moderate temperate continental character, with hot summers and mild winters due to both the influences of the oceanic (from the west) and Mediterranean (from the south and southwest) air masses and the fact that over 85% of the territory belongs to the plain climate (the remaining 15% belongs to the climate of hilly and mountainous regions). The western area of the Banat Plain is classified according to Köppen's guide as Cfa, and the mountainous area in the east of the county as Dfb. Due to the high uniformity of the relief, the average annual temperatures are poorly differentiated on the territory of Timiș County. The annual averages are close to 11 °C in the region with plain climate and decrease by 1–2 °C on the hills in the east of the county. The averages of the warmest month (July) exceed 21 °C in the plain and fall below 18 °C in the east. The averages of the coldest month (January) are higher than –2 °C in the plain and rise to values higher than –1 °C in the east of the county. The absolute maximum temperature (42 °C) was recorded in Banloc (24 July 2007), and the absolute minimum temperature (–35.3 °C) in Timișoara (29 January 1963).

The average multiannual precipitation amounts to increasing quantities from west to east, i.e. 569 mm in Jimbolia, 620.6 mm in Timișoara, 734 mm in Făget and over 1,200 mm on the ridges of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. The maximum rainfall occurs in June, as a result of the intensification of cyclonic activity in the North Atlantic or in the Mediterranean basin. On the other hand, the lowest average monthly amounts fall in February–March. The snow layer is unstable and has insignificant thicknesses.

Predominant winds blow from the north (16.9%), east (15%), northwest (9.1%) and south (8.4%), with average annual speeds between 1.2 and 3.8 m/s. Local winds include austru (dry wind from the south), coșavă (high-speed cold wind), rușavăț (in the Banat Plain) and mountain breezes (in the east).

Demographics
According to the 2021 census, Timiș County had a population of 650,533 (or 3.4% of the country's population), being the sixth most populous county in Romania. The population density was.

Timiș County has an urbanization rate of 61.8%, above the national rate but decreasing amid an expanding suburbanization. According to the 2011 census, Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority in Timiș County, numbering 35,295 people or 5.2% of the county's population. Significant concentrations of the Hungarian population follow the areas where the policy of colonization of the Kingdom of Hungary manifested itself in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. At the 2011 census, there were 16 localities – all rural – that had at least 20% Hungarian population. However, their total population represents only 12.6% of the Hungarian population in the county. This is explained by the migration of Hungarians from rural to urban areas after 1990. By weight, the largest Hungarian communities are found in Otelec (Ótelek; 75.1%), Cherestur (Pusztakeresztúr; 69.7%), Bodo (Nagybodófalva; 64%), Tormac (Végvár; 60.6%) and Otvești (Ötvösd; 52.6%).

Roma are the second largest minority, with 14,525 people (or 2.1% of the county's population) at the 2011 census, although unofficial estimates put the figure at 45,000. Măguri, a component locality of Lugoj municipality, is the only village in the county where the Roma have an absolute majority (69.4% in 2011).

The largest communities of Serbs, Germans and Bulgarians in Romania also live in Timiș County. The number of Serbs living in Timiș exceeds 10,000. Most of them are located in Timișoara and in the localities near the border with Serbia: Cralovăț (Краљевац/Kraljevac; 64.5%), Petrovaselo (Петрово Село/Petrovo Selo; 48.4%), Sânmartinu Sârbesc (Српски Семартон/Srpski Semarton; 35.6%), Cenei (Ченеј/Čenej; 24.2%), Diniaș (Дињаш/Dinjaš; 21.8%), etc. Up to the 20th century, the Germans (specifically Banat Swabians) were a very large community. They were colonized here at the end of the 17th century and during the 18th century, in three successive waves, during the reigns of Charles VI, Maria Theresa and Joseph II. They came from different areas of Germany, especially Rhineland, the Palatinate and Swabia, but also Luxembourg, Lorraine, Alsace, Westphalia, Hesse, East Franconia and Bavaria. Deported to the Soviet Union for forced labor after 1945 and subjected to nationalization and collectivization during the communist period, most Germans in Timiș County left for Germany and Austria, with one last wave after 1990. At present, they account for merely 1/24 of the number at the 1900 census, when the highest number of Germans was recorded. Banat Bulgarians, a Bulgarian Catholic minority, began settling in Banat in the late 17th century from the north and northwest of today's Bulgaria. The largest communities of Banat Bulgarians in Timiș County live in Breștea (Brešća; 80.3%), Dudeștii Vechi (Stár Bišnov; 66.5%) and Denta (Dénta; 5.2%).

Religion
In Timiș County there are over 300 places of worship. Timisoara is the seat of the Archbishopric of Timișoara, the see of the Metropolis of Banat. The archbishopric has jurisdiction over the territory of Timiș County, which is divided into 273 parishes organized in six deaneries (Timișoara I, Timișoara II, Lugoj, Făget, Deta and Sânnicolau Mare). Timișoara is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of Timișoara and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Timișoara and one of the nine deaneries of the Reformed Eparchy of Piatra Craiului. Lugoj is the seat of the Greek Catholic Archbishopric of Lugoj and one of the two deaneries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicarage.

Politics and administration
Timiș County is administered by a county council (consiliu județean) consisting of 36 councilors. Following the 2020 local elections, the council is chaired by Alin Nica from PNL, and the political composition of the council is as follows:

Administrative divisions
Timiș County is divided into two municipalities (municipiu), eight towns (oraș) and 89 communes (comună) with 313 villages:
 * Municipalities
 * Timișoara – county seat; population: 319,279 (as of 2011)
 * Lugoj – population: 40,361 (as of 2011)
 * Towns

 * Sânnicolau Mare – population: 12,312 (as of 2011)
 * Jimbolia – population: 10,808 (as of 2011)
 * Recaș – population: 8,336 (as of 2011)
 * Buziaș – population: 7,023 (as of 2011)
 * Făget – population: 6,761 (as of 2011)
 * Deta – population: 6,260 (as of 2011)
 * Gătaia – population: 5,861 (as of 2011)
 * Ciacova – population: 5,348 (as of 2011)

 * Communes

 * Balinț
 * Banloc
 * Bara
 * Bârna
 * Beba Veche
 * Becicherecu Mic
 * Belinț
 * Bethausen
 * Biled
 * Birda
 * Bogda
 * Boldur
 * Brestovăț
 * Bucovăț
 * Cărpiniș
 * Cenad
 * Cenei
 * Checea
 * Chevereșu Mare
 * Comloșu Mare
 * Coșteiu
 * Criciova
 * Curtea
 * Darova
 * Denta
 * Dudeștii Noi
 * Dudeștii Vechi
 * Dumbrava
 * Dumbrăvița
 * Fârdea
 * Fibiș
 * Foeni
 * Gavojdia
 * Ghilad
 * Ghiroda
 * Ghizela
 * Giarmata
 * Giera
 * Giroc
 * Giulvăz
 * Gottlob
 * Iecea Mare
 * Jamu Mare
 * Jebel
 * Lenauheim
 * Liebling
 * Livezile
 * Lovrin
 * Margina
 * Mașloc
 * Mănăștiur
 * Moravița
 * Moșnița Nouă
 * Nădrag
 * Nițchidorf
 * Ohaba Lungă
 * Orțișoara
 * Otelec
 * Parța
 * Pădureni
 * Peciu Nou
 * Periam
 * Pesac
 * Pietroasa
 * Pișchia
 * Racovița
 * Remetea Mare
 * Sacoșu Turcesc
 * Saravale
 * Satchinez
 * Săcălaz
 * Sânandrei
 * Sânmihaiu Român
 * Sânpetru Mare
 * Secaș
 * Șag
 * Șandra
 * Știuca
 * Teremia Mare
 * Tomești
 * Tomnatic
 * Topolovățu Mare
 * Tormac
 * Traian Vuia
 * Uivar
 * Variaș
 * Vălcani
 * Victor Vlad Delamarina
 * Voiteg

Official symbols
The flag of Timiș County has a rectangular shape, with its width equal to ⅔ of its length and consists of the county coat of arms superimposed on a white background. White chosen for the flag signifies purity and peace. Above the coat of arms is inscribed in capital letters in vermilion the word "Romania", and below it is inscribed with the same characters in cobalt blue the words "Timiș County". The county flag was approved in 2021.

The coat of arms was approved in 2002 and consists of a cut shield; at the top, on the red field, a golden lion coming out of the battlements of a wall of built gold; the lion holds a bent sword, with a wide point, made of silver; in the upper right-hand corner is a golden sun, and in the upper left, a rising silver moon. At the bottom, on the blue field, is a wavy silver band. The lion with armed arm, characteristic of Banat of Temeswar, symbolizes the defenders of the land and of Christianity against the Ottoman armies; the lion carries the victorious sword of Pál Kinizsi, Count of Temes County. The gold wall symbolizes the fortress of Timișoara. The golden sun symbolizes, through its position, the lofty goals for which the heroes of this land fought. The silver moon represents the pair of the sun. The wavy silver band on the blue field symbolizes the Timiș River, which gives the county its name.

 * Historical variants

Economy
Timiș County has one of the most dynamic economies in Romania. The county's economy gradually transformed from a predominantly industrial one, sometimes with significant losses due to the non-use of labor and capital endowments, into a tertiary one (based mainly on services). The specialization of Timiș County stands out in the computer, automotive and electrical equipment industry, these registering high values of the location quotient (as of 2019).

In 2021, Timiș County had a GDP per capita of 31,519 euros, 40% above the national average, and an annual growth rate of 5–10%. At national level, it ranks third in terms of GDP, reaching 62.5 billion lei in 2021, with a contribution of 6.5% of Romania's total GDP, having a developed economy and among the highest entrepreneurial rates in the country (36 SMEs per 1,000 inhabitants in 2019). The most important sector represented locally is the automotive industry, supported by large companies such as Continental, Delphi Packard, Hella, Mahle, Dräxlmaier, Flex, etc. In recent years, certain high tech know-how-intensive services, such as IT&C, have seen strong growth. Timiș has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country – 0.8% in 2019. Most employees are in manufacturing (27%), trade (15.2%) and agriculture (15.1%).

Timiș stands out as the second business pole at national level, after Bucharest–Ilfov, with a turnover of companies of 72 billion lei, which constitutes about 5% of the turnover of 1,400 billion lei of all companies in Romania. The county's exports stood at over 39.05 billion lei, Timiș being among the few counties in the country with a positive trade balance. Timiș County's exports consist mainly of the following groups of goods: electrical machines, appliances and equipment (37%), plastics and rubber (14%), means of transport (11%), footwear (9%), optical instruments and appliances (7%), furniture (5%). Timiș County is also the largest importer of consumer goods, after Bucharest.

Industry
The industry of Timiș County is strong and diversified, due to the high rate of greenfield and brownfield investments, the western location of the county, the high qualification of the labor force, as well as the entrepreneurial tradition. The most significant share in the total production of the county is held by the manufacturing industry, having as sub-branches: electronics industry, food industry, chemical industry, textile industry, metal and wood processing industry and construction. Although with only 8% of the number of companies in Timiș, the manufacturing industry registers a turnover of 40% of the county's total.

Agriculture
Timiș County ranks first in the country in terms of both agricultural and arable land. Timiș County has an agricultural area of 691,299 ha, of which 531,472 ha is arable land, 118,671 pastures, 28,632 hayfields, 4,121 vineyards and vine nurseries and 8,403 orchards and fruit nurseries.

One of the oldest and most important agricultural activities in the county, with favorable climatic conditions, is the cultivation of cereals and technical plants, and viticulture is practiced in most of the communes in the plain and hill area of the county. Places like Recaș, Buziaș and Giarmata are renowned for their wine production. The production of vegetables in individual micro-farms is also a traditional economic activity, especially in the rural localities in the vicinity of urban centers. By cultivated area, the main crops are maize (165,643 ha), wheat and rye (133,657 ha), sunflower (78,242 ha), perennial fodder (38,060 ha) and soybeans (21,200 ha). Livestock farming is also an important, traditional branch of Timiș agriculture, and in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of animals in the private sector. As of 2019, livestock in Timiș County consisted of 1,524,625 birds, 612,638 sheep, 605,619 swine, 45,332 bee families, 37,305 cattle, 21,890 goats and 5,659 horses.

Unlike industry, trade and construction, which also generates a large part of the gross value added (GVA) of the county economy, agriculture stands out with a very high share of employment correlated with a low share in GDP (5%), although that it places the county on the first place at national level from the perspective of the GVA obtained in agriculture.

Banking
With several units of national and international banks operating here (BCR, Raiffeisen Bank, BT, BRD, CEC Bank, OTP Bank, UniCredit Bank, Alpha Bank, Citibank, Credit Europe Bank, Garanti BBVA, ING Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank, etc.), Timiș County is a national leader in the field of financial intermediation. As of 2021, the turnover of companies with financial and insurance activities was 69 million euros in Timișoara alone.

Tourism
The geographical position of the county in the immediate vicinity of the border with Hungary and Serbia leads to a high transit tourism, but with short and medium length of stay. The main form of tourism practiced in the county is business tourism, followed by recreational, shopping and gastronomic tourism. The tourist infrastructure of Timiș County consists of 56 hotels, 14 hostels, two motels, a campsite, four tourist villas, 49 tourist pensions, 27 agritourism pensions and two camps for students and preschoolers with an accommodation capacity of 7,746 places. In 2019, Timiș County had 396,644 tourists, of which 30% were foreigners.

Cultural-historical tourism includes many objectives in historical and archeological sites, architectural monuments and museums. Timișoara has the largest architectural ensemble of historic buildings in Romania (about 14,500), consisting of the urban heritage of the Cetate, Iosefin, Fabric and Elisabetin districts. In addition, there are 31 castles and mansions in Timiș County. Notable are the Swabian-specific localities in the western Banat Plain (Jimbolia, Sânnicolau Mare, Șandra, Lovrin, Lenauheim, etc.), in the past important settlements of colonists from the German lands of the Habsburg Empire. Religious tourism includes many places of worship, churches and historic monasteries. Among the monastic ensembles are the historic wooden churches in Țara Făgetului, all built after the liberation of Banat from Ottoman occupation (1716), the 11th-century Morisena Monastery (the first monastery in Romania), the 14th-century Partoș Monastery with the relics of St. Joseph of Partoș, the 15th-century Săraca Monastery, the 15th-century Serbian Orthodox St. George Monastery of Birda, the 18th-century Cebza Monastery and, more recently, the Izvorul Miron Monastery (1912; nicknamed the "Voroneț of Banat") and the Timișeni Monastery (1944).

Ecotourism is practiced mainly in the mountainous area in the east of the county, where Lake Surduc is located (the largest lake in western Romania), but also a series of waterfalls and caves. Areas with a rich hunting fund, as well as those with a diversified fishing fund are suitable for sport hunting and fishing. On the territory of Timiș County there are 86 hunting funds and 30 fishing funds. Canoeing and kayaking can be practiced on the Bega Canal, and rafting on the Timiș River. Spa tourism is practiced in Buziaș (declared a spa resort in 1911), Timișoara, Deta, as well as Călacea, Teremia Mare and Lovrin. Wine tourism is represented by the Recaș–Buziaș area, renowned both in the country and abroad for its wines.

Music
Timiș County has a rich musical history. Notable in this respect are the choirs of Banat Bauer. Banat choirs have their origins in church music, learned in schools, where the teacher was both organist, choir conductor, and not infrequently, composer. The choirs, which were to become a real movement in Banat, were an important means of national manifestation of the people of Banat, through which the Romanian language and culture were promoted. The oldest Romanian choir in Banat was the plowmen's vocal choir, founded in 1857 in Chizătău, which was born from the old church choir. It was also the most famous and appreciated choral formation in the area, which had resounding success at various competitions and festivals, along with other Banat choirs. Banat choirs had a rich repertoire, consisting of national, folk songs or choral works composed by Ion Vidu, Filaret Barbu or Iosif Velceanu.

Timișoara was a reputed city of music in the 19th century. Many famous musicians performed here, including Franz Liszt (1846), Johann Strauss II (1847), David Popper (1867), Leopold Auer (1867), Pablo de Sarasate (1877), Henryk Wieniawski (1877), Johannes Brahms (1879) and Joseph Joachim (1879). The only philharmonic in the county, the Banatul Philharmonic, was founded in 1947 and organizes, in addition to the music season, events in unconventional spaces and successful festivals, such as Timișoara muzicală, the longest-lived cultural festival in Timișoara, which debuted in 1968. The first music school in the county was founded by the Hungarian administration in 1907 in Timișoara. Until 1907, music education was exclusively private.

Cuisine
Banat cuisine has been strongly influenced by the Austro-Hungarian one, but to a large extent by Greek, Italian and French cuisines too. The dishes prepared in Banat are mostly made of pork, chicken or beef, with vegetables fried in lard or oil, with flour sauces, to make them more consistent, seasoned with pepper, thyme, paprika or caraway. Broadly speaking, Banat cuisine is characterized by fatty, wholesome and tasty food; it can be individualized by the unusual association of salty and sweet taste, by the prevalence of soup to the detriment of stew and by showy desserts with multiple influences. Among the traditional dishes in this area are noodle soup, goulash, papricache, sauerkraut, sarme, pljeskavica, rasol, cotoroage and fresh pork preparations and semi-preparations (caltaboș, sângerete, maioș, sausages, slănină, șonc, tobă, etc.). Desserts include krofne, scovergi, bejgli with walnuts or poppy seeds, Cremeschnitte, Apfelküchle, knedles, dobostorta, ischler and vargabéles.

Education
In the school year 2019/2020, Timiș County had a school population of 177,301: 25,266 children in pre-school education, 97,934 pupils in pre-university education and 54,101 students in university, post-university, academic and continuing education. In Timiș County, 617 educational units are accredited and authorized, of which 580 are state-funded. Timișoara is one of the four national university centers, together with Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Iași, as established by the Ministry of Education, gathering about 8% of the total number of students at national level. Higher education takes place in eight universities in the county, four public and four private:

Healthcare
At the county level, there are 22 hospitals (15 public and seven private), five medical dispensaries, three mental health centers, 522 medical offices (school, student and family medicine), 846 dental offices, 115 medical laboratories, 87 dental laboratories and a transfusion center. Regarding the pharmaceutical network in Timiș County, in 2019 there were 295 pharmacies (16 public and 279 private), seven pharmaceutical points and 34 pharmaceutical warehouses.

Timișoara is nationally recognized as a center of excellence in medicine. Timișoara has made several breakthroughs in Romanian medicine, including the first in vitro fertilization, the first laser heart surgery and the first stem cell transplant. The Pius Brînzeu County Emergency Clinical Hospital and the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases from Timișoara were included by the Ministry of Health in the first class of competence (out of five possible). Première Hospital, run by Regina Maria private health network, is the largest private hospital in the west of the country.

Road transport
Timiș County is connected to the European transport network by the Central and Global TEN-T networks, so the main corridor that serves it is the Rhine–Danube Corridor, which provides the connection with Vienna, with the central-southern part of Germany (Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg and with Strasbourg. The Orient/East–Med Corridor also crosses the county's territory and connects with Budapest.

Inter- and intra-county connections are provided by the main and secondary national roads from which a dense network of local roads emerges. The public road network of Timiș County has a length of about 2,930 km, with a density of 33.7 km/100 km2. More detailed, there are about 563 km of national roads, 1,145 km of county roads and 1,222 km of communal roads. Also, Timiș County is served by almost 108 km of motorways, represented by the A1 and A6 motorways. In 2019, Timiș County had a motorization index of 361.64 vehicles/1,000 inhabitants, being among the highest in the country.

Rail transport
The railway network totals 795 km, of which 113 are electrified railways. With 91.4 km of railway per 1,000 km2, Timiș County has the densest railway network in the country. On the territory of Timiș County, the railway network consists of a main line (900) and 18 secondary lines belonging to the CFR lines 900 (Bucharest–Timișoara), 200 (Brașov–Curtici) and 300 (Bucharest–Episcopia Bihor). The railway line 900, whose route is Bucharest (north)–Roșiori (north)–Craiova–Filiași–Caransebeș–Timișoara (north), crosses the county on the Lugoj–Timișoara relation. It is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV.

In Timiș County there are 133 stations operated by state and private railway operators such as Căile Ferate Române (CFR), Astra Trans Carpatic and Regio Călători. The busiest of them is Timișoara North, with over 1.7 million passengers in 2011.

Air transport
Timiș County is served by Traian Vuia International Airport, located northeast of Timișoara, about 10 km from the city center. With 1.5 million passengers in 2019, it is the third busiest Romanian airport, after Bucharest's Henri Coandă International Airport and Cluj-Napoca's Avram Iancu International Airport. Traian Vuia Airport concentrates 17.2% of the total number of passengers boarded at Romanian airports, 35.5% of the total tons of goods loaded and 13.7% of the total number of flights.

Cioca Airfield, used as an airport for a short period of time, between 1941 and 1942, serves today as airfield for recreational aircraft, air taxis and utility aircraft and venue for various festivals. It is located in the northwest of Timișoara, about 5 km from it.

Naval transport
Timiș County is crossed by one of the few artificially arranged waterways in Romania, the Bega Canal. The Bega Canal is part of the Rhine–Main–Danube system, making possible the connection between the North Sea and the Black Sea. The length of the canal on the Romanian territory is about 44.5 km and 74 km on the Serbian territory. The navigable part of the canal starts from Timișoara from where it continues to the southwest until it flows into the Tisza, located on Serbian territory. The Bega Canal is the first navigable canal built in Romania. Originally built for the sanitation of floodplains around Timișoara, it was later arranged for navigation.

Timișoara is the only Romanian city with public transport by water, made with vaporetto-like boats along the nine stations on the Bega Canal.

Notable people

 * Dositej Obradović (1739–1811), educator, writer and reformer
 * Nikolaus Lenau (1802–1850), poet
 * Ion Ivanovici (1845–1902), military band conductor and composer
 * Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza (1854–1924), Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Hungarian Army
 * Traian Vuia (1872–1950), inventor and aviation pioneer
 * Béla Bartók (1881–1945), composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist
 * Bela Lugosi (1882–1956), actor
 * Károly Kerényi (1897–1973), scholar and philologist
 * Johnny Weissmuller (1904–1984), Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor
 * Ștefan Kovács (1920–1995), football player and coach
 * György Kurtág (b. 1926), composer and pianist
 * Josef Posipal (1927–1997), footballer
 * Iolanda Balaș (1936–2016), Olympic athlete
 * Ana Blandiana (b. 1942), writer and civic activist
 * Daniel Ciobotea (b. 1951), Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (2007–present)
 * Herta Müller (b. 1953), writer and recipient of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Cosmin Contra (b. 1975), football player and manager
 * Edina Gallovits-Hall (b. 1984), tennis player
 * Gabriel Torje (b. 1989), footballer

title: Timiș County


text:
Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional

The Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional (National Intelligence Directorate) or DINA was the secret police of Chile during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The DINA has been referred to as "Pinochet's Gestapo". Established in November 1973 as a Chilean Army intelligence unit headed by Colonel Manuel Contreras and vice-director Raúl Iturriaga, the DINA was then separated from the army and made an independent administrative unit in June 1974 under the auspices of Decree 521. The DINA existed until 1977, after which it was renamed the Central Nacional de Informaciones (National Information Center) or CNI.

In 2008, the Chilean Army presented a list of 1,097 DINA agents to Judge Alejandro Solís.

Despite falling under Pinochet's legal authority, American-born DINA operative Michael Townley described Contreras as DINA's actual "intellectual head." Pedro Espinoza served as deputy to Contreras as well.

DINA internal suppression and human rights violations
Under decree #521, the DINA had the power to detain any individual so long as there was a declared state of emergency. Such an administrative state characterized nearly the entire length of the Pinochet government. Torture and rape of detainees was common:

"In some camps, routine sadism was taken to extremes. At Villa Grimaldi, recalcitrant prisoners were dragged to a parking lot; DINA agents then used a car or truck to run over and crush their legs. Prisoners there recalled one young man who was beaten with chains and left to die slowly from internal injuries. Rape was also a recurring form of abuse. DINA officers subjected female prisoners to grotesque forms of sexual torture that included insertion of rodents and, as tactfully described in the Commission report, 'unnatural acts involving dogs.'"

DINA censorship of media
As of September 11, 1973, the military dictatorship worked with DINA to censor channels, newspapers, and radio transmissions that supported the Popular Socialist Union and supporters. A decree by the Junta established that all public information would have to be inspected and revised by the Junta before airing, and a couple days later an "Office of Censorship" was created to supervise all media. A lot of newspapers received their work back scribbled out with red ink.

Through coercion, murder, and kidnappings, television outlets masked the truth on the coup d'état as a plan by the military of Chile. Various international cable news networks were banned by DINA to prevent the news of the forced coup d'état by the military. Some international networks were convinced to lie by the Junta about social and political aspects of Chile.

The censorship breached particular homes and public services, and on September 23, 1973, DINA sent policemen to register households and institutions. They searched subversive evidence such as books by Pablo Neruda, articles on social sciences, political science, human rights, and those who were rounded up and burned at the Plaza de Armas (Santiago).

Role of Manuel Contreras
Despite answering to Pinochet, Gen. Manuel Contreras held significant sway over DINA's operations and is credited with creating the group. In his role as leader of DINA, and as one of Pinochet's closest confidents, Contreras became the second most powerful person in Chile. In a letter which Michael Townley wrote to Contreras on March 1, 1978, Townley, using the alias J. Andreas Wilson, referred to him on as "Don Manuel" and noted the authority he had over him. When he brought up the Letelier-Moffitt assassination, Townley noted how the influential DINA leader was able to get away with not letting Pinochet know the truth about this case.

Foreign involvement
The United States backed and supported the Fatherland and Liberty Nationalist Front, which funded and directed the first coup attempt against Allende's regime, known as the Tanquetazo. The CIA established links with DINA after the successful 1973 Chilean coup d'état. Ties were cut, however, after the assassination of Orlando Letelier in Washington DC, which DINA agent Michael Townley was directly tied with and which eventually led to the disbanding of the DINA in 1977. In a confession letter dated March 13, 1978 Townley claimed that he in fact went through with the Letelier and Ronni Moffit assassinations on behalf of DINA and was "following orders from Gen. Contreras." On September 21, 1976, Townley updated an earlier letter and implied that DINA worked with other Southern Cone secret polices as part of a network known as "Red Condor," which he claimed assisted his travel into the United States to recruit the American Cuban exile assassins who were on his assassination team that killed Letelier.

DINA foreign assassinations and operations
The DINA was involved in Operation Condor, as well as Operation Colombo. In July 1976, two magazines in Argentina and Brazil appeared and published the names of 119 Chilean leftist opponents, claiming they had been killed in internal disputes unrelated to the Pinochet regime. Both magazines disappeared after this one and only issue. Judge Juan Guzmán Tapia eventually asked Chilean justices to lift Pinochet's immunity in this case, called "Operation Colombo", having accumulated evidence that Pinochet had ordered the DINA to plant this disinformation, in order to cover up the "disappearance" and murder by the Chilean secret police of those 119 persons. In September 2005, Chile's Supreme Court ordered the lifting of Pinochet's general immunity from prosecutions, with respect to this case.

Michael Townley's role
In a confession letter which Michael Townley wrote on March 14, 1978, he acknowledged to being DINA's lead foreign assassin. Joining DINA in 1974, Townley would go on lead a special DINA unit called the “Agrupación Avispa”—the Wasp Group—which operated under DINA’s Mulchén Brigade and was “dedicated to elimination” of opponents of the Pinochet regime.

Assassinations of Carlos Prats and Orlando Letelier
The DINA worked with international agents, such as Michael Townley, who assassinated former Chilean minister Orlando Letelier in Washington DC in 1976, as well as General Carlos Prats in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1974. In a letter discussing plans for the assassination of Letelier, Townley noted the planned date-September 21, 1976- and how he received the assassination order from Contreras deputy Pedro Espinoza.

Michael Townley worked with Eugenio Berríos on producing sarin in the 1970s, at a laboratory in a DINA-owned house in the district of Lo Curro, Santiago de Chile. Eugenio Berríos, who was murdered in 1992, was also linked with drug traffickers and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Accounts of daily life in Chile
Certain writers and journalists who opposed the right-wing regime conducted clandestine interviews with individuals enduring life under DINA. Among them was Patricia Politzer, who documented the harrowing experiences of those who suffered in Chile.

One of the testimonies features a mother whose leftist sympathizer son fell victim to forced disappearances in Chile. Despite the removal of Pinochet from power, she never received any information about her son's fate. Numerous others who disappeared or were killed during that period remained unidentified, leaving thousands of families of leftist sympathizers still searching for their loved ones in Chile to this day.

Compensation for these losses was minimal, and children endured immense hardship. In another interview, Politzer recounted the story of a woman who survived being shot alongside other leftists. She emphasized that had she perished at the hands of DINA, her children would have been left without care. These accounts highlight the callous disregard exhibited by DINA and other agencies operating under Pinochet's authority, resulting in children being orphaned. Patricia Politzer's work in "Fear in Chile" vividly portrays the stark realities of life in Chile during the Pinochet era.

Replacement of DINA by the CNI
DINA was replaced by the CNI (Central Nacional de Informaciones) in 1977 and Contreras was replaced by general Odlanier Mena. By that time, DINA had reached its military goals: assassinate the Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) leadership and the main leaders of the Popular Unity, the coalition of the parties that had won the 1970 elections. The dissolution of the CNI occurred in 1990 during the Chilean transition to democracy.

After the fall of Pinochet's regime, Contreras was prosecuted in Chile due to crimes against humanity while heading the DINA and sentenced to 12 years in prison for covert kidnappings, a crime that had not been amnestied. However, judge Víctor Montiglio who had replaced judge Juan Guzmán Tapia gave amnesty to Contreras in 2005.

Finally, on June 30, 2008, Contreras was sentenced to two life-sentences, one for the murder of Carlos Prats and one for the murder of his wife, Sofía Cuthbert. He also received an additional 20-year sentence for illicit association.

Other activities
In 1975, Virgilio Paz Romero, a Cuban exile affiliated with DINA, visited Northern Ireland and secretly took photographs of prisons run by the Northern Ireland Prison Service as part of a DINA assignment. The Chilean government had intended to publicly display the photographs at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City to discredit British criticism of human rights abuses in Chile. However, the photographs arrived too late to be utilised by the Chilean government, and were eventually published in Santiago-based newspaper El Mercurio instead. Townley wrote an undated letter to Pinochet informing him of Romero's assignment, which was subsequently intercepted by the American National Security Agency.

Beginning in late 2014, in response to a request by Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, a United States Department of Defense (DoD) institution for defense and security studies in the Western Hemisphere, was placed under investigation by the DoD's Inspector General. Levin's request was in response to several instances of insider whistleblowing, which alleged that the institution knowingly protected a professor who worked for DINA, as well as the purported participation of other employees of the institution in the 2009 Honduran coup d'état. Senator Patrick Leahy stated that "[r]eports that NDU hired foreign military officers with histories of involvement in human rights abuses, including torture and extra-judicial killings of civilians, are stunning, and they are repulsive". Leahy had previously authored the "Leahy Law", which prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign military and law enforcement personnel suspected of violating human rights.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional


text:
Teleorman County

Teleorman County is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the historical region Muntenia, with its capital city at Alexandria.

The name Teleorman is of Cumanic (Turkic) origin. It literally means wild/crazy forest (modern Turkish, Deli orman) and, by extension, "thick and shadowy forest" in the Cuman language. It can be encountered in other toponyms, such as the Turkish name of the Ludogorie Plateau in northeastern Bulgaria, Deliorman.

Demographics
In 2021, the county had a population of 323,544 and the population density was.

 * Romanians – 96.8%
 * Romani – 3.2%

Geography
Teleorman County has a total area of 5790 km2.

Two distinctive elements can be found:
 * In the North and center there are plains from the Romanian Plain. They are separated by small rivers, which sometimes form deep valleys.
 * In the South there is the Danube valley, very wide, with ponds and small channels.

Beside the Danube, the main river crossing the county is the Olt River which flows into the Danube close to the village of Islaz. Other important rivers are: the Vedea River, the Teleorman River, and the Călmățui River.

Neighbours

 * Giurgiu County to the east.
 * Olt County to the west.
 * Argeș County and Dâmbovița County to the North.
 * Bulgaria to the South – Veliko Tarnovo Province, Pleven Province, and Ruse Province.

Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Food and beverages industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Chemical industry.
 * Mechanical components industry; in Alexandria there is a big roll-bearing enterprise.

Agriculture is the main occupation in the county. Both extensive agriculture, and small scale — vegetables and fruits for the Bucharest markets — is practiced. The area is well suited for irrigations.

Tourism
The county doesn't have many spectacular attractions, but its cultural folk heritage is very rich. Many Romanian personalities have been born here, some of them later describing the life in a village in a very picturesque way. Also, the area was one of the places where the Wallachian Revolution of 1848 unfolded.

The main tourist destinations are:
 * The city of Alexandria.
 * Fishing on the Danube and other lakes or ponds.

Politics
The Teleorman County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions
Teleorman County has 3 municipalities, 2 towns and 92 communes
 * Municipalities
 * Alexandria - capital city; population: 42,129 (as of 2011)
 * Roșiorii de Vede
 * Turnu Măgurele
 * Towns
 * Videle
 * Zimnicea - the southernmost locality in Romania

 * Communes

 * Băbăița
 * Balaci
 * Beciu
 * Beuca
 * Blejești
 * Bogdana
 * Botoroaga
 * Bragadiru
 * Brânceni
 * Bujoreni
 * Bujoru
 * Buzescu
 * Călinești
 * Călmățuiu
 * Călmățuiu de Sus
 * Cervenia
 * Ciolănești
 * Ciuperceni
 * Conțești
 * Cosmești
 * Crângu
 * Crevenicu
 * Crângeni
 * Didești
 * Dobrotești
 * Dracea
 * Drăcșenei
 * Drăgănești de Vede
 * Drăgănești-Vlașca
 * Fântânele
 * Frăsinet
 * Frumoasa
 * Furculești
 * Gălăteni
 * Gratia
 * Islaz
 * Izvoarele
 * Lisa
 * Lița
 * Lunca
 * Măgura
 * Măldăeni
 * Mârzănești
 * Mavrodin
 * Mereni
 * Moșteni
 * Nanov
 * Năsturelu
 * Necșești
 * Nenciulești
 * Olteni
 * Orbeasca
 * Peretu
 * Piatra
 * Pietroșani
 * Plopii-Slăvitești
 * Plosca
 * Poeni
 * Poroschia
 * Purani
 * Putineiu
 * Rădoiești
 * Răsmirești
 * Săceni
 * Saelele
 * Salcia
 * Sârbeni
 * Scrioaștea
 * Scurtu Mare
 * Seaca
 * Segarcea-Vale
 * Sfințești
 * Siliștea
 * Siliștea Gumești
 * Slobozia Mândra
 * Smârdioasa
 * Stejaru
 * Ștorobăneasa
 * Suhaia
 * Talpa
 * Tătărăștii de Jos
 * Tătărăștii de Sus
 * Țigănești
 * Traian
 * Trivalea-Moșteni
 * Troianul
 * Uda-Clocociov
 * Vârtoape
 * Vedea
 * Viișoara
 * Vitănești
 * Zâmbreasca

People
Natives of Teleorman County include:
 * Marin Preda
 * Zaharia Stancu
 * Gala Galaction
 * Constantin Noica
 * Victor Antonescu
 * Anghel Demetrescu

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southern part of Greater Romania, in the southwestern part of the historical region of Muntenia. Its capital was Turnu Măgurele. The county was bordered on the west by the counties Romanați County and Olt County, to the north by Argeș County, to the east by Vlașca County, and in the south across the Danube River by the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Its territory coincides in large part with that of the present county.

Administration
The county was originally divided into five administrative districts (plăși):

 * 1) Plasa Alexandria, headquartered at Alexandria
 * 2) Plasa Balaci, headquartered at Balaci
 * 3) Plasa Roșiori de Vede, headquartered at Roșiori de Vede
 * 4) Plasa Turnu Măgurele, headquartered at Turnu Măgurele
 * 5) Plasa Zimnicea, headquartered at Zimnicea

Subsequently, the county established three more districts: Plasa Călmățuiu, headquartered at Călmățuiu Plasa Slăvești, headquartered at Slăvești Plasa Vârtoapele de Sus, headquartered at Vârtoapele de Sus

The county contained four urban communes: Turnu Măgurele, Alexandria, Roșiorii de Vede, and Zimnicea.

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 347,294 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 98.1% Romanians, 1.4% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.0% Eastern Orthodox, 0.6% Adventist, 0.1% Muslim, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 58,632 inhabitants, comprising 94.4% Romanians, 3.3% Romanies, 0.4% Hungarians, 0.4% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 98.1% Eastern Orthodox, 0.6% Muslim, 0.4% Jewish, 0.4% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

title: Teleorman County


text:
Sălaj County

Sălaj County (also known as Land of Silvania, silva, -ae means "forest") is a county (județ) of Romania, located in the north-west of the country, in the historical regions of Crișana and Transylvania. It is bordered to the north by Satu Mare and Maramureș counties, to the west and south-west by Bihor County, and to the south-east by Cluj County. Zalău is the county seat, as well as its largest city.

Etymology
In Hungarian, it is known as Szilágy megye, in Slovak as Salašská župa, and in German as Kreis Zillenmarkt. The county is named after the river Sălaj, which gets its name from Hungarian Szilágy "elm creek", composed from szil, "elm" and ágy "riverbed".

Antiquity
On 28 July 1978, a team of speleologists discovered in the cave of Cuciulat Paleolithic paintings about 12,000 years old, unique in Romania. Called the "Romanian Altamira", this cave features several red paintings of animals, including horses and felines. These are the first manifestations of this kind known in Southeastern Europe.

The first villages in the current territory of Sălaj County are 7,500 years old. The first ceramic pots in Sălaj area are about the same age. The first houses with several rooms were built in this county about 6,000 years ago. The only fully studied Bronze Age settlement in the Romanian territory is located in Sălaj County, in Recea.

So far, 63 bronze artifacts have been discovered dating as far back as 17th–9th centuries BC. Bronze items from this period discovered in the Sălaj County are exhibited today in museums in Germany, United States, Hungary, but also Bucharest. Six defense citadels were dated to the first Iron Age, 11th–4th centuries BC.

Daco-Roman period and early Middle Ages
Between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, the current territory of Sălaj was occupied by Dacians. There was a Dacian tribal union between Crasna and Barcău rivers that controlled the access roads to the north-west, to and from Transylvania, as well as the commerce, especially the salt trade. From the Dacian period come no less than 23 Dacian thesauri, made of silver coins and ornaments. The 3,000 coins and 70 silver ornaments weigh in total about 13 kg. The largest fortified Dacian settlement in Romania was discovered in Sălaj County, dating from the 1st century AD. In total, in Sălaj County were discovered sites of 30 Dacian villages and 15 Dacian citadels defending the tribal union in the west of the current county. These citadels were located on hills and were fortified with ditches and earth walls, on which were erected wooden palisades. The center of the tribal union was on Măgura Șimleului, in a complex of settlements and fortifications.

In the western half of the county, under Roman military control, subsequently settled the Vandals, which entered into an alliance with Dacians, supported by the Romans to fight other barbarians. The Vandals arrived in the area during the 1st century AD, coming from the current territory of Denmark.

After conquering Dacia, the Romans built on the place of a Dacian settlement the capital of Dacia Porolissensis, at Porolissum (current Moigrad). The capital Porolissum had about 20,000 inhabitants, defended by the militaries in the local castra. As a work of art should be mentioned the amphitheater, a scale replica of the one in Rome, with a capacity of 6,000 seats. In 214 AD, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus visited Porolissum. At Porolissum was quartered for a period Cohors III Dacorum, made of ethnic Dacians, who fought as infantry.

In the Sălaj County area there were identified nine Roman castra (Certinae, Largiana, Optatiana, Porolissum, Brusturi, Buciumi, Jac, Tihău, and Zalău) and the limes (fortified border) of the province. In 275 AD, Roman authorities left the province, but indigenous people continued to live in the same territories. Their presence is attested archaeologically after the Roman imperial authorities left the region.

There followed the Gepids, which just passed through the area. Two Gepid gold thesauri discovered in Șimleu Silvaniei, weighing in total about 10 kg of gold and dating from the 5th century AD, are now exhibited in museums in Vienna and Budapest. In the 6th–7th centuries AD arrive in the area Slavic tribes, who find here the native population.

In the early Middle Ages, in the 10th century AD, the boundary between the voivodeship of Menumorut and that of Gelu was on Meseș Mountains. From the early medieval period come more than 100 settlements identified in the Sălaj County (7th–13th centuries). Among the first counties organized in Transylvania was Crasna County, in 1090, part of the current Sălaj County.

Byzantine chronicles and Anonymus' Gesta Hungarorum make the first mentions about Romanians in these places, about their forms of organization, as well as the first documentary attestation of Zalău (1220 as villa Ziloc).

Under Kingdom of Hungary
Starting with the second half of the 11th century, Hungarians conquer systematically Transylvania, which organizes as an autonomous Voivodate within the Kingdom of Hungary. During the Middle Ages, Transylvanian politics was monopolized by Unio Trium Nationum (a political alliance of nobles, Saxon and Székely rulers formed during the Bobâlna revolt of 1437–1438). From 1526, Transylvania is included in the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom that will become under Ottoman suzerainty, and in 1570 it transforms to the Principality of Transylvania. After 1691, the Principality is subjected to the direct rule of the Habsburgs governors. In 1765, it transformed into the Grand Principality of Transylvania. After the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867), Transylvania disappears as a state, being incorporated again into the Kingdom of Hungary. A county with an identical name (Szilágy County, Comitatul Sălaj) was created in 1876, covering a similar area.

In Salaj County are medieval citadels and castles which belonged to noble families (Dragu, Jibou, Gârbou, Șimleu Silvaniei, etc.). Among them is Almașu Citadel (Cetatea Almașului) (nowadays, in ruins), built in the 13th century, a property of Transylvanian voivodes, then of Petru Rareș, Prince of Moldavia.

The history of Salaj County includes an important episode related to historical facts of the maker of the first political union of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia under Michael the Brave. On 3 August 1601, armies led by Michael the Brave and Austrian general Giorgio Basta defeated the Hungarian noble army led by Prince Sigismund Báthory at Guruslău (Goroszló), near Zalău (Zilah) (where a memorial was erected).

At the forefront of the struggle for national rights of Romanians the often have been personalities from Sălaj County. Among the Romanian revolutionaries of 1848 can be mentioned Alexandru Papiu Ilarian and Simion Bărnuțiu, who became the ideologist of the Romanian revolution in Transylvania.

Following the establishment of the Romanian National Party in Transylvania (1869) and the adoption of "passivist" tactics (non-participation in the political life of Hungary), Sălaj leaders of the party participated in the largest protest during the political passivism period, the "Memorandist Movement" (1892–1894). Was noticed the contribution of Gheorghe Pop de Băsești. The failure of political passivism determined the PNR leaders to pass to "political activism", starting in 1905. At the stage of political activism, the Transylvanian Romanians achieved representation in the Parliament in Budapest, advocating there for national rights. In that context, there stood out the activity of Iuliu Maniu, the greatest politician in the history of Sălaj.

In the national and international favorable conditions of 1918, leaders of Romanians in Transylvania organized the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia (1 December 1918), with plebiscitary character, which proclaimed the Union of Transylvania with Romania. Political elites in Sălaj had a leading role in the events. Gheorghe Pop de Băsești was elected president of the Great National Council (legislative body), Iuliu Maniu became president of the Governing Council (executive body), and Victor Deleu was the leader of the Interior within the Governing Council (the two institutions have led Transilvania during its provisional autonomy until April 1920).

After World War I
The territory of the county was transferred to Romania from Hungary as the successor state to Austria-Hungary in 1920 under the Treaty of Trianon. It was organized by Romanian officials as a county in 1925.

In the interwar period, Sălaj evolved within the history of Greater Romania. Was remarked Iuliu Maniu's political activity, president of PNR, then president of PNȚ and prime minister of Romania. At the beginning of Greater Romania, Sălaj County had 3,815 km2 and 226,716 inhabitants, of which: 139,878 Romanians, 70,405 Hungarians, 9,322 Slovaks, 831 Jews, 6,282 other nationalities. Legislation of Greater Romania offered the possibility of functioning of schools or departments in native languages. According to documents from the State Archives, Sălaj County, in 1933 had 342,642 inhabitants, of which: 202,176 Romanians, 90,800 Hungarians, 30,840 Germans, 17,138 Jews, 1,715 other nationalities. The number of students was: 44,921 Romanians, 20,192 Hungarians, 3,287 Germans, 2,111 Jews, 396 other nationalities.

In 1938, King Carol II promulgated a new Constitution, and subsequently, he had the administrative division of the Romanian territory changed. 10 ținuturi (approximate translation: "lands") were created (by merging the counties) to be ruled by rezidenți regali (approximate translation: "Royal Residents") - appointed directly by the King - instead of the prefects. Sălaj County became part of Ținutul Crișuri.

By Second Vienna Award, concluded on 30 August 1940, arbitrated by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, Romania had to cede to Hungary Northern Transylvania. Until March 1945, when the ceded part will return to Romania (during Petru Groza government), Sălaj was part of Hungary again. Between 1940 and 1944, in Szilágy County notable incidents happened, claiming the lives of 495 people, most of them culminating in the Ip and Treznea massacres. Beginning in 1944, Romanian forces with Soviet assistance recaptured the ceded territory and reintegrated it into Romania, re-establishing the county. Starting with 14 October 1944, Romanian armies carried military operations in the territory, however, the Romanian administration was expelled from these territories in October due to the activities of the Romanian paramilitary groups created in the area to avenge the atrocities committed by the Hungarians against the Romanians during the Hungarian rule in Northern Transylvania. Romanian jurisdiction over the county per the Treaty of Trianon was reaffirmed in the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947.

After 1947, Sălaj inhabitants have experienced the realities of the Communist totalitarian regime. Among Sălaj personalities, can be mentioned artist Ioan Sima who, in 1980, donated to the County Museum of History and Art in Zalău paintings and graphics, personal archive and his library of art.

The county was disestablished by the communist government of Romania in 1950 and re-established in 1968 when Romania restored the county administrative system.

After December 1989, in the conditions of return to a democratic political regime and Euro-Atlantic integration, Sălaj has become a model of interethnic cohabitation, also manifested in education. Politically, was remarked the activity of Corneliu Coposu, the former personal secretary of Iuliu Maniu. His name links to the clotting of the Romanian Democratic Convention that succeeded the first democratic alternation in power in post-revolutionary Romania.

Geography
Sălaj County unfolds on 3,864.38 km2 (1.6% of the country area), of which 239,613 ha are agricultural land, 105,833 ha forests and 41,000 ha inhabited area. It is located in the north-west of the country, overlapping mostly in the area of connection between the Eastern Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains, known as "Someș Plateau".

Relief
The relief is predominantly hilly, mountains occupying a small portion in the south-west. The hilly area is composed of the Someș Plateau and piedmont hills of Silvania. The mountainous area is represented by two northern branches of the Apuseni Mountains: Meseș with Măgura Priei Peak (996 m) and Plopiș. Depressions are widely distributed throughout the county and represent important agricultural areas of concentration of settlements.

Climate
In terms of climate, Sălaj County, by its geographical position, falls in moderate temperate continental climate, west and north-west circulation predominating.

The thermal regime of the air is conditioned by altitude, fragmentation and orientation of relief, plus local factors, the average temperature being around 8 °C. Average temperature at Zalău (calculated for the period 1961–1990) is 9.5 °C, remarking a growing trend of it. The maximum temperature recorded at the Zalău meteorological station was 38 °C on 16 August 1952, and the minimum temperature recorded is -23.5 °C, on 25 January 1954.

The annual rainfall regime is generated by two factors: general atmospheric circulation, physical and geographical conditions, respectively. Advection of temperate oceanic air from west and north-west direction, especially during the summer, as well as frequent ingress of cold air masses from the north or those temperate continental from north-east and east, during the winter, plus advection of maritime tropical air from the south-west and south, explain all influences of atmospheric action centres which are felt in this area. Taking into account these elements, plus relief influences, atmospheric rainfall are unevenly spread across the county. The average amount of precipitation is 600–700 mm, in Zalău being 634.2 mm (calculated for the period 1961–1990). The most abundant precipitation falls in summer, when besides frontal processes occurs the intense thermal convection, causing showers, rich in terms of quantity. During the winter, rainfall is less quantitatively, although the number of days with precipitation is not smaller. By and large, the pluviometric maximum overlaps the months of May–June, and the pluviometric minimum is registered in January–February.

Hydrographic network
Hydrographic network of the county has a length of 1,263.7 km, of which the Someș is 95 km within the county, Almaș 68 km, Agrij 48 km, Crasna 71 km, Barcău 54 km. Water covers 57.8 km2, representing 1.5% of the county area.

Flora
Sălaj landscape presents areas with forests of oak, sessile, beech and other deciduous, pastures and agricultural land planted with vines, fruit trees, grain alternating with anthropogenic landscapes.

Demography

At the 2021 census, the county had a population of 212,224 inhabitants and a density of 56 PD/km2. Sălaj County ranks third nationally as one of the counties with the lowest number of inhabitants.

The ethnic structure of the county includes: Romanians (136,552) – 70.09%, Hungarians (40,554) – 20.82%, Romani (16,706) – 8.58%, Slovaks (760) – 0.39%, and other nationalities (236). Additionally, 17,416 have not declared their ethnicity.

99.8% declared their affiliation to a religion, people who were atheists or without religion representing only 0.2%.

Industry
Sălaj County has rich natural resources of raw materials, concentrated in the following areas:
 * brown coal – Cristolțel;
 * lignite – Ip and Sărmășag;
 * carbonaceous slate – Zimbor;
 * gypsum – Treznea;
 * alabaster – Gălășeni and Stâna;
 * diorite – Moigrad;
 * mica-schist – Marca;
 * chalk – Cuciulat, Glod, Prodănești and Răstoci;
 * clay – Crasna, Cuciulat, Nușfalău and Zalău;
 * kaolin sand – Jac and Var;
 * silica sand – Jac, Creaca, Surduc and Var;
 * quartz sand – Var;
 * kaolin – Ruginoasa;
 * tuff – Mirșid;
 * river aggregates – Benesat, Var, Rona, Almașu, Băbeni, Cuciulat, Glod, Gâlgău, Ileanda, Românași, Rus, Someș-Odorhei, Surduc and Tihău.

Education
Of the total resident population of 10 years and over 47.8% had low levels of education (primary, gymnasium or no school graduated), 41.4% intermediate levels (postgraduate and vocational, high school or professional and apprentice) and 10.8% higher levels.

The number of people with higher education increased by 2.3 times in 2011 compared to 2002, and that of people with low levels of education decreased by 24.9%. On 20 October 2011, the share of illiterate persons in the total population of 10 years and over was 1.8%, 1.2% lower than in the 2002 census.

Politics
The Sălaj County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 30 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions
Sălaj County has 1 municipality, 3 towns and 57 communes, subdivided into 281 villages.

Municipalities Towns Communes
 * Zalău – capital city; population: 56,202
 * Cehu Silvaniei – population: 7,214
 * Jibou – population: 10,407
 * Șimleu Silvaniei – population: 14,436

 * Agrij
 * Almașu
 * Băbeni
 * Bălan
 * Bănișor
 * Benesat
 * Bobota
 * Bocșa
 * Boghiș
 * Buciumi
 * Camăr
 * Carastelec
 * Chieșd
 * Cizer
 * Coșeiu
 * Crasna
 * Creaca
 * Crișeni
 * Cristolț
 * Cuzăplac
 * Dobrin
 * Dragu
 * Fildu de Jos
 * Gâlgău
 * Gârbou
 * Halmășd
 * Hereclean
 * Hida
 * Horoatu Crasnei
 * Ileanda
 * Ip
 * Letca
 * Lozna
 * Măeriște
 * Marca
 * Meseșenii de Jos
 * Mirșid
 * Năpradea
 * Nușfalău
 * Pericei
 * Plopiș
 * Poiana Blenchii
 * Românași
 * Rus
 * Sălățig
 * Sâg
 * Sânmihaiu Almașului
 * Someș-Odorhei
 * Surduc
 * Șamșud
 * Sărmășag
 * Șimișna
 * Treznea
 * Valcău de Jos
 * Vârșolț
 * Zalha
 * Zimbor

Personalities

 * Christopher Báthory (1530–1581), Voivode of Transylvania
 * Stephen Báthory (1533–1586), Prince of Transylvania and King of Poland
 * Miklós Wesselényi (1796–1850), statesman
 * Simion Bărnuțiu (1808–1864), politician, historian, philosopher, professor and revolutionary
 * Ioan Maniu (1833–1895), journalist and father of Iuliu Maniu
 * Alimpiu Barboloviciu (1834–1914), Greek Catholic archpriest, vicar and publicist
 * Iuliu Maniu (1873–1953), Prime Minister of Romania
 * Béla Kun (1886–1938), revolutionary
 * Joe Pasternak (1901–1991), filmmaker
 * Miklós Nyiszli (1901–1956), physician and author
 * Corneliu Coposu (1914–1995), politician and political prisoner
 * Augustin Deac (1928–2004), historian
 * Ioan Pușcaș (1932–2015), radiologist
 * Florian Pop (b. 1952), mathematician
 * Vasile Pușcaș (b. 1952), professor, diplomat and politician
 * Codruț Șereș (b. 1969), Economy Minister
 * Dacian Cioloș (b. 1969), Prime Minister of Romania
 * Eduard Hellvig (b. 1974), MEP, Tourism Minister and Director of the Romanian Intelligence Service
 * Cosmin Seleși (b. 1977), actor and TV star
 * Ramona Farcău (b. 1979), handball player
 * Talida Tolnai (b. 1979), handball player

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the northwestern part of Greater Romania, on the border with Hungary. The eastern half of its territory was in the historical region of Transylvania, while the western half was located in the Crişana region. After the administrative unification law in 1925, the name of the county remained as it was, but the territory was reorganized. It was bordered on the south with the counties of Bihor and Cluj, to the east by Someș County, to the north by Satu Mare County, and to the west with Hungary. The interwar county's territory included the current Sălaj County, the northern part of the current Bihor County and the southwestern part of the current Satu Mare County.

Administration

The county originally consisted of eight districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Carei
 * 2) Plasa Cehu Silvaniei
 * 3) Plasa Crasna
 * 4) Plasa Jibou
 * 5) Plasa Șimleu Silvaniei
 * 6) Plasa Tășnad
 * 7) Plasa Valea lui Mihai
 * 8) Plasa Zalău

A subsequent administrative adjustment added two districts:
 * 1) Plasa Buciumi
 * 2) Plasa Supurul de Jos

The county had three urban communes: Zalău (capital city), Carei, and Șimleu Silvaniei

Population
According to the census data of 1930, the county's population was 343,347, of which 56.2% were Romanians, 31.4% Hungarians, 4.7% Germans, 3.9% Jews, as well as other minorities. In the religious aspect, the population consisted of 52.6% Greek Catholic, 25.4% Reformed (Calvinist), 12.2% Roman Catholic, 4.0% Jewish, 4.4% Eastern Orthodox, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the urban population of the county was 31,830, of which 46.1% were Hungarians, 31.6% Romanians, 13.4% Jews, 5.6% Germans, as well as other minorities. As a mother tongue in the urban population, Hungarian was spoken by 62.0% of the population, followed by Romanian (27.5%), Yiddish Yiddish (8.0%), German (1.2%), as well as other minority languages. From the religious point of view, the urban population was made up of 28.6% Reformed, 27.2% Greek Catholic, 24.2% Roman Catholic, 13.8% Jewish, 4.9% Eastern Orthodox, as well as other minorities.

title: Sălaj County


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Mehedinți County

Mehedinți County is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Serbia and Bulgaria. It is mostly located in the historical province of Oltenia, with one municipality (Orșova) and three communes (Dubova, Eșelnița, and Svinița) located in the Banat. The county seat is Drobeta-Turnu Severin.

Name
The county's name is Méhed or Mehádia in Hungarian. The Romanian form originates from the first one, and a third originates from the Romanian: Mehedinc. The territory was famous for its apiaries, that's why it was named from the Hungarian méh word meaning bee.

Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 254,570 and the population density was 51.6/km2.

 * Romanians - 96.1%
 * Roma - 3%
 * Others (including Serbs, Hungarians, and Germans) - 0.9%

Geography
This county has a total area of 4,933 km2.

In the North-West there are the Mehedinți Mountains with heights up to 1500 m, part of the Western end of the Southern Carpathians.

The heights decrease towards the East, passing through the hills to a high plain - the Western end of the Romanian Plain.

In the South the Danube flows, forming a wide valley, with channels and ponds. Another important river is the Motru River in the East side, an affluent of the Jiu River. Also, in the West side there is the Cerna River forming a passage between the Oltenia region and the Banat region.

Neighbours

 * Bulgaria in the South - Vidin Province.
 * Serbia in the West and South-West - Bor District.
 * Caraș-Severin County in the North-West.
 * Gorj County in the North-East.
 * Dolj County in the South-East.

Economy
The energetic sector is highly developed in the county, on the Danube being two big hydro electrical power plants (Iron Gates I and Iron Gates II). Also in NE of Drobeta-Turnu Severin there is a heavy water complex (Romag Prod).

The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Chemical industry.
 * Food and beverages industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Mechanical components industry.
 * Railway and ship equipment industry.
 * Wood and paper industry.

In the North, coal and copper are extracted.

The South is mainly agricultural, suited for growing cereals on large surfaces. Also vegetables are cultivated and there are important surfaces of wines and fruit orchards.

Tourism
The main tourist destinations are:
 * The city of Drobeta-Turnu Severin - the ruins of Trajan's first bridge over the Danube
 * The city of Orșova.
 * The Mehedinți Mountains.
 * The Danube's Iron Gates.
 * Baia de Aramă Monastery
 * The Via Transilvanica long-distance hiking and biking trail, which crosses the county

Politics
The Mehedinți County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 30 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Mehedinți County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 61 communes
 * Municipalities
 * Drobeta-Turnu Severin - capital city; population: 86,475 (as of 2011)
 * Orșova
 * Towns
 * Baia de Aramă
 * Strehaia
 * Vânju Mare

 * Communes
 * Bâcleș
 * Bala
 * Bălăcița
 * Balta
 * Bâlvănești
 * Braniștea
 * Breznița-Motru
 * Breznița-Ocol
 * Broșteni
 * Burila Mare
 * Butoiești
 * Căzănești
 * Cireșu
 * Corcova
 * Corlățel
 * Cujmir
 * Dârvari
 * Devesel
 * Dubova
 * Dumbrava
 * Eșelnița
 * Florești
 * Gârla Mare
 * Godeanu
 * Gogoșu
 * Greci
 * Grozești
 * Gruia
 * Hinova
 * Husnicioara
 * Ilovăț
 * Ilovița
 * Isverna
 * Izvoru Bârzii
 * Jiana
 * Livezile
 * Malovăț
 * Obârșia de Câmp
 * Obârșia-Cloșani
 * Oprișor
 * Pădina Mare
 * Pătulele
 * Podeni
 * Ponoarele
 * Poroina Mare
 * Pristol
 * Prunișor
 * Punghina
 * Rogova
 * Salcia
 * Șișești
 * Șimian
 * Șovarna
 * Stângăceaua
 * Svinița
 * Tâmna
 * Vânători
 * Vânjuleț
 * Vlădaia
 * Voloiac
 * Vrata

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of Greater Romania, in the western part of the historical region of Oltenia. Its capital was Târgu Jiu. The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Mehedinți County. At present, its territory comprises a large part of the current territory of Mehedinţi County except for the northern part belonging to Gorj County, while a small part of the former Severin County where Orsova was located is currently part of Mehedinti County.

It was bordered on the west by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in the northwest by Severin County, to the north by Hunedoara County, to the east by the counties of Gorj and Dolj, and in the south by the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Administration
The county was originally divided into four administrative districts (plăși):

 * 1) Plasa Câmpul
 * 2) Plasa Cloșani, headquartered at Cloșani
 * 3) Plasa Motru, headquartered at Motru
 * 4) Plasa Ocolul, headquartered at Turnu Severin

Subsequently, Plasa Câmpul was disbanded and replaced with five more districts:
 * 1) Plasa Bâcleș, headquartered at Bâcleș
 * 2) Plasa Broșteni, headquartered at Broșteni
 * 3) Plasa Cujmir, headquartered at Cujmiru
 * 4) Plasa Devesel, headquartered at Devesel
 * 5) Plasa Vânju Mare, headquartered at Vânju Mare

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 303,878 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 98.7% Romanians, 1.2% Romanis, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.0% Eastern Orthodox, 0.5% Roman Catholic, 0.2% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population comprised 91.3% Romanians, 2.5% Germans, 1.3% Romanies, 1.3% Jews, 1.1% Serbs and Croats, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 92.9% Eastern Orthodox, 4.3% Roman Catholic, 1.5% Jewish, 0.4% Greek Catholic, 0.4% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.

title: Mehedinți County


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Olt County

Olt County is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (the regions are separated by the Olt river). The capital city is Slatina.

History
On 24 August 2017, the Olt County Council decided to hold a name referendum on 15 October 2017 for the proposal to change the county name to "Olt-Romanați". The referendum was eventually held on 6 and 7 October 2018. The vote was nullified, as turnout was 27.19%, below the required threshold of 30%; therefore, the Olt County retains its current name.

Demographics
In 2011, the county had a population of 415,530 and the population density was 75.57 /km2.

 * Romanians - 98.01%
 * Romani - 1.9%

The county is a mainly rural one, with over 60% of the population living in villages.

Geography
The county lies in a flat area on the western part of the Romanian Plain. It is crossed by rivers from north to south, including the Olt River which gave the county its name. The Danube forms a wide valley in the south, with many ponds and small channels, which are occasionally flooded.

Neighbours

 * Teleorman County to the East.
 * Dolj County to the West.
 * Argeș County and Vâlcea County to the North.
 * Bulgaria to the South - Vratsa Province and Pleven Province.

Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Metallurgy - aluminium and aluminium components.
 * Railway equipment.
 * Food and beverages industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Mechanical components industry.

Agriculture is the main occupation in the county - over 58% of the population having agriculture as their main occupation. Both extensive agriculture, and small-scale, vegetables and fruits, are practiced. The area is well suited for irrigation.

Tourism
The main destinations for tourists are:
 * The city of Slatina.
 * Fishing on the Danube and on the Olt River.
 * Town of Corabia with an ancient Roman citadel, a large orthodox cathedral, Danube sunbathes, sailing and fishing.
 * The town of Scornicești - the birthplace of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Politics
The Olt County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 32 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions
Olt County has 2 municipalities, 6 towns and 104 communes:
 * Municipalities
 * Caracal
 * Slatina - capital city; population: 87,608 (as of 2007)

 * Towns
 * Balș
 * Corabia
 * Drăgănești-Olt
 * Piatra Olt
 * Potcoava
 * Scornicești

 * Communes
 * Băbiciu
 * Baldovinești
 * Bălteni
 * Bărăști
 * Bârza
 * Bobicești
 * Brâncoveni
 * Brastavățu
 * Brebeni
 * Bucinișu
 * Cârlogani
 * Călui
 * Cezieni
 * Cilieni
 * Colonești
 * Corbu
 * Coteana
 * Crâmpoia
 * Cungrea
 * Curtișoara
 * Dăneasa
 * Deveselu
 * Dobrețu
 * Dobrosloveni
 * Dobroteasa
 * Dobrun
 * Drăghiceni
 * Făgețelu
 * Fălcoiu
 * Fărcașele
 * Găneasa
 * Găvănești
 * Gârcov
 * Giuvărăști
 * Ghimpețeni
 * Gostavățu
 * Grădinari
 * Grădinile
 * Grojdibodu
 * Gura Padinii
 * Ianca
 * Iancu Jianu
 * Icoana
 * Ipotești
 * Izbiceni
 * Izvoarele
 * Leleasca
 * Mărunței
 * Mihăești
 * Milcov
 * Morunglav
 * Movileni
 * Nicolae Titulescu
 * Obârșia
 * Oboga
 * Oporelu
 * Optași-Măgura
 * Orlea
 * Osica de Sus
 * Osica de Jos
 * Pârșcoveni
 * Perieți
 * Pleșoiu
 * Poboru
 * Priseaca
 * Radomirești
 * Redea
 * Rotunda
 * Rusănești
 * Sâmburești
 * Sârbii-Măgura
 * Scărișoara
 * Schitu
 * Seaca
 * Șerbănești
 * Slătioara
 * Șopârlița
 * Spineni
 * Sprâncenata
 * Ștefan cel Mare
 * Stoenești
 * Stoicănești
 * Strejești
 * Studina
 * Tătulești
 * Teslui
 * Tia Mare
 * Topana
 * Traian
 * Tufeni
 * Urzica
 * Vădastra
 * Vădăstrița
 * Vâlcele
 * Valea Mare
 * Văleni
 * Verguleasa
 * Vișina
 * Vișina Nouă
 * Vitomirești
 * Vlădila
 * Voineasa
 * Vulpeni
 * Vulturești

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southern part of Greater Romania, in the western part of the historical region of Muntenia, around and in the south of Bucharest. The county included the north-eastern part of the current Olt county, the south-western part of the present Argeș County and the north-western part of the present Teleorman County. During the interwar years, it was bordered to the north by Argeș County, to the east by the counties of Argeş and Teleorman, to the south by Teleorman County, and in the west by the counties of Romanați and Vâlcea.

Administration
The county originally was divided into three administrative districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Drăgănești, headquartered at Drăgănești
 * 2) Plasa Dumitrești, headquartered at Dumitrești
 * 3) Plasa Spineni, headquartered at Spineni

Subsequently, the county established an additional district: Plasa Mijlocul, headquartered at Mijlocul

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 183,595 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 98.2% Romanians, 1.2% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.5% Eastern Orthodox, 0.2% Roman Catholic, 0.1% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 11,243 inhabitants, comprising 92.5% Romanians, 2.5% Hungarians, 1.5% Jews, 0.8% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 94.1% Eastern Orthodox, 2.3% Roman Catholic, 1.6% Jewish, 0.9% Reformed, 0.6% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.

title: Olt County


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Maramureș County

Maramureș County is a county (județ) in Romania, in the Maramureș region. The county seat is Baia Mare.

Name
In Hungarian it is known as Máramaros megye, in Ukrainian as Мараморо́щина, in German as Kreis Marmarosch, and in Yiddish as    מאַרמאַראָש.

Geography
Maramureș County is situated in the northern part of Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania, and has a border with Ukraine. This county has a total area of 6304 km2, of which 43% is covered by the Rodna Mountains, with its tallest peak, Pietrosul Peak, at 2303 m altitude.

Together with the Gutâi and Țibleș mountain ranges, the Rodna mountains are part of the Eastern Carpathians. The rest of the county are hills, plateaus, and valleys. The county is crossed by Tisa River and its main tributaries: the Iza, Vișeu, and Mara rivers.

Neighbours
The neighbouring territorial units, both Romanian and foreign, to Maramureș County are listed below:

 * Suceava County to the east;
 * Satu Mare County to the west;
 * Ukraine to the north – Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and Zakarpattia Oblast;
 * Sălaj County, Cluj County, and Bistrița-Năsăud County to the south.

Administrative divisions

Maramureș County has 2 municipalities, 11 towns and 63 communes.
 * Municipalities
 * Baia Mare - county seat; population: 114,925 (as of 2011)
 * Sighetu Marmației

 * Towns
 * Baia Sprie
 * Borșa
 * Cavnic
 * Dragomirești
 * Săliștea de Sus
 * Seini
 * Șomcuta Mare
 * Târgu Lăpuș
 * Tăuții-Măgherăuș
 * Ulmeni
 * Vișeu de Sus

 * Communes
 * Ardusat
 * Ariniș
 * Asuaju de Sus
 * Băița de sub Codru
 * Băiuț
 * Bârsana
 * Băsești
 * Bicaz
 * Bistra
 * Bocicoiu Mare
 * Bogdan Vodă
 * Boiu Mare
 * Botiza
 * Breb
 * Budești
 * Călinești
 * Câmpulung la Tisa
 * Cernești
 * Cicârlău
 * Coaș
 * Coltău
 * Copalnic-Mănăștur
 * Coroieni
 * Cupșeni
 * Desești
 * Dumbrăvița
 * Fărcașa
 * Gârdani
 * Giulești
 * Groși
 * Groșii Țibleșului
 * Ieud
 * Lăpuș
 * Leordina
 * Mireșu Mare
 * Moisei
 * Oarța de Jos
 * Ocna Șugatag
 * Onceşti
 * Petrova
 * Poienile de sub Munte
 * Poienile Izei
 * Recea
 * Remetea Chioarului
 * Remeți
 * Repedea
 * Rona de Jos
 * Rona de Sus
 * Rozavlea
 * Ruscova
 * Săcălășeni
 * Săcel
 * Sălsig
 * Săpânța
 * Sarasău
 * Satulung
 * Șieu
 * Șișești
 * Strâmtura
 * Suciu de Sus
 * Vadu Izei
 * Valea Chioarului
 * Vima Mică
 * Vișeu de Jos

Economy
Maramureș is known for its pastoral and agricultural traditions, largely unscathed by the industrialisation campaign carried out during Romania's communist period. Ploughing, planting, harvesting, and hay making and handling are mostly done through manual labour. The county is also home to a strong mining industry of extraction of metals other than iron. The industrial plants built around Baia Mare during the communist period heavily polluted the area in the past, but recently, due to the decline of the city's industrial activity, the area has become less polluted.

Tourism
The region is known for its beautiful rural scenery, local small woodwork and craftwork industry as well as for its churches and original rural architecture. There are not many paved roads in the rural areas, but most of them are usually accessible.

The county's main tourist attractions are:
 * The cities of Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației.
 * The villages on the Iza, Mara, and Vișeu Valleys.
 * The Wooden churches of Maramureș
 * The wooden churches of Lăpuș Country
 * The wooden churches of Chioar Country
 * The Merry Cemetery of Săpânța
 * The Rodna Mountains, the Rodna Mountains National Park, and the Maramureș Mountains Natural Park.
 * The landscape of Cavnic.
 * The Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance in Sighetu Marmației.

Demographics
According to the 2021 census, the county had a population of 452,475 and the population density was.

Politics
The Maramureș County Council, elected at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 councillors, with the following party composition:

History

 * In 1199, the region is first attested.
 * In 1241 the Tatar invasion decimated about half of the local population.
 * In the 14th century, Duke (knyaz) Bogdan of Maramureș crossed the Carpathians and founded the Principality of Moldavia. In 1343, the Voivodeship of Maramureș, led by a Romanian nobility, is established, and it lasts until 1402.
 * In the Middle Ages, the historical region of Máramaros (Maramureș) was known for its salt mines and later for its lumber.

In 1920, under the Treaty of Trianon, the northern part of the county became part of newly-formed Czechoslovakia, while the southern part (including Sighetu Marmației) became part of the Kingdom of Romania.

After the administrative unification law in 1925, the county remained as it was, with an identical name and territory.

In 1938, King Carol II promulgated a new Constitution, and subsequently he had the administrative division of the Romanian territory changed. Ten ținuturi (approximate translation: "lands") were created (by merging the counties) to be ruled by rezidenți regali (approximate translation: "Royal Residents") – appointed directly by the king – instead of the prefects. Maramureș County became part of Ținutul Crișuri.

In August 1940, under the auspices of Nazi Germany, which imposed the Second Vienna Award, the county was transferred back to Hungary with the rest of Northern Transylvania. In October 1944, Romanian forces with Soviet assistance recaptured the ceded territory and reintegrated it into Romania, re-establishing the county. Romanian jurisdiction over the county per the Treaty of Trianon was reaffirmed in the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947. The counties of Romania, including Maramureș, were disestablished by the communist government of Romania in 1950 in favour of regions, and re-established in 1968 when Romania restored the county administrative system.

Administration
In 1930, the county was originally divided into three districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Iza
 * 2) Plasa Sighet (headquartered at Sighet)
 * 3) Plasa Vișeu (headquartered at Vișeu de Sus)

Subsequently, the Iza and Sighet districts were reorganized into three districts, adding one: Plasa Șugatag (headquartered at Ocna Șugatag)

Population
According to the 1930 census, the county's population was 194,619, 57.9% Romanian, 20.9% Jews, 11.9% Ruthenians (including Ukrainians), 6.9% Hungarians, 2.0% Germans, as well as other minorities. The following composition was recorded from the religious point of view: 64.4% Greek Catholic, 21.0% Jewish, 6.4% Roman Catholic, 5.3% Eastern Orthodox, 1.8% Reformed, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930 the county's urban population ethnically consisted of 38.6% Jews, 35.4% Romanians, 19.9% Hungarians, 4.5% Ruthenians (including Ukrainians), as well as other minorities. Yiddish was spoken by 36.6% of the urban population, followed by Romanian (33.7%), Hungarian (25.7%), Ukrainian (2.3%), as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban inhabitants were Jewish (38.9%), Greek Catholics (38.0%), Roman Catholics (12.8%), Reformed (5.7%), Eastern Orthodox (3.5%), as well as other minorities.

People
Natives of the county include:
 * Augustin Buzura
 * Ștefan Hrușcă
 * Gheorghe Pop de Băsești
 * Paula Seling
 * Elie Wiesel

title: Maramureș County