Dolj

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 .

* Romanians – over 96%
* Romani – 3%
* Other minorities – 1%

Geography

This county has a total area of .

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
*
* 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''):Portretul României Interbelice – Județul Dolj
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#Plasa Amaradia, headquartered at Melinești
#Plasa Bârca, headquartered at Bârca
#Plasa Calafat, headquartered at Calafat
#Plasa Gângiova, headquartered at Gângiova
#Plasa Ocolul, headquartered at Ocolul
#Plasa Plenița, headquartered at Plenița

Subsequently, four districts were created in place of two of the prior districts (Plasa Bârca and Plasa Gângiova):
#Plasa Bechet, headquartered at Bechet
#Plasa Brabova, headquartered at Brabova
#Plasa Filiași, headquartered at Filiași
#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.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 166 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.

References

External links

{{Authority control

Counties of Romania
Place names of Slavic origin in Romania
1879 establishments in Romania
1938 disestablishments in Romania
1940 establishments in Romania
1950 disestablishments in Romania
1968 establishments in Romania
States and territories established in 1879
States and territories disestablished in 1938
States and territories established in 1940
States and territories disestablished in 1950
States and territories established in 1968