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Cluj County

Cluj County is a county (județ) of Romania, in Transylvania. Its seat is Cluj-Napoca.

Name
In Hungarian it is known as Kolozs megye. Under the Kingdom of Hungary, a county with an identical name (Kolozs County, Comitatul Cluj) existed since the 11th century.

Geography
Cluj County lies in the northwestern half of the country, between parallels 47°28' in north and 46°24' in south, meridians 23°39' in west and 24°13' in east, respectively. It covers an area of 6,674 km2 unfolded in the contact zone of three representative natural units: Apuseni Mountains, Someș Plateau and Transylvanian Plain. Cluj County is the 12th largest in the country and occupies 2.8% of Romania's area. It is bordered to the northeast with Maramureș and Bistrița-Năsăud counties, to the east with Mureș County, to the south with Alba County, and to the west with Bihor and Sălaj counties.

Relief
The relief is rugged, constituted mostly of hilly units belonging to Someș Plateau and, to a lesser extent, of mountain portions that represent the northeastern part of Apuseni Mountains. Fields are missing on the territory of Cluj County, being replaced, as step of relief, by well-developed terraces and floodplains in the lower sectors of Someșul Mic and Arieș rivers. The hilly area, extended in the central northern and southern part of the county, include several subunits of Someș Plateau (Cluj, Feleacu, Dej hills), among which are individualized numerous depressions (Apahida, Bonțida, Gilău, Dej, Turda, Câmpia Turzii) at the edge of which there are some contact depressions (Huedin and Iara), at the limit of the mountain. The mountain sector, located in southwest, belongs to Apuseni, mountains group of Western Carpathians, represented by sectors of Vlădeasa Massif (peak Vlădeasa – 1,836 m), Gilău Mountains and Muntele Mare, as well as narrow portions of Trascău, Plopiș, Meseș and Bihor mountains. In the eastern part of Cluj County, east of the river alignment Valea Florilor–Maraloiu–Someșul Mic, is located a part of the Hilly Plain of Transylvania, a special unit of relief, with mountainous character, partially overlapped by some gas-condensate domes.

Hydrographic network
The hydrographic network is represented by rivers (Someșul Mic with SW–NE direction, whose catchment area is fully developed on the territory of Cluj County, Crișul Repede and lower Arieș), natural lakes and ponds (Cătina Popii I and II, Geaca, Țaga, etc.) and lakes of hydropower interest (Beliș-Fântânele, Tarnița and Gilău). In the northeastern part of Cluj County, Someșul Mic joins Someșul Mare, upstream of Dej, forming the Someș, which flows into the Tisza to the west.

The deep waters are less represented and are characterized by high mineralization. Relatively rich mineral springs, with sulphates, calcium and sodium chloride, can be found in Dezmir, Cojocna, Gădălin, Sic, Gherla, Leghia, Someșeni, Turda, etc.

Climate
Through its location, Cluj County benefits from a moderate continental climate. In the mountain sector (Vlădeasa Massif and Muntele Mare), the mean annual air temperature is 2 °C, and in the rest of the territory is 6 °C. Annual thermal amplitudes have values between 17 and 19 °C in the mountains and grow at 23–25 °C in hilly areas, plateaus and plains.

Rainfall is distributed unevenly, with minimal amounts in Turda–Câmpia Turzii (about 550 mm) and maximum in Vlădeasa Massif (about 1,400 mm). On average, annual values of rainfall reach 600–650 mm in the Transylvania Plain, 650–700 mm in the Someș Plateau and over 900–1000 mm in mountainous areas.

Natural resources
Cluj County has rich and varied natural resources. Iron ores came into use in 1962, by exploitations in Căpușu Mic and Băișoara, being conducted over the years a series of geological explorations in Vlaha, Săvădisla and Cacova Ierii. Fossil fuels are represented by brown coal exploited in Ticu–Dâncu–Băgara area and peat, exploited in Călățele–Căpățâna sector. Likewise, there is a gas-condensed dome in Puini in the Transylvanian Plain.

Besides iron ore and mineral fuels, there is a variety of useful minerals and rocks, including: quartz in Muntele Mare and around Someșu Rece (where can also be found feldspar), dacites and andesites in Vlădeasa Massif and around Morlaca, Bologa, Poieni, Săcuieu, Stolna and Iara, granites in Muntele Mare, limestones and dolomites used to fabricate binders (lime, cement), exploited in Săndulești, Tureni, Surduc, Buru, Poieni, etc., calcareous tuffs of high quality with quarries at Tioc–Cornești, kaolin sands at Popești, Topa, Băgara, Gârbău, etc., salt, with significant reserves at Ocna Dejului, Turda, Cojocna, Sic, Nireș, gravel pits on Someșul Mic at Gilău, Florești and on lower Arieș.

Vegetation
The vegetation is heterogeneous and storeyed due to the prevalence of hilly and mountainous relief. In Cluj County can be met a wide range of plant formations. Sub-alpine floor, present in Vlădeasa Massif and Muntele Mare, is characterized by lawns with midget grasses and juniper bushes. The spruce forests floor, expanded on mountain slopes between 1,000 and 1,600 m, consists predominantly of spruce mixed with fir, and the deciduous forests floor develops on all forms of relief, ranging from 400 to 1,000 m, and consists of sessile forests mixed with beech, hornbeam or elm. On slopes with northern exposure of Luna and Lujerdiu valleys develop compact clusters of sessile, hornbeam, ash and elm forests. In the Hilly Plain of Transylvania appear islands of steppe, alternating with patches of forests.

Fauna
The fauna is adapted to vegetation flooring, but less constant to its limits, due to great mobility; it is rich in species. In forests are present numerous animals of cynegetic interest, including deer, stag, bear, fox, lynx, wild boar, squirrel, and on Someș Valley naturally entered the muskrat. Around artificial lakes live a series of birds (duck, coot, stork), in the Someș Plateau and Transylvanian Plain was colonized the pheasant, and in Turda Gorge area lives the rock eagle. Mountain rivers are populated with trouts, graylings and nases, and in the lower ones with barbel and chub.

Economy
Cluj has, after Bucharest, the largest number of companies in the country (over 32,000 firms in 2014) and ranks third after net average earning, with 1,890 lei in December 2013 (Bucharest has 2,474 lei, and Ilfov 2,138 lei); it is almost 5% higher than the national average. Great investors in the automotive industry, but also in IT have increased the average salary of employees, but these wage increases have led to an increase in the cost of living, reflected, for example, through higher rents than in surrounding counties. In Cluj companies work over 150,000 people, and after their turnover, the county ranks fifth in the Romanian business hierarchy, with €8 billion in 2012, after Bucharest (€81.9 billion), Ilfov (€13.6 billion), Argeș (€9.1 billion) and Timiș (€8.7 billion). The number of registered unemployed at the end of June 2014 was 9,744 people, and the unemployment rate, calculated on the working population, is 2.8%, being 0.6% lower than the unemployment rate in June 2013. In 2015, GDP per capita is +30% more than the national average.

Cluj County is the county with the most industrial parks in the country. Five such functional areas and another in preparation already attracted investment of over half a billion euros and led to the creation of over 5,000 jobs.

In June 2014 industrial production increased by 19.6% over the same month in 2013, according to data released by the County Directorate of Statistics. Compared with the first half of 2013, between 1 January and 30 June 2014 the industrial production index was 122.3%. The turnover value index in industry in June 2014 was 11.7% higher than in June 2013. Cumulated six months, the turnover value index is 112.5% compared to the same period in 2013. The largest new investment in the domain was carried out in public industrial parks (Tetarom II and III, with Emerson in Muncii Blvd. and Bosch and De'Longhi in Jucu) or private ones in Dej and Câmpia Turzii.

Therewith, the industry in Cluj County is characterized by a strong potential for processing both local resources and those attracted. Within processing industry are represented most existing branches nationwide. Over 24% of the employed population is working in different industrial sub-branches. Likewise, an important sector of Cluj County economy is the IT sector and that related to customer service – services of sales, marketing, services of IT helpdesk, technical support, that record an annual increase of over 30% in the number of employees. The industrial production in the county is intended to cover the domestic demand and supply to foreign partners. Among processing industries, those with the highest share in industrial production are non-ferrous metal industry (17.9%), food and beverage industry (17.5%), metallurgic industry (12.9%), chemicals and man-made fibers industry (8.1%), cellulose, paper and cardboard industry (8%).

Regarding foreign trade, compared to the same period in 2013, exports increased by 8.3%, but imports grew more strongly: plus 14.4%. More precisely, foreign trade in Cluj County, between 1 January and 30 April, is focused on achieving an export volume worth €315.7 million and imports totaling €598 million. Among the products supplied for export can be mentioned: paper and cardboard; articles of paper pulp, paper or cardboard; clothing items and accessories; footwear and similar articles; products of cast iron, iron and steel; boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; machinery and electrical equipment and parts thereof; optical, photographic and cinematographic instruments; pharmaceuticals; glass and glassware; furniture. Were imported in large quantities: coffee and tea; fuel, mineral oils and products of distillation; organic chemicals; fertilizers; hides; paper and cardboard; products of cast iron, iron and steel; boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; machinery and electrical equipment and parts thereof; vehicles, other than railway rolling stock; silk; cotton; man-made fibers; furniture.

Agriculture
Concerning agriculture and silviculture, varying climatic conditions of the area have created a favorable environment for the development of agriculture, this being the second branch, as share and importance, in the economy of the county. An important role in this economic sector holds zootechnics, but crop production has also a significant share. Both the vegetal and animal sectors undergo a period of transition characterized by reduced production from year to year, a situation that requires the adoption of measures to stimulate the recovery of agriculture. The importance of agriculture lies in the existence of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine that annually licenses more than 2,000 graduates, specialists in all fields of agriculture.

Tourism

There are several tourist destinations in Cluj County, such as, most notably, its county seat, Cluj-Napoca, the Apuseni mountains, castles, fortresses, and churches.

Rail network
At the county level, double railway lines have a share of 70%, being the highest in the Nord-Vest development region, and the degree of electrification is over 50% of existing railway lines. Regarding the transportation of goods, receiving stations at the county level occupy leading positions at a regional level: Dej, Câmpia Turzii, Turda, Aghireșu, Gherla and Cluj-Napoca. The length of railways that cross the county is 240 km, of which 129 km electrified line. Through Câmpia Turzii, Cluj-Napoca and Huedin passes CFR Line 300 Bucharest–Oradea that links with the countries of Central and Western Europe. One of the major railway junctions of the country is Dej, being connected with important centers in the northern part of the country on routes: Dej–Baia Mare–Satu Mare, Dej–Beclean–Ilva Mică, Dej–Salva–Sighetu Marmației, Dej–Beclean–Deda.

Road network
In 2010, Cluj County recorded a road network density of 0.4 km of road/km2. This level places Cluj above the national average (0.33 km of road/km2). Cluj County has a dense network of public roads, with a total length of 2,699 km, of which 502 km are national roads. Out of the total, 698 km are modernized roads, in majority portions of roads of national and international interest. Inland, connections are provided by 2,197 km of county and communal roads, of which 255 km are modernized, and 720 km are covered with light road surfaces. In December 2009 were opened the first 42 km of A3 motorway, between Turda and Cluj West, and in November 2010, another 12 km between Turda and Câmpia Turzii. Were put into use bypasses for Cluj-Napoca, Apahida and Gherla. Likewise, were also modernized several mountain and forest roads.

Cluj- Napoca has a well-developed market for taxi services. There are also several car rental companies. Alternatively, short- and long-distance carpooling platforms operate in Cluj, such as Uber, Bolt or BlaBlaCar.

Airports
Avram Iancu International Airport, is the second-largest airport in Romania, handling 1,182,047 passengers in 2014. The airport is located in Someșeni and serves Cluj-Napoca. It operates passenger flights and international cargo flights. The airport has been continuously expanded and modernized. The new terminal built in 2009, with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year, is intended for both domestic flights and foreign ones. The terminal has international standard facilities.

Education
Education takes place in 359 kindergartens, 435 general schools, 55 high schools, 9 higher education institutions with 49 faculties, in Romanian or Hungarian. There are also 26 scientific research institutes and a subsidiary of the Romanian Academy. Out of cultural institutions network can be mentioned 4 drama theaters, 2 operas, a national theater, "Transylvania" State Philharmonic, 453 libraries, 10 cinemas, 18 houses of culture, 223 community centers, 12 museums, etc.

Health
There are 16 hospitals, 234 dispensaries, a TB sanatorium, 15 polyclinics, 122 pharmacies in which work 2,637 physicians, and 5,709 medical staff.

Demography
According to the 2021 census, the county had a population of 679,141 and the population density was.

On 1 January 2015, an analysis of the National Institute of Statistics revealed that 13.7% of the county population was between 0 and 14 years, 69.8% between 15 and 64 years, and 16.4% 65 years and over. 66.3% of the population lives in urban areas, having the fourth-highest rate of urbanization in the country, after Hunedoara (75%), Brașov (72,3%), and Constanța (68,8%).

At the 2011 census, the ethnic composition was as follows:

 * Romanians – 80.09% (520,885 people)
 * Hungarians – 15.93% (103,591 people). Hold the majority of the population in Sic (93.77%), Izvoru Crișului (79.04%), Sâncraiu (78.44%), Unguraș (61.46%), Moldovenești (55.14%), Săvădisla (51.63%).
 * Romani – 3.46% (22,531 people). Large ethnic Roma communities are in Cămărașu (21.58%), Bonțida (19.81%), Recea-Cristur (18.34%), Fizeșu Gherlii (16.14%), Sânpaul (15.36%), Panticeu (13.12%), Săcuieu (13.02%), Frata (11.59%), Huedin (11.3%), Mociu (11.19%), Luna (10.44%).

Politics
The Cluj County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Cluj County has 5 municipalities, 1 town and 75 communes.

 * Municipalities:
 * Câmpia Turzii; pop. 22,223 (as of 2011)
 * Cluj-Napoca – county seat; pop. 324,576
 * Dej; pop. 33,497
 * Gherla; pop. 20,982
 * Turda; pop. 47,744
 * Towns:
 * Huedin; pop. 9,346

 * Communes:
 * Aghireșu
 * Aiton
 * Aluniș
 * Apahida
 * Așchileu
 * Baciu
 * Băişoara
 * Beliș
 * Bobâlna
 * Bonțida
 * Borșa
 * Buza
 * Căianu
 * Călărași
 * Călățele
 * Cămărașu
 * Căpușu Mare
 * Cășeiu
 * Cătina
 * Câțcău
 * Ceanu Mare
 * Chinteni
 * Chiuiești
 * Ciucea
 * Ciurila
 * Cojocna
 * Cornești
 * Cuzdrioara
 * Dăbâca
 * Feleacu
 * Fizeșu Gherlii
 * Florești
 * Frata
 * Gârbău
 * Geaca
 * Gilău
 * Iara
 * Iclod
 * Izvoru Crișului
 * Jichișu de Jos
 * Jucu
 * Luna
 * Măguri-Răcătău
 * Mănăstireni
 * Mărgău
 * Mărișel
 * Mica
 * Mihai Viteazu
 * Mintiu Gherlii
 * Mociu
 * Moldovenești
 * Negreni
 * Pălatca
 * Panticeu
 * Petreștii de Jos
 * Ploscoș
 * Poieni
 * Râșca
 * Recea-Cristur
 * Săcuieu
 * Săndulești
 * Săvădisla
 * Sâncraiu
 * Sânmartin
 * Sânpaul
 * Sic
 * Suatu
 * Tritenii de Jos
 * Tureni
 * Țaga
 * Unguraș
 * Vad
 * Valea Ierii
 * Viișoara
 * Vultureni

Historical county
Historically, Cojocna County was located in the central-northwestern part of Greater Romania, in the northwestern part of Transylvania. After reorganized and renamed to Cluj County, its territory included all of the current Cluj County, and some of the communes now in Sălaj County and Mureș County. It was bordered on the north by the counties of Sălaj, Someș, and Năsăud, on the west by Bihor County, on the south by Turda County, and to the east by Mureș County.

History
The territory of the county was transferred in 1920 from the Kingdom of Hungary, as successor state to Austria-Hungary, to Romania by the Treaty of Trianon. Thus, Cluj County was the successor to the former Hungarian administrative unit of Kolozs County (Kolozs vármegye). Until the year 1925 it was called Cojocna County (Județul Cojocna). In Hungarian, the town of Cojocna is called "Kolozs", so it was a rough equivalent of the prior Hungarian name. Cojocna County's headquarters were in Cluj, but Cluj enjoyed the status of a free city. In 1925, the autonomous status of Cluj was abolished, and the free city was merged with the county of Cojocna, which was renamed Cluj County.

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. Cluj County became part of Ținutul Crișuri.

In 1940, part of the county was transferred back to Hungary with the rest of Northern Transylvania under the Second Vienna Award. The parts of the county that remained under Romanian administration (the south of the county, including Feleacu), were united with Turda County and became Cluj-Turda County. Beginning in 1944, Romanian forces with Soviet assistance recaptured the ceded territory and reintegrated it into Romania. Romanian jurisdiction over the entire county per the Treaty of Trianon was reaffirmed in the Paris Peace Treaties, 1947. The county was disestablished by the communist government of Romania in 1950, and re-established in 1968 when Romania restored the county administrative system.

Administration
As of 1925, the county had an area of 5,079 km2 and a population of 352,029 inhabitants, consisted of 226 rural communes (equivalent to today's villages), and one urban commune (the city of Cluj), and was administratively subdivided into twelve districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Aghireșu, headquartered at Aghireșu
 * 2) Plasa Almaș, headquartered at Hida
 * 3) Plasa Borșa, headquartered at Borșa
 * 4) Plasa Călata, headquartered at Călata
 * 5) Plasa Câmpia, headquartered at Sărmașu
 * 6) Plasa Criș, headquartered at Ciucea
 * 7) Plasa Huedin, headquartered at Huedin
 * 8) Plasa Mociu, headquartered at Mociu
 * 9) Plasa Moților, headquartered at Gilău
 * 10) Plasa Nădășel, headquartered at Baciu
 * 11) Plasa Someș, headquartered at Răscruci
 * 12) Plasa Vlaha, headquartered at Vlaha

The administration and territory of the county were reorganized in 1929, introducing municipalities, towns, communes and villages. The county' capital remained at Cluj (now Cluj-Napoca). The county had nine districts comprising one city (Cluj), one town Huedin, and 232 villages divided into seven other districts:
 * 1) Plasa Aghireșu, headquartered at Aghireșu, containing 28 villages
 * 2) Plasa Borșa, headquartered at Borșa, containing 20 villages
 * 3) Plasa Călata, headquartered at Călata, containing 25 villages
 * 4) Plasa Cluj, headquartered at Apahida, containing 46 villages
 * 5) Plasa Gilău, headquartered at Gilău, containing 24 villages
 * 6) Plasa Hida, headquartered at Hida, containing 37 villages
 * 7) Plasa Huedin, headquartered at Huedin, containing 57 villages
 * 8) Plasa Mociu, headquartered at Mociu, containing 28 villages
 * 9) Plasa Sărmașu, headquartered at Sărmașu, containing 20 villages

Population
According to the census data of 1930, the county's population was 334,991, of which 60.9% were ethnic Romanians, 30.1% Hungarians, 5.1% Jews, 2.3% Romanies, 0.8% Germans, as well as other minorities. In the religious aspect, the population consisted of 42.7% Greek Catholic, 21.7% Reformed, 19.3% Eastern Orthodox, 8.6% Roman Catholic, 5.3% Jewish, 0.8% Lutheran, and other minorities. The county's population was spread out among the districts, the most populous of which were: 15.2% of the county's population was in the city of Cluj, 14.2% in Plasa Huedin, 8.8% in Plasa Hida, 8.1% in Plasa Gilău, 7.1% in Plasa Sărmașu, and 6.2% in Plasa Borșa.

Urban population
In 1930, the urban population of the county was 106,245, of which 47.6% were ethnic Hungarians, 33.9% Romanians, 13.3% Jews, 2.4% Germans, as well as other minorities. As the mother tongue in the urban population, Hungarian predominated (54.6%), followed by Romanian (33.8%), Yiddish (7.1%), German (2.6%), as well as other minority languages. From the religious point of view, the urban population was made up of 27.8% Reformed, 22.2% Greek Catholic, 19.5% Roman Catholic, 13.7% Jewish, 11.7% Eastern Orthodox, 2.3% Lutheran, 2.0% Unitarian, as well as other minorities.

title: Cluj County


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Constanța County

Constanța is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the Dobruja region. Its capital city is also named Constanța.

Demographics
In 2021, it had a population of 655,997 and the population density was 92/km2. The degree of urbanization is much higher (about 75%) than the Romanian average. In recent years the population trend is:

The majority of the population are Orthodox Romanians. There are important communities of Muslim Turks and Tatars, remnants of the time of Ottoman rule. Currently the region is the centre of the Muslim minority in Romania. A great number of Aromanians have migrated to Dobruja in the last century, and they consider themselves a cultural minority rather than an ethnic minority. There are also Romani.

Geography

 * Călărași County and Ialomița County are to the west.
 * Tulcea County and Brăila County are to the north.
 * Bulgaria (Dobrich Province and Silistra Province) are to the south.

Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Tourism
 * Chemicals and petrochemicals
 * Food and beverages
 * Textiles
 * Shipbuilding
 * Construction materials
 * Mechanical components
 * Paper

Agriculture is an important part in the county's economy, with Constanța being the county with the largest irrigation systems in the country (more than 4,300 km2 before 1989, now greatly reduced), cereals being the most important products. Also, the county is famous for its wines from the Murfatlar region.

At Cernavodă there is a nuclear power plant with two reactors, each of the CANDU type of Canadian design. The plant covers over 15% of the country's power demand.

The Port of Constanța is the largest port in Romania, the most important of the Black Sea and the 4th in Europe. It is linked with the Danube by the Danube-Black Sea Canal – the widest and deepest navigable channel in Europe, although it is not used to its full potential.

Tourism
The Romanian Riviera along the coast of the Black Sea is the preferred destination for the summer holidays in Romania. The resorts are, from North to South:
 * Năvodari
 * Mamaia
 * Eforie (North and South)
 * Costinești
 * Olimp
 * Neptun
 * Jupiter
 * Cap Aurora
 * Venus
 * Saturn
 * Mangalia
 * 2 Mai
 * Vama Veche

Also worth visiting are:
 * The city of Constanța
 * The mausoleum at Adamclisi
 * The Portița area

Politics
As of 27 September 2020, the elected President of the County Council is Mihai Lupu from PNL. In addition, in the wake of the 2020 Romanian local elections, the current Constanța County Council consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Constanța County has 3 municipalities, 9 towns and 58 communes:
 * Municipalities
 * Constanța – capital city; population: 283,872 (as of 2011)
 * Mangalia
 * Medgidia

 * Towns
 * Cernavodă
 * Eforie
 * Hârșova
 * Murfatlar
 * Năvodari
 * Negru Vodă
 * Ovidiu
 * Techirghiol

 * Communes
 * 23 August
 * Adamclisi
 * Agigea
 * Albești
 * Aliman
 * Amzacea
 * Băneasa (town between 2004 and 2019)
 * Bărăganu
 * Castelu
 * Cerchezu
 * Chirnogeni
 * Ciobanu
 * Ciocârlia
 * Cobadin
 * Cogealac
 * Comana
 * Corbu
 * Costinești
 * Crucea
 * Cumpăna
 * Cuza Vodă
 * Deleni
 * Dobromir
 * Dumbrăveni
 * Fântânele
 * Gârliciu
 * Ghindărești
 * Grădina
 * Horia
 * Independența
 * Ion Corvin
 * Istria
 * Limanu
 * Lipnița
 * Lumina
 * Mereni
 * Mihai Viteazu
 * Mihail Kogălniceanu
 * Mircea Vodă
 * Nicolae Bălcescu
 * Oltina
 * Ostrov
 * Pantelimon
 * Pecineaga
 * Peștera
 * Poarta Albă
 * Rasova
 * Saligny
 * Saraiu
 * Săcele
 * Seimeni
 * Siliștea
 * Târguşor
 * Topalu
 * Topraisar
 * Tortoman
 * Tuzla
 * Valu lui Traian
 * Vulturu

Historical county
Following the 1926 administrative reform, the borders of the historical county are identical to the ones of the current Constanța County, with the exception of the Ostrov and Lipnița communes, which were then administered by the Durostor County, the Baia commune, now part of Tulcea County, and the villages of Tereskondu, Pârâul Caprei, Fundeni, Pădureni, Saldu Alde and Enigea-Haidar, now in Bulgaria.

Geography
The county neighboured the Black Sea to the east, the counties of Tulcea and Brăila to the north, Ialomița to the west, Durostor to the south-west and Caliacra to the south.

Administration
The county originally consisted of four districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Dunărea
 * 2) Plasa Mangalia
 * 3) Plasa Ovidiu
 * 4) Plasa Traian

Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized into seven districts:
 * 1) Plasa Cernavodă, headquartered in Cernavodă
 * 2) Plasa Dunărea, headquartered in Hârșova
 * 3) Plasa Ferdinand, headquartered in Constanța
 * 4) Plasa Mangalia, headquartered in Mangalia
 * 5) Plasa Negru-Vodă, headquartered in Negru Vodă
 * 6) Plasa Traian, headquartered in Ion Corvin
 * 7) Plasa Medgidia, headquartered in Medgidia

On the territory of Constanta County there were seven urban localities: Constanţa (with city status) and the urban communes of Carmen-Sylva, Techirghiol, Mangalia, Medgidia, Cernavodă and Hârșova.

After 1938
After the 1938 Administrative and Constitutional Reform, this county merged with the counties of Ialomița, Durostor and Caliacra to form Ținutul Mării. It was re-established in 1940 after the fall of Carol II's regime. Ten years later, it was abolished by the Communist regime.

Population
According to the census data of 1930, the county's population was 253,093 inhabitants, of which 66.2% were Romanians, 8.9% Bulgarians, 6.8% Turks, 6.0% Tatars, 3.8% Germans, 1.8% Greeks, 1.5% Russians, 1.3% Armenians, as well as other minorities. In religion, the population consisted of 78.9% Eastern Orthodox, 13.1% Islam, 2.5% Lutheran, 1.8% Roman Catholics, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the urban population of the county was 81,631 inhabitants, 68.7% Romanians, 7.3% Turks, 5.2% Greeks, 3.9% Armenians, 2.5% Germans, 2.2% Jews, 2.0% Tatars, 2.0% Bulgarians, 1.7% Russians, 1.7% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. Among the urban population, mother tongues were reported to be Romanian (72.0%), Turkish (9.7%), Greek (4.5%), Armenian (3.6%), German (2.4%), as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed mostly of Eastern Orthodox (78.4%), followed by Muslim (9.6%), Armenian Apostolic (3.3%), Roman Catholic (2.7%), Jewish (2.3%), Lutheran (1.6%), as well as other minorities.

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

title: Constanța County


text:
Dâmbovița County

Dâmbovița County (also spelt Dîmbovița) is a county (județ) of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Târgoviște, the most important economic, political, administrative and cultural center of the county. It is a traditional administrative unit, first attested in 1512.

Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 518,745 and the population density was 127/km2. It is one of the most densely populated counties in Romania.

 * Romanians – 96%
 * Roma (Gypsies) and others – 4%

Name
The county is named after the Dâmbovița River, which is a name of Slavic origin, derived from Дъб, dâmb, meaning "oak", as it once flowed through the oak forests of the Wallachian Plain.

Geography
Dâmbovița county has a total area of 4,054 km2 (1.7% of the country's surface). It is situated in the south-central part of the country, on the Ialomița and Dâmbovița river basins.

The highest altitude is Omu Peak (2505 m) in the Bucegi Mountains, while the lowest is between 120–125 m, in the Titu Plain. The administrative units of the county are: 2 municipalities, 5 cities, 82 communes, all encompassing an additional 361 villages.

Neighbouring counties

 * Brașov County in the North.
 * Prahova County in the East.
 * Ilfov County in the South-East.
 * Teleorman County and Giurgiu County in the South.
 * Argeș County in the West.

Economy
One of the biggest steel factories in Romania is located In Târgoviște. Also, oil is extracted and refined in the county.

The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Metallurgical industry.
 * Oil extraction equipment.
 * Food industry.
 * Home appliances.
 * Textile industry.
 * Chemical industry.
 * Construction materials industry.

Tourism
The main tourist destinations are:
 * The city of Târgoviște – the ancient capital of Muntenia.
 * The Pucioasa Resort.
 * The Ialomița River Valley - filled with holiday resorts, camping sites, waterfalls and natural reserves.
 * The Babele and Bucegi Sphinx.

Trivia

 * Glod, a small village in this area, was used to represent Kazakhstan in the filming of the mockumentary movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
 * Its capital, Târgoviște, was the seat of Vlad the Impaler, the namesake of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Politics
The Dâmbovița County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions
Dâmbovița County 2 municipalities, 5 towns and 82 communes
 * Municipalities
 * Moreni
 * Târgoviște – county seat; population: 79,610 (as of 2011)
 * Towns
 * Fieni
 * Găești
 * Pucioasa
 * Răcari
 * Titu

 * Communes
 * Aninoasa
 * Băleni
 * Bărbulețu
 * Bezdead
 * Bilciurești
 * Braniștea
 * Brănești
 * Brezoaele
 * Buciumeni
 * Bucșani
 * Butimanu
 * Cândești
 * Ciocănești
 * Cobia
 * Cojasca
 * Comișani
 * Conțești
 * Corbii Mari
 * Cornățelu
 * Cornești
 * Costeștii din Vale
 * Crângurile
 * Crevedia
 * Dărmănești
 * Dobra
 * Doicești
 * Dragodana
 * Dragomirești
 * Finta
 * Glodeni
 * Gura Foii
 * Gura Ocniței
 * Gura Șuții
 * Hulubești
 * I. L. Caragiale
 * Iedera
 * Lucieni
 * Ludești
 * Lungulețu
 * Malu cu Flori
 * Mănești
 * Mătăsaru
 * Mogoșani
 * Moroeni
 * Morteni
 * Moțăieni
 * Niculești
 * Nucet
 * Ocnița
 * Odobești
 * Perșinari
 * Pietrari
 * Petrești
 * Pietroșița
 * Poiana
 * Potlogi
 * Produlești
 * Pucheni
 * Raciu
 * Răscăeți
 * Răzvad
 * Râu Alb
 * Runcu
 * Sălcioara
 * Slobozia Moară
 * Șelaru, Dâmbovița
 * Șotânga
 * Tărtășești
 * Tătărani
 * Uliești
 * Ulmi
 * Văcărești
 * Valea Lungă
 * Valea Mare
 * Văleni-Dâmbovița
 * Vârfuri
 * Vișina
 * Vișinești
 * Vlădeni
 * Voinești
 * Vulcana-Băi
 * Vulcana-Pandele

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the central-southern part of Greater Romania, in the northern part of the historical region of Muntenia. The county included a large part of the present county. It was bordered to the west by the counties of Muscel and Argeș, to the north by Brașov County, to the east by Prahova County, and to the south by the counties of Ilfov and Vlașca.

Administration
The county was originally divided administratively into six districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Finta, headquartered at Finta
 * 2) Plasa Găești, headquartered at Găești
 * 3) Plasa Pucioasa, headquartered at Pucioasa
 * 4) Plasa Târgoviște, headquartered at Târgoviște
 * 5) Plasa Titu, headquartered at Titu
 * 6) Plasa Voinești, headquartered at Voinești

Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized into eight districts by the abolition of Plasa Finta and the establishment of three new districts in its place:
 * 1) Plasa Bilciurești, headquartered at Bilciurești
 * 2) Plasa Bogați, headquartered at Bogați
 * 3) Plasa Ghergani, headquartered at Ghergani

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 309,676 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 96.9% Romanians, 2.1% Romanies, 0.2% Jews, 0.2% Hungarians, 0.1% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 98.9% Eastern Orthodox, 0.3% Roman Catholic, 0.3% Jewish, 0.1% Adventist, 0.1% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 33,398 inhabitants, comprising 63.2% Romanians, 2.0% Jews, 1.3% Romanies, 1.2% Hungarians, 0.5% Greeks, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 94.8% Eastern Orthodox, 2.1% Jewish, 1.5% Roman Catholic, 0.6% Greek Catholic, 0.3% Calvinist, 0.3% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.

title: Dâmbovița County


text:
Dolj County

Dolj County (originally meant Dol(no)-Jiu, "lower Jiu", as opposed to Gorj (upper Jiu)) is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova.

Demographics
In 2011, the county had a population of 660,544 and a population density of 89 PD/km².

 * Romanians – over 95.5%
 * Roma – 4.3%
 * Unknown - 0.2%

Geography
This county has a total area of 7414 km2.

The entire area is a plain with the Danube on the south forming a wide valley crossed by the Jiu River in the middle. Other small rivers flow through the county, each one forming a small valley. There are some lakes across the county and many ponds and channels in the Danube valley. 6% of the county's area is a desert.

Neighbours

 * Olt County to the east.
 * Mehedinți County to the west.
 * Gorj County and Vâlcea County to the north.
 * Bulgaria – Vidin Province to the southwest, Montana and Vratsa provinces to the south.

Economy
Agriculture is the county's main industry. The county has a land that is ideal for growing cereals, vegetables, and wines. Other industries are mainly located in the city of Craiova, the largest city in southwestern Romania.

The county's main industries:
 * Automotive industry – Ford has a factory.
 * Heavy electrical and transport equipment – Electroputere Craiova is the largest factory plant in Romania.
 * Aeronautics
 * Chemicals processing
 * Foods and beverages
 * Textiles
 * Mechanical parts and components

There are two small ports on the shore of the Danube river – Bechet and Calafat.

People

 * Corneliu Baba
 * Tudor Gheorghe
 * Mircea Mihail Ghiorghiu
 * Alexandru Macedonski
 * Titu Maiorescu
 * Amza Pellea
 * Gheorghe Popescu
 * Doina Ruști
 * Francisc Șirato
 * Marin Sorescu
 * Nicolae Titulescu
 * Ion Țuculescu
 * Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen
 * Mihai Viteazul

Tourism
Major tourist attractions:
 * The city of Craiova;
 * The city of Calafat;
 * Fishing on the Danube;
 * The city of Băilești.

Politics
The Dolj County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 36 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Dolj County 3 municipalities, 4 towns and 104 communes
 * Municipalities
 * Băilești
 * Calafat
 * Craiova – capital city; population: 243,765 (as of 2011)
 * Towns
 * Bechet
 * Dăbuleni
 * Filiași
 * Segarcea
 * Communes

 * Afumați
 * Almăj
 * Amărăștii de Jos
 * Amărăștii de Sus
 * Apele Vii
 * Argetoaia
 * Bârca
 * Bistreț
 * Botoșești-Paia
 * Brabova
 * Brădești
 * Braloștița
 * Bratovoești
 * Breasta
 * Bucovăț
 * Bulzești
 * Călărași
 * Calopăr
 * Caraula
 * Cârcea
 * Cârna
 * Carpen
 * Castranova
 * Catane
 * Celaru
 * Cerăt
 * Cernătești
 * Cetate
 * Cioroiași
 * Ciupercenii Noi
 * Coșoveni
 * Coțofenii din Dos
 * Coțofenii din Față
 * Daneți
 * Desa
 * Dioști
 * Dobrești
 * Dobrotești
 * Drăgotești
 * Drănic
 * Fărcaș
 * Galicea Mare
 * Galiciuica
 * Gângiova
 * Ghercești
 * Ghidici
 * Ghindeni
 * Gighera
 * Giubega
 * Giurgița
 * Gogoșu
 * Goicea
 * Goiești
 * Grecești
 * Întorsura
 * Ișalnița
 * Izvoare
 * Leu
 * Lipovu
 * Măceșu de Jos
 * Măceșu de Sus
 * Maglavit
 * Malu Mare
 * Mârșani
 * Melinești
 * Mischii
 * Moțăței
 * Murgași
 * Negoi
 * Orodel
 * Ostroveni
 * Perișor
 * Pielești
 * Piscu Vechi
 * Plenița
 * Pleșoi
 * Podari
 * Poiana Mare
 * Predești
 * Radovan
 * Rast
 * Robănești
 * Rojiște
 * Sadova
 * Sălcuța
 * Scăești
 * Seaca de Câmp
 * Seaca de Pădure
 * Secu
 * Siliștea Crucii
 * Șimnicu de Sus
 * Sopot
 * Tălpaș
 * Teasc
 * Terpezița
 * Teslui
 * Țuglui
 * Unirea
 * Urzicuța
 * Valea Stanciului
 * Vârtop
 * Vârvoru de Jos
 * Vela
 * Verbița

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of Greater Romania, in the southwest part of the historical region of Oltenia. Its capital was Craiova. The interwar county territory comprised the central and southwestern part of the current Dolj county. It was bordered to the north with by the counties of Gorj and Valcea, to the west by Mehedinți County, to the east by Romanați County, and to the south by the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Administration
The county was originally divided into six administrative districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Amaradia, headquartered at Melinești
 * 2) Plasa Bârca, headquartered at Bârca
 * 3) Plasa Calafat, headquartered at Calafat
 * 4) Plasa Gângiova, headquartered at Gângiova
 * 5) Plasa Ocolul, headquartered at Ocolul
 * 6) Plasa Plenița, headquartered at Plenița

Subsequently, four districts were created in place of two of the prior districts (Plasa Bârca and Plasa Gângiova):
 * 1) Plasa Bechet, headquartered at Bechet
 * 2) Plasa Brabova, headquartered at Brabova
 * 3) Plasa Filiași, headquartered at Filiași
 * 4) Plasa Segarcea, headquartered at Segarcea

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 485,149 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 96.7% Romanian, 0.5% Jews, 0.3% Germans, 0.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 98.4% Eastern Orthodox, 0.7% Roman Catholic, 0.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 91,788 inhabitants, comprising 90.2% Romanians, 2.4% Jews, 2.2% Romanies, 1.7% Germans, 1.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 92.7% Eastern Orthodox, 3.1% Roman Catholic, 2.5% Jewish, 0.7% Lutheran, 0.3% Calvinist, 0.3% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.

title: Dolj County


text:
Galați County

Galați is a county (județ) of Romania, in Moldavia region, with the capital city at Galați, between 45°25'N and 46°10'N latitude, 27°20'E and 28°10'E longitude. It borders the counties of Vaslui, Vrancea, Brăila, Tulcea. To the east it borders the Republic of Moldova, the border crossing points being Galați–Giurgiulești (road and broad gauge railway) and Oancea–Cahul (road). The county was established in 1968, through the territorial reorganization of the former Galați Region, which included a territory similar to that of the current Brăila and Galați counties, plus the northern part of Tulcea County.

Galați County is part of the South-East Development Region (together with the counties of Vrancea, Buzău, Brăila, Constanța and Tulcea), of the Lower Danube Euroregion (together with the counties of Brăila and Tulcea, with the Cahul and Cantemir districts in the south of the Republic of Moldova and with the Odesa region in the west of Ukraine) as well as the Free Economic Zone Galați–Giurgiulești–Reni (Romania-Moldova-Ukraine).

Toponymy
Codex Latinus Parisinus from 1395 mentions a "Caladda at the bend of the Danube", a Genoese port of call where it could dock. The name Galata, a neighbourhood of Constantinople and another former Genoese port of call, has the same origin. The Romanian academic world mostly adheres to this Italian origin dating back to the 14th century: caladda in Genoese means "mooring hold", and the Genoese had numerous such places on the shores of the Black Sea and on the banks of the Danube, including, in present-day Romania, Giurgiu and Licostomo, near Chilia Veche.

The discovery of the thesaurus of Barboși (southern quarter of the city of Galaţi, on the left bank of the Siret river), composed of 3,700 silver coins bearing the Greek inscriptions Gallati and  Kallatiasy, will tip the scales towards the theory supported by Vasile Pârvan and Carl Patsch, which is the basis of the name of the Roman province Galatia in Asia Minor. The name Galați is also known as Kalas in Turkish, Γκαλάτσι in Greek and גאלאץ in Hebrew.

[[File:Celtic expansion.PNG|thumb|left|Diachronic distribution of Celtic peoples:

{{Legend|#1a8000|The birthplace of the Hallstatt culture, in the 6th century BC.}} {{Legend|#97ffb6|Celtic expansion at its height}}]]

But the followers of protochronism (pseudohistorical current which became very influential in Romania under the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu) links the name Galați, even if it does not appear before the 14th century, to the Celtic root and Indo-European languages, [gall-] meaning "foreigner" (Gaul, gaulois, Gaulish, Galatia, Galicia, Galicia) " and being a derivation of Galatiens (the Greek name of the Gauls, on the grounds that this area, inhabited in antiquity by the Thracians from north (Dacians), also experienced the migration of the Celts.   If ancient historians such as Herodotus really mention the presence of Celtic tribes in the Balkans and their migration to Anatolia in the 4th century BC, to found Galatia,  Romanian protochronists, for their part, date the toponym Galaţi to the 23rd century BC, claiming that on the contrary, the proto-Celts would have migrated later from Anatolia to the Alps, where they developed Hallstatt culture in Europe. Also, they link the name Galați to the Tabula Peutingeriana from 1265 (map where, in addition to Galatia in central Anatolia, there is also Tanasia-Galatia north of the Black Sea) and state that the Celts of Galatia would be the population mentioned in the Bible in Paul the Apostle's Epistle to the Galatians. And according to them, genealogy studies with modern tools of molecular genetics would support their thesis. "However, the theory most accepted by historians is that the name Galaţi derives from old names of people, inhabitants of this area of the country. As Professor Păltănea also concludes, the onomastic value of the word Galaţi is proven by old inscriptions on which the names of people like Vasile Gălată, Petrea Galați, Marin Galați were found. In Romanian documents and chronicles, the name of the city is found in the form Gălați or Gălat, and in those from other countries it is mentioned as Gallaz, Galatz, Galazzo"

Finally, other hypotheses call for Slavic or Cuman etymologies. According to one, the inhabitants of Galicia - Ukrainians originally from the mountainous regions of the Carpathians - would have given the name to the city of Galați in the 13th century, when the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia expanded its area of commercial and political influence in Moldavia. This is the thesis favoured by Russian and Ukrainian historical circles. Also, the Serbs claim that the origin of the name is Galac. According to the other, the name derives from the Cuman galat, which appears, also from the 13th century, in other toponyms from the surroundings, for example Gălățui, a lake name whose suffix is Cuman (the suffix [-ui] means "water".

Boundaries
The county lies on a low plain, between the Prut River to the east, the Siret River to the west and southwest. Both flow into the Danube which forms the border with Tulcea County to the southeast.

Galați County is bordered by:
 * Republic of Moldova to the East – Cahul District.
 * Vrancea County to the West.
 * Vaslui County to the North.
 * Brăila County and Tulcea County to the South.

Geography
Located at the extreme east-central part of Romania, at the confluence of the Danube with the rivers Siret and Prut, Galați County has an area of 4,466.3 km2, which represents 1.9% of the country's surface. The county includes 4 urban centers (the cities of Galați and Tecuci, the towns of Târgu Bujor and Berești) and 61 communes comprising 180 villages. Confluence area between the Covurlui Plateau to the north (50% of the county's surface), the Tecuci and Covurlui plains (34%), and the lower Siret and Prut meadows to the south (16%), Galați County represents a unitary structure from the geomorphological point of view. The main watercourses are the rivers Danube, Prut, and Siret, the main lakes are Brateș 24 km2 and Tălăbasca. The maximum altitude is reached in the Fălciu Hills: 274 m.

Relief
Due to its position on the outside of the Carpathian arc, Galați County occupies the area of interpenetration of the edges of the East-European, South-European and partly Central-European geographical sub-regions, which is faithfully reflected both in the climatic conditions, in the vegetation cover and soils, as well as in the geological structure of the relief. The latter offer a view with gentle heights ranging between 310 m in the north and 5–10 m in the south. The territory of Galați County itself presents a tabular (flat) relief with a more pronounced fragmentation in the north and weaker in the south;five geomorphological units can be distinguished, according to altitude, position and relief features: Covurlui Plateau, Tecuci Plain, Covurlui Plain, Low Siret Meadow, and Low Prut Meadow. The old geological formations are of little importance from the point of view of mineral resources. Hydrocarbons (crude oil and natural gas) have been identified and are being extracted in the areas Schela-Independența, Munteni-Berheci and Brateș. Young and especially Quaternary geological formations, consisting of common clays, sands, gravels are exploited in Galați, Tecuci, Braniștea and in the minor bed of the river Prut, having particular importance for the construction materials industry.

Nature reserves and nature monuments
The main natural reserve in Galați County is located on the sands of the Tecuci Plain, namely south of the town of Liesti, around the village of Hanu Conachi, on a strip of about 4 km long and 0,5–1 km wide with an area of about 84 ha and which continues to the Siret meadow. A few distance from the city of Galați is the paleontological reserve of Barboși (Tirighina) with an area of about 1 ha, containing mollusk fossils from the old Euxine phase (about 400,000 years ago). Also, not far from Galați, namely to the north of the city, but on the Prut valley, on the territory of the commune Tulucești, in the place called Râpa Bălaia, there is the second paleontological reserve. The third paleontological reserve is located near the city of Tecuci, on the road Tecuci-Valea Mărului-Pechea-Galați, with a surface of 1,5 ha. The reservation is located on the lower terrace of the Bârlad river, at the point called La Rateș, where there was once an inn. In the eastern part of the county, on the territory of the Băneasa commune, between the villages of Băneasa and Roșcani, is the Băneasa Forest, where, in addition to the forest itself, the wild peony is also protected, on account of which legends were created and a great popular celebration that takes place every year, the "Peony Festival". Also, in the forest at Hanu Conachi, the "Acacia Festival" is held every year. These two reserves are not only scientific objectives, but also permanent attractions for tourists.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, the territory of Galați County belongs entirely to the continental climate sector. The southern and central part, which represents more than 90% of the surface, is a plain area, and the northern extremity - which accounts for almost 10% of the territory - is a hilly area. In both climatic areas, summers are very hot and dry and winters are frosty, marked by strong blizzards, but also by frequent temperature changes caused by advections of warm and moist air from the S and SW that cause intervals of warming and melting of the snow cover. Against the general climatic background, the meadows of the Siret, the Prut and the Danube introduce into the values and regime of the main meteorological elements, changes that lead to the creation of a specific meadow topoclimate, wetter and cooler in summer and wetter and less cold in winter. The general circulation of the atmosphere has as its main features the relatively high frequency of slow advections of temperate-oceanic air from the W and NW (especially in the warm semester), the equally high frequency of advections of temperate-continental air from the NE and E (especially in cold season), as well as less frequent advections of arctic air from the N and tropical maritime air from the SW and S.

Demographics
On December 1, 2021, the population of the county was 496,892 inhabitants (down from 2011 when 536,167 inhabitants were registered), which represents 2.61% of the total population of Romania (the country's fifteenth county). Of that population, 242,055 are men and 254,837 women, with 259,071 living in urban areas and 237,821 in rural areas. The population density is.

The seat of the county - Galați, the eighth largest city in Romania, with a population of 217,851 inhabitants, is the largest maritime port of the Danube on the territory of Romania, located at 80 km from the Black Sea and approximately 250 km from Bucharest and the cities of Iași, Ploiești, Constanța, Chișinău (Republic of Moldova), and Odesa (Ukraine).

Ethnic structure
According to the 2011 census, the ethnic structure of Galați County was relatively compact, with a high percentage of residents who declared themselves Romanian (90.07%), respectively 482,932 out of a total of 536,167. The second ethnic group in the number of inhabitants was that of the Roma - 16,990 (3.17%), followed by all the others (which did not exceed 1% of the total): Russian-Lipovans - 180, Greeks -&nbsp ;156, Hungarians - 133, Turks - 78, Italians - 68, Germans - 62, Jews - 57, Ukrainians - 48, Armenians - 29, Tatars - 4, Serbs - 8, Bulgarians - 7, Macedonians - 6, Poles - 3, other ethnic groups - 477. For 34,916 inhabitants (6.51%), the information was unavailable.

Citizenship
From the point of view of the citizenship of the county residents, on December 1, 2021, 496,048 were Romanian citizens (99.83%), Moldovan - 322, Italian - 123, Turkish - 37, British - 30, Ukrainians - 30, Spanish - 23, Greeks - 20, Syrians - 20, Germans - 14, French - 13, Americans -  12, Dutch - 8, Iraqis - 7, Serbian - 4, Hungarians - 3. 39 inhabitants were citizens of other European countries, and 125 of countries from other continents. 3 were stateless, and 7 did not declare their citizenship.

Administration and Politics

Galati County is administered by a county council consisting of 34 councilors. The president of the Galați County Council and the county councilors are elected locally, for a 4-year term.

Following the 2020 local elections, the council is chaired by Costel Fotea (PSD), which has been in office since June 2016.

The Galați County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 counsellors, with the following composition:

Administrative divisions
Galați County has 2 municipalities, 2 towns and 61 communes
 * Municipalities

 * Galați – capital city
 * Tecuci

 * Towns

 * Berești
 * Târgu Bujor

 * Communes

 * Bălăbănești
 * Bălășești
 * Băleni
 * Băneasa
 * Barcea
 * Berești-Meria
 * Brăhășești
 * Braniștea
 * Buciumeni
 * Cavadinești
 * Cerțești
 * Corni
 * Corod
 * Cosmești
 * Costache Negri
 * Cuca
 * Cudalbi
 * Cuza Vodă
 * Drăgănești
 * Drăgușeni
 * Fârțănești
 * Foltești
 * Frumușița
 * Fundeni
 * Ghidigeni
 * Gohor
 * Grivița
 * Independența
 * Ivești
 * Jorăști
 * Liești
 * Măstăcani
 * Matca
 * Movileni
 * Munteni
 * Nămoloasa
 * Negrilești
 * Nicorești
 * Oancea
 * Pechea
 * Piscu
 * Poiana
 * Priponești
 * Rădești
 * Rediu
 * Scânteiești
 * Schela
 * Șendreni
 * Slobozia Conachi
 * Smârdan
 * Smulți
 * Suceveni
 * Suhurlui
 * Țepu
 * Tudor Vladimirescu
 * Tulucești
 * Umbrărești
 * Valea Mărului
 * Vânători
 * Vârlezi
 * Vlădești

Medical institutions
The health units under the authority of the Galați County Council are the County Emergency Clinical Hospital Sfântul Apostol Andrei Galați, the Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases Sfânta Cuvioasa Parascheva Galați, the Pneumophthisiology Hospital Galați, the Municipal Hospital Anton Cincu Tecuci, and Târgu Bujor City Hospital.

Cultural institutions
The cultural institutions under the authority of the Galați County Council are Paul Păltănea History Museum in Galați, the Visual Art Museum in Galați, the Răsvan Angheluță Natural Sciences Museum Complex in Galați, the County Library V. A. Urechia Galați, the Cultural Center Dunărea de Jos Galați.

Educational Institutions
The educational structures under the coordination of the Galați County Council are the ones that form the school network organized in Galați County for special high school and special post-high school education, respectively the Technological High School Simion Mehedinți Galați, the Special High School Emil Gârleanu Galați, Special Professional School Paul Popescu Neveanu Galați, Special High School Constantin Pufan Galați, High School Saints Peter and Paul, and Special High School Constantin Păunescu in Tecuci.

Public institutions/services
The public institutions/services under the coordination of the County Council are the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Galați, the County Public Service for the Administration of the Public and Private Domain Galați, the County Directorate for Records of Persons Galați and the Medical-Social Unit Gănești.

History
The analysis of the succession and distribution of the archaeological evidence of material culture shows that the territory of the county was populated and entered the circuit of human use from prehistoric times. The oldest human remains in the Covurlui Plateau date from the Final Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic. Paleolithic cultures are located in Berești and Cavadinești. The Upper Paleolithic was highlighted in the north of the county, on the current territory of the villages Pleșa, Puricani, Crăiesti, Bălăbănești, Șipote, Rădești, Băneasa, Suceveni.

In the strategic archaeological succession, settlements from the old Neolithic, belonging to the Starčevo–Körös–Criș culture, which appear in the form of unfortified settlements, were also located. Traces of this culture were discovered at Negrilești and north of Tecuci, in the Bârlad River valley, at Munteni. In Berești, traces of the pre-Cucutenian and Cucutenian cultures were highlighted. The pre-Cucutenian culture is represented by bichrome and trichome painted ceramics at Stoicani, Măstăcani, Smulți, Drăgănești, Băneasa, Suceveni. The citadel of Stoicani shows, through the remains of material culture, the occupations of hunting, animal husbandry and plant cultivation practiced by the inhabitants of this territory, as well as some household crafts, such as pottery, spinning, weaving. The continuity of the population is proven by the material cultures belonging to the period of transition to the Bronze Age, represented by the "shack" type settlements from Stoicani.

The Iron Age left numerous material traces discovered and researched in more than 15 current localities, showing the penetration of some influences of the Greek civilization from Dobrogea. Thus, Greek ceramics and coins were discovered in Galați, Barboși (neighborhood of the city Galați) and Frumușita, and in Galați it seems that there was even a Greek settlement. The archaeological remains allow the reconstruction of an axis of the penetration of Greek civilization and material culture in the direction of Histria - the mouth of the Siret River - Barboși - Poiana - Trotuș - Oituz, which demonstrates the intensity of the material and spiritual activity of the natives.

The Geto-Dacian culture is represented by settlements located on the current hearths of Galați and Frumușița and by the Piroboridava settlement (Poiana). Roman life was particularly intense. The Roman military fort from Barboși and the civilian settlement on the hearth of the city of Galați today maintained trade links with Lower Moesia, with Greece and Asia Minor on the Danube and the Black Sea. In the 10th-13th centuries, forms of early feudalism, closely related to Byzantine influence, were registered on the current territory of Galați County, a fact attested by the numerous Byzantine coins discovered.

In the XV-XVI centuries, numerous settlements are attested by written historical documents, such as Blăjerii de Jos (1448), Liești (1495), Șerbănești (1430), Bucești (1548), Drăgănești (1575), and in the 17th century Umbrărești (1649), Salcea (1695) etc. On the map of Dimitrie Cantemir from Descriptio Moldaviae, the settlements Nicorești, Poiana, Piscu, Corod, Oancea, Adam, Tulucești, Foltești, Tecuci, Galați are recorded.

At the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, Slobozia-type settlements appeared, which lead to the thickening of the network of rural settlements, of which Slobozia Blăneasa, Slobozia Oancea, Slobozia Conachi, and Slobozia Corni still exist. In the second half of the 19th century, new rural settlements appeared as a result of the increase in the production of grain goods after the unification of the Romanian Principalities of 1859, the agrarian reform of 1864 and after the Rural Law of 1878. The different forms of population growth - migrations, agricultural herding, slow infiltrations and colonizations, immigrations (Lipovans, Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, Jews etc.) - contributed to changing the demographic structure of the county. Thus, the population growth was stimulated by the development of agriculture, by the liberalization of trade, by the intensification of transport, by the processes of free transfer by the state of land ownership rights to the peasants.

In the first half of the 19th century, social-political turmoil and numerous conflicts took place. They contributed to the acceleration of the process of disintegration of feudal relations and the emergence and emphasis of capitalist production relations. The popular masses of the county acted in the anti-Ottoman movement from 1821 and in the revolutionary ones from 1848. The active participation of the population of the former counties Covurlui and Tecuci in the political fight for the unification of the Romanian Principalities was determined, in large part, by the fact that two of the most important militants for unification lived and worked here: Alexandru Ioan Cuza, former pârcălab (burgrave) of Covurlui County, and Costache Negri (born in the village of Mînjina). At Mînjina, prominent personalities of the Romanian nation, such as Nicolae Bălcescu, Ion Ghica, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Vasile Alecsandri, Alecu Russo, and Grigore Alexandrescu participated in the development of unionist ideas.

Economic profile
Galati County has an industrial-agrarian economy. Industrial units and those providing services are mainly concentrated in urban areas, while in rural areas the main activities are agricultural. The statistics regarding the number of merchants operating in the urban environment of Galați county show a significant concentration of them in the county seat municipality, where over 86% of them are found. The other municipality, Tecuci, gathers only 11% of merchants, while the towns of Berești and Târgu-Bujor have significantly lower percentages - 0.4% and 1.5% respectively.

On the national economy as a whole, Galați county is the main producer of pig iron, crude steel, hot or cold-rolled sheets and strips, and the second in the production of maritime ships. The metallurgical industry in Galați (Liberty Steel Works) accounts for 55.6% of Romania's steel production, 55% of the production of rolled products and 90.4% of the production of cold-rolled sheets and strips. More than two-thirds of metallurgical production is exported. The naval industry (Damen Shipyard Galați), a branch of great tradition locally, produces river and sea vessels up to 65,000 tdw, as well as marine drilling platforms.

In the economy of Galați County, agriculture occupies an important place, due to the agricultural area in use, livestock and poultry and the technical potential in land improvement arrangements and equipment with tractors and agricultural machines. Galați County has 358311 ha of agricultural land, of which 292926 ha are arable, 43612 ha are pastures, 656 ha are hayfields, 19,397 ha are vineyards and wine nurseries and 1720 ha are orchards and fruit nurseries. The county also has 43814 ha of forests and other lands with forest vegetation, 13231 ha of lakes and ponds, as well as 3554 ha of other degraded and unproductive surfaces. In this context, agriculture is also a very important sector for the regional economy: about 40% of the employed population works in this sector, which contributes 16% to the regional GDP. Vegetable growers from the Tecuci area (especially those from Matca commune) and those from the Galați basin (Bădălan area and Vânători commune) are recognized for the quality of their products.

The county of Galați is also an important transport hub. Thanks to its location on the banks of the Danube and near the borders with Moldova and Ukraine, a multimodal transport hub for logistics transfer (ship-truck-train) is being built in Galați, which will lead to an increase in the volume of trade in goods with Eastern Europe and the importance of both the city and the county in terms of international trade.

If during the years of the communist era, Galați County had become the 4th largest industrial center of Romania, in recent years it has registered a sharp decline, which led to its inclusion, along with 5 other counties in Romania (Mureș, Prahova, Dolj, Gorj, Hunedoara) in the Just Transition Mechanism financed by the European Union, which attempts to reduce the social and economic impact of the transition of mono-industrial and coal-intensive regions to a decarbonized economy.

According to the statements of the President of the County Council, Costel Fotea (May 2022), "''the transformation of steel production is an approach that will be carried out in a context where, in recent years, technological developments and market conditions have determined a decline in the degree of employment in the metallurgical industry of the county. Thus, the number of employees decreased by more than 36% in the period 2011-2020. The territory showed a sharp downward trend, of 6.5%, in the period 2012-2020, of the global population, while the downward trend of the working-age population was in the same period of 10.5%. Between 2010 and 2020, the average net salary was, each year, below the national average by about 11%, but the downward trend is clear. Between 2016 and 2020, the difference to the national average was -14%. The territory has an energy poverty rate of 55% in winter and 40% year-round. In December 2021, 10,626 unemployed persons were registered in the territory, of which 4,681 women. The unemployment rate was 5.65% in December 2021, nearly double the national average of 2.69%''".

Statistical data
On May 1, 2023, the natural increase of the county's population was negative, respectively -695, the 6th highest in the country. From the point of view of the workforce, 121,433 employees (2.16% of the national total - 16th place) and 10,192 unemployed people (4.22% - 4th place) were registered in Galați county, and the average salary net was 3,703 lei - 15th place nationally.

Regarding the balance of international trade (FOB/CIF balance), in 2022, Galați county recorded a deficit of 377.4 million euros, after in the two previous years it had recorded a surplus of 96 and 55.5 million euro respectively.

Regarding the classification of economic activities in the county according to turnover in 2019, the first place is the activities of wholesale and retail trade, repair and maintenance of motor vehicles and motorcycles (41.79%), followed by those in the manufacturing industry (32.95%) and those from agriculture (9.71%) and construction (8.89%).

Tourism
In 2020, there were 51 tourist reception structures in the county, namely 17 hotels, 6 hostels, 5 motels, 6 tourist villas, 1 bungalow and 9 tourist guesthouses, with a total accommodation capacity of 2,196 beds. 51,673 arrivals and 84,786 overnight stays were registered, the net capacity utilization index in operation being 18.1%.

In 2022, Galați County registered 97,526 tourists and 151,886 overnight stays, an increase compared to previous years.

title: Galați County


text:
Giurgiu County

Giurgiu is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Giurgiu.

Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 265,494 and the population density was.

 * Romanians – 96%
 * Romani – 3.9%
 * Unknown – 0.1%

Geography
This county has a total area of 3526 km2.

The county is situated on a plain – the Southern part of the Wallachian Plain. The landscape is flat, crossed by small rivers. The southern part is the valley of the Danube which forms the border with Bulgaria. In the North, the Argeș River and Dâmbovița River flow.

Neighbours

 * Călărași County in the East.
 * Teleorman County in the West.
 * Ilfov County and Dâmbovița County in the North.
 * Bulgaria in the South – Ruse Province and Silistra Province.

Economy
The county has two big areas of development: one close to the city of Giurgiu – The Free Trade Zone Giurgiu, and one in the North of the county due to its proximity with Bucharest.

The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Food and beverages industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Chemical industry.
 * Wood and furniture industry.
 * Mechanical components industry.

Agriculture is the main occupation in the county. Both extensive agriculture, and small scale (for Bucharest markets), is practiced. 59% of the cultivated surface is irrigated.

Tourism
The county recently became famous for its lăutari, especially the group Taraful Haiducilor.

The main tourist destinations are:

The city of Giurgiu
Here the tourists can visit:

 * The Clock Tower, made by the Turks when the Giurgiu was a raya
 * The Historical Museum
 * The theatre "Valah"
 * The first bridge built in angel from Europe, over the Canalul Sfântul Gheorghe and Canalul Plantelor, with a specific construction over 100 years old; near this bridge is a new one from 2007
 * The Friendship Bridge over the Danube between Giurgiu and Ruse, Bulgaria
 * The churches painted by important painters like Grigorescu
 * The fluvial station on the Danube river "Port Giurgiu"
 * The street "Strada Gării" filled with markets
 * The beautiful parks from town where many statues and fountains can be found
 * Fishing along the Danube
 * The Călugăreni area
 * The monasteries from Giurgiu and Comana

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

Administrative divisions

Giurgiu County has 1 municipality, 2 towns, and 51 communes:
 * Municipalities
 * Giurgiu – capital city; population: 54,655 (as of 2011)
 * Towns
 * Bolintin-Vale
 * Mihăilești

 * Communes
 * Adunații-Copăceni
 * Băneasa
 * Bolintin-Deal
 * Bucșani
 * Bulbucata
 * Buturugeni
 * Călugăreni
 * Clejani
 * Colibași
 * Comana
 * Cosoba
 * Crevedia Mare
 * Daia
 * Florești-Stoenești
 * Frătești
 * Găiseni
 * Găujani
 * Ghimpați
 * Gogoșari
 * Gostinari
 * Gostinu
 * Grădinari
 * Greaca
 * Herăşti
 * Hotarele
 * Iepurești
 * Isvoarele
 * Izvoarele
 * Joița
 * Letca Nouă
 * Malu
 * Mârșa
 * Mihai Bravu
 * Ogrezeni
 * Oinacu
 * Prundu
 * Putineiu
 * Răsuceni
 * Roata de Jos
 * Săbăreni
 * Schitu
 * Singureni
 * Slobozia
 * Stănești
 * Stoenești
 * Toporu
 * Ulmi
 * Valea Dragului
 * Vânătorii Mici
 * Vărăști
 * Vedea

title: Giurgiu County


text:
Vrancea County

Vrancea is a county (județ) in Romania, with its seat at Focșani. It is mostly in the historical region of Moldavia but the southern part, below the Milcov River, is in Muntenia.

Demographics
At the 2021 census, the county had a population of 335,312 and a population density of.

 * Romanians – over 98%
 * Romani, others – c. 2%.

Geography
Vrancea County covers an area of 4857 km2. A curvedly shaped mountainous area, known in Romanian as the Carpații de Curbură, lies in the western part of the county, at the Southern end of the Eastern Carpathians, with heights over 1400 m. To the East, the heights decrease into hilly areas and the lower valley of the Siret River.

The main tributary of the Siret, which crosses the county, is the Putna River. A right tributary of the Putna is the Milcov, a river that divides Moldavia from Muntenia.

Seismic hazard
The territory of Vrancea County is the most seismically active zone of Romania, with yearly earthquakes whose focal depths are between 80 and 160 km and therefore affect wide regions.

The earthquakes with the epicenter in Vrancea are caused by the movements of the nearby fault blocks. Devastating earthquakes measuring 7 to 8 on the Richter scale have been recorded.

The deadliest were the 1977 Vrancea earthquake, which killed over 1,500 people in Romania and Bulgaria, and the 1940 Vrancea earthquake which killed over 1,000 people. The most powerful was the 1802 Vrancea earthquake with an estimated intensity of 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale, but which killed only 4 people. Other notable earthquakes were the 1738 Vrancea earthquake, the 1838 Vrancea earthquake and the 1986 Vrancea earthquake.

Neighbours

 * Vaslui County and Galați County to the East.
 * Covasna County to the West.
 * Bacău County to the North.
 * Buzău County to the South and Brăila County to the South-East.

Economy

The county is famous for its wines, being the biggest wine producer in Romania. Over 11% of the county surface is covered with vines. The county's best known wine regions are Panciu – 8100 ha, Odobești – 7000 ha, and Cotești.

In addition, the county's main industries are the following:
 * Foods and beverages;
 * Textiles;
 * Paper manufacturing and furniture making;
 * Mechanical parts and components;
 * Cookware and bakeware production.

Tourism

County's main destinations:
 * The city of Focșani;
 * Vrancea Mountains;
 * Soveja resort;
 * Tulnici – Lepșa – Greșu tourist areas;
 * Eternal Fire (Focul viu in Romanian) in Andreiașu;
 * Wine tasting and sales around Panciu, Odobești, and Cotești;
 * The Mausoleum at Mărășești;
 * Putna-Vrancea Natural Park.

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

Administrative divisions
Vrancea County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 68 communes
 * Municipalities
 * Adjud
 * Focșani – county seat; population: 66,719 (as of 2021)
 * Towns
 * Mărășești
 * Odobești
 * Panciu

 * Communes
 * Andreiașu de Jos
 * Bălești
 * Bârsești
 * Biliești
 * Boghești
 * Bolotești
 * Bordești
 * Broșteni
 * Câmpineanca
 * Câmpuri
 * Cârligele
 * Chiojdeni
 * Ciorăști
 * Corbița
 * Cotești
 * Dumbrăveni
 * Dumitrești
 * Fitionești
 * Garoafa
 * Golești
 * Gologanu
 * Gugești
 * Gura Caliței
 * Homocea
 * Jariștea
 * Jitia
 * Măicănești
 * Mera
 * Milcovul
 * Movilița
 * Nănești
 * Năruja
 * Negrilești
 * Nereju
 * Nistorești
 * Obrejița
 * Paltin
 * Păulești
 * Păunești
 * Ploscuțeni
 * Poiana Cristei
 * Popești
 * Pufești
 * Răcoasa
 * Răstoaca
 * Reghiu
 * Ruginești
 * Sihlea
 * Slobozia Bradului
 * Slobozia Ciorăști
 * Soveja
 * Spulber
 * Străoane
 * Suraia
 * Tâmboești
 * Tănăsoaia
 * Tătăranu
 * Tulnici
 * Țifești
 * Urechești
 * Valea Sării
 * Vânători
 * Vârteșcoiu
 * Vidra
 * Vintileasca
 * Vizantea-Livezi
 * Vrâncioaia
 * Vulturu

title: Vrancea County


text:
Vâlcea County

Vâlcea County (also spelt Vîlcea; ) is a county (județ) that lies in south-central Romania. Located in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt River), it is also part of the wider Wallachia region. Its capital city is Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 355,320 and the population density was 61.63/km2.

 * Romanians - over 98%
 * Roma, others - c. 2%

Geography
This county has a total area of 5,765 km2.

The North side of the county is occupied by the mountains from the Southern Carpathians group: the Făgăraș Mountains in the east with heights over 2200 m, and the Lotru Mountains in the west with heights over 2000 m. They are separated by the Olt River valley — the most accessible passage between Transylvania and Muntenia. Along the Olt River valley there are smaller groups of mountains, the most spectacular being the Cozia Mountains.

Towards the South, the heights decrease, passing through the sub-carpathian hills to a high plain in the West side of the Wallachian Plain.

The main river is the Olt River crossing the county from North to South. Its main affluents are the Lotru River in the North and the Olteț River in the South.

Neighbours

 * Argeș County in the East.
 * Gorj County and Hunedoara County in the West.
 * Sibiu County and Alba County in the North.
 * Dolj County and Olt County in the South.

Economy
The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Chemical industry.
 * Food and beverage industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Mechanical components industry.
 * Construction materials.
 * Wood and furniture industry.

In the West of the county coal and salt are extracted.

The area in the center of the county is well suited for fruit orchards, vineyards, and raising cattle. The South is better suited for growing cereals and vegetables.

Tourism
The main tourist destinations are:
 * The Olt River valley:
 * The Călimănești-Căciulata resorts.
 * The Cozia Monastery.
 * The Turnu Monastery.
 * The Cozia Mountains.
 * Various small churches and fortifications.
 * The Lotru River valley:
 * The town of Brezoi.
 * The Lotru Mountains.
 * The Voineasa resort.
 * The Vidra resort
 * The Obârșia Lotrului resort.
 * The city of Râmnicu Vâlcea.
 * The Băile Govora resort.
 * The Băile Olănești resort.

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

Administrative divisions

Vâlcea County has two municipalities, nine towns and 78 communes as follows:

 * Municipalities
 * Râmnicu Vâlcea - county seat town (Oraș reședință de județ); population: 93,151 (as of 2022)
 * Drăgășani

 * Towns
 * Băbeni
 * Băile Govora
 * Băile Olănești
 * Bălcești
 * Berbești
 * Brezoi
 * Călimănești
 * Horezu
 * Ocnele Mari

 * Communes
 * Alunu
 * Amărăști
 * Bărbătești
 * Berislăvești
 * Boișoara
 * Budești
 * Bujoreni
 * Bunești
 * Câineni
 * Cernișoara
 * Copăceni
 * Costești
 * Crețeni
 * Dăești
 * Dănicei
 * Diculești
 * Drăgoești
 * Fârtățești
 * Făurești
 * Frâncești
 * Galicea
 * Ghioroiu
 * Glăvile
 * Golești
 * Grădiștea
 * Gușoeni
 * Ionești
 * Lăcusteni
 * Lădești
 * Laloșu
 * Lăpușata
 * Livezi
 * Lungești
 * Măciuca
 * Mădulari
 * Malaia
 * Măldărești
 * Mateești
 * Mihăești
 * Milcoiu
 * Mitrofani
 * Muereasca
 * Nicolae Bălcescu
 * Olanu
 * Orlești
 * Oteșani
 * Păușești
 * Păușești-Măglași
 * Perișani
 * Pesceana
 * Pietrari
 * Popești
 * Prundeni
 * Racovița
 * Roești
 * Roșiile
 * Runcu
 * Sălătrucel
 * Scundu
 * Sinești
 * Șirineasa
 * Slătioara
 * Stănești
 * Ștefănești
 * Stoenești
 * Stoilești
 * Stroești
 * Șușani
 * Sutești
 * Tetoiu
 * Titești
 * Tomșani
 * Vaideeni
 * Valea Mare
 * Vlădești
 * Voicești
 * Voineasa
 * Zătreni

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southwestern part of Greater Romania, in the northeast part of the historical region of Oltenia. Its capital was Râmnicu Vâlcea. The interwar county territory comprised a large part of the current Vâlcea County; however the territories situated to the east of the Olt River in the current county were not part of the historical county.

The county was bordered to the north by Sibiu County, to the east by the counties of Argeș and Olt, to the south by Romanați County, and to the west by the counties of Dolj and Gorj.

Administration
The county was in 1930 divided into five administrative districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
 * 2) Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
 * 3) Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
 * 4) Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
 * 5) Plasa Zătreni, headquartered at Zătreni

By 1938, there were six districts, four previous and two new ones resulting from the reorganisation of the southwest part of the county:
 * 1) Plasa Cerna, headquartered at Lădești
 * 2) Plasa Cozia, headquartered at Călimănești
 * 3) Plasa Drăgășani, headquartered at Drăgășani
 * 4) Plasa Horezu, headquartered at Horezu
 * 5) Plasa Bălcești, headquartered at Bălcești
 * 6) Plasa Oltețu, headquartered at Oltețu

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 246,713 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 97.4% Romanians, 1.6% Romanies, 0.2% Germans, 0.2% Hungarians, 0.2% Jews, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.0% Eastern Orthodox, 0.4% Roman Catholic, 0.2% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 31,909 inhabitants, comprising 94.8% Romanians, 1.3% Romanies, 1.0% Germans, 0.8% Jews, 0.7% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 96.4% Eastern Orthodox, 1.4% Roman Catholic, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Lutheran, 0.3% Greek Catholic, as well as other minorities.

title: Vâlcea County


text:
Vaslui County

Vaslui County is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Western Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.

Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 395,499 and the population density was 74/km2.

 * Romanians - over 98%
 * Romas, other ethnicities - c. 2%

Geography
This county has an area of 5,318 km2.

The county lies on a plane, being bounded by the Prut River on the east and crossed in its centre by Bârlad River, a tributary of Siret River.

Neighbours

 * Republic of Moldova to the east - Cantemir raion and Cahul raion.
 * Neamț County, Bacău County and Vrancea County to the west.
 * Iași County to the north.
 * Galați County to the south.

People

 * Dimitrie Cantemir
 * Alexandru Ioan Cuza
 * Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
 * Alexandra Nechita
 * Ana Pauker
 * Ștefan Procopiu
 * Emil Racoviță
 * Constantin Tănase
 * Nicolae Tonitza
 * Alexandru Vlahuță

Economy
Vaslui County was heavily industrialised during the Communist period and had large industrial complexes that went bankrupt during the 1990s. Today, the county's industry is mainly agricultural one, with other industries concentrated in the main urban areas.

County's main industries:
 * mechanical components;
 * chemicals;
 * food stuffs;
 * textiles.

Tourism
The main tourist destinations are the cities of Vaslui, Bârlad, and Huși. The Vaslui County Council, the county councils of the Leova and Hîncești districts in Republic of Moldova, and the European Union (through the Phare program), have set up a program which seeks to promote tourism in these regions. The main tourist attractions of the Vaslui-Hîncești-Leova touristic program are, among others, the medieval and early modern churches and monasteries, the Manuc Bei Hunting Palace and the Manuc - Mirzaian Manor Palace (similar to Manuc's Inn in Bucharest) in Hîncești, as well as the region's natural riches.

Politics
The Vaslui County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 counsellors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions
Vaslui County has 3 municipalities, 2 towns and 81 communes

Municipalities

 * Bârlad
 * Huși
 * Vaslui: capital city;

Towns

 * Murgeni
 * Negrești

Communes

 * Albești
 * Alexandru Vlahuță
 * Arsura
 * Băcani
 * Băcești
 * Bălteni
 * Banca
 * Berezeni
 * Blăgești
 * Bogdana
 * Bogdănești
 * Bogdănița
 * Boțești
 * Bunești-Averești
 * Ciocani
 * Codăești
 * Coroiești
 * Costești
 * Cozmești
 * Crețești
 * Dănești
 * Deleni
 * Delești
 * Dimitrie Cantemir
 * Dodești
 * Dragomirești
 * Drânceni
 * Duda-Epureni
 * Dumești
 * Epureni
 * Fălciu
 * Ferești
 * Fruntișeni
 * Găgești
 * Gârceni
 * Gherghești
 * Grivița
 * Hoceni
 * Iana
 * Ibănești
 * Ivănești
 * Ivești
 * Laza
 * Lipovăț
 * Lunca Banului
 * Mălușteni
 * Miclești
 * Muntenii de Jos
 * Muntenii de Sus
 * Oltenești
 * Oșești
 * Pădureni
 * Perieni
 * Pochidia
 * Pogana
 * Pogonești
 * Poienești
 * Puiești
 * Pungești
 * Pușcași
 * Rafaila
 * Rebricea
 * Roșiești
 * Solești
 * Stănilești
 * Ștefan cel Mare
 * Șuletea
 * Tăcuta
 * Tanacu
 * Tătărăni
 * Todirești
 * Tutova
 * Văleni
 * Vetrișoaia
 * Viișoara
 * Vinderei
 * Voinești
 * Vulturești
 * Vutcani
 * Zăpodeni
 * Zorleni

Historical county
The county was located in the central-eastern part of Romania, in the center of the historical region of Moldavia. At present, most of its territory is included in the current Vaslui County borders, smaller parts being included in Iași County and Bacău County. It bordered on the north with the Iași County, to the west with Roman County, to the east with Fălciu County and to the south with the Tutova and Bacău Counties.

Administration
The county was originally divided administratively into four districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Crasna, headquartered at Crasna
 * 2) Plasa Racova, headquartered at Racova
 * 3) Plasa Stemnic

Subsequently, the territory of the county was reorganized, being divided into three different districts:
 * 1) Plasa Movila lui Burcel, headquartered at Codăești
 * 2) Plasa Peneș Curcanul, headquartered at Pungești
 * 3) Plasa Ștefan cel Mare, headquartered at Negrești

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 139,503 inhabitants, 93.4% Romanians, 3.6% Jews, 2.3% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 95.7% Eastern Orthodox, 3.6% Jewish, 0.2% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 15,310 inhabitants, comprising 72.5% Romanians, 21.4% Jews, 3.0% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 76.4% Eastern Orthodox, 21.4% Jewish, 1.1% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

title: Vaslui County


text:
Tulcea County

Tulcea County is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historical region Dobruja, with the capital city at Tulcea. It includes in its northeast corner the large and thinly-populated estuary of the Danube.

Demographics
In 2021, Tulcea County had a population of 193,355. The population density was 22.8/km2, the lowest among the counties of Romania, due to the inclusion within the area of the lowly-populated Danube estuarial wetlands.

 * Romanians - 79.18%
 * Lipovans - 4.14%
 * Roma - 2.05%
 * Turks - 0.51%
 * Ukrainians - 0.47%
 * Greeks - 0.14%
 * Tatars - 0.05%
 * Bulgarians - 0.02%

In the Danube Delta there is an important community of Russians and Lipovans. In the south of the county there are communities of Turks. The region once was a centre of Islam in Romania.

Geography
The county has a total area of 8484 km2.

The most significant feature of Tulcea County is the Danube Delta, which occupies about 1/3 of the entire surface and is located in the North-East side of the county. The Delta has three main branches: the Sulina branch (the only one navigable by large ships) in the middle, the Chilia branch in the North (the border with Ukraine) and the Sfântu Gheorghe branch (Saint George) in the South.

In the South-East of the county there are two lagoons: Razelm Lake and Sinoe Lake. In the Danube Delta and in the South—in the area between the Sfântu Gheorghe Channel and Razelm Lake—there are countless channels and small lakes. The entire area is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and Biosphere reserves.

The Danube River flows around the county in the West and North side. In the West, there is the Măcin Branch which flows on the East side of the Great Brăila Island. From Smârdan (on the opposite side from Brăila) to Pătlăgeanca (close to Tulcea), the Danube has only one big flow of water, around which there are an immense number of lakes and small channels.

In the center of the county, there is the Casincea Plateau and the Măcin Mountains—the remains of a prehistorical mountains range (more than 400 million years old), with the greatest height at about 400 m.

Neighbours

 * Black Sea in the East.
 * Brăila County in the West.
 * Galați County in the North-West
 * Ukraine in the North - the Odesa Oblast.
 * Constanța County in the South.

Economy
Agriculture and fishing are the main occupations, involving about 48% of the population. Industry is concentrated in the large towns only.

The predominant industries in the county are:
 * Food industry.
 * Textile industry.
 * Ship building industry.
 * Metallurgy - aluminium.
 * Chemical industry.
 * Construction materials.

Tourism
Tourism is an important activity in the county, the Danube Delta being one of the most visited areas in Romania.

The main destinations for tourists are:
 * The Danube Delta
 * The town of Sulina—the last town on the Danube.
 * The areas around Sfântu Gheorghe, Mahmudia, Crișan, Caraorman, Chilia Veche.
 * The city of Tulcea.
 * The Roman fort of Halmyris.

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

Administrative divisions

Tulcea County has 1 municipality, 4 towns and 46 communes. • Babadag
 * Municipalities
 * Tulcea - capital city; population: 73,707 (as of 2011)
 * Towns

• Isaccea

• Măcin

• Sulina • Baia
 * Communes

• Baidaud

• Beștepe

• C. A. Rosetti

• Carcaliu

• Casimcea

• Ceamurlia de Jos

• Ceatalchioi

• Cerna

• Chilia Veche

• Ciucurova

• Crișan

• Dăeni

• Dorobanțu

• Frecăței

• Greci

• Grindu

• Hamcearca

• Horia

• I. C. Brătianu (Zaclău, 23 August)

• Izvoarele

• Jijila

• Jurilovca (Unirea)

• Luncavița

• Mahmudia

• Maliuc

• Mihai Bravu

• Mihai Kogălniceanu

• Murighiol (Independența)

• Nalbant

• Niculițel

• Nufăru

• Ostrov

• Pardina (1 Mai)

• Peceneaga

• Sarichioi

• Sfântu Gheorghe

• Slava Cercheză

• Smărdan

• Somova

• Stejaru

• Topolog

• Turcoaia

• Valea Nucarilor

• Valea Teilor

• Văcăreni

Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southeastern part of Greater Romania, in the region of north Dobruja. The borders of the historic county coincide with those of the present county. It bordered on the west with Brăila County, northwest with Covurlui County, to the north with Ismail County, to the south by Constanța County, and to the east and south-east with the Black Sea.

Administration
The county was originally divided administratively into four districts (plăși):
 * 1) Plasa Babadag, headquartered at Babadag
 * 2) Plasa Gurile Dunării, headquartered at Tulcea
 * 3) Plasa Măcin, headquartered at Măcin
 * 4) Plasa Topolog, headquartered at Topolog

As in the present day there were five towns (cities): Tulcea (county headquarters), Babadag, Măcin, Isaccea and Sulina.

Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 184,038 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 62.6% Romanians, 12.2% Russians, 10.6% Bulgarians, 2.5% Turks, 1.7% Greeks, 1.3% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 85.8% Eastern Orthodox, 8.3% Old-Rite Lipovan Orthodox, 2.8% Muslim, 1.5% Roman Catholic, 0.6% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.

Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 41,632 inhabitants, comprising 64.7% Romanians, 12.8% Russians, 5.5% Turks, 4.4% Greeks, 3.3% Bulgarians, 2.5% Jews, 0.8% Germans, as well as other minorities. Mother tongues among the urban population were Romanian (69.4%), followed by Russian (15.0%), Turkish (5.5%), Greek (3.9%), Yiddish (1.5%), as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 87.5% Eastern Orthodox, 5.7% Muslim, 2.6% Jewish, 1.9% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

title: Tulcea County