Alba County () is a county ( județ) of

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

located in the historic region of

Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...

. Its capital is Alba Iulia, a city with a population of 63,536.

Name

"Alba", meaning "white" in Latin and Romanian, is derived from the name of the city of Alba Iulia. In Hungarian, the county is known as ''Fehér megye'' (fehér also meaning white), and in German as ''Kreis Karlsburg''.

Geography

This county has a total area of , with mountains occupying about 59% of its surface. The

Apuseni Mountains The Apuseni Mountains (, "Western Mountains"; , "Transylvanian Mountains") are a mountain range in Transylvania, Romania, which belongs to the Western Romanian Carpathians. The highest peak is the Bihor Peak at . The Apuseni Mountains have ab ...

are in the northwest; the northeastern side of the Parâng Mountains group – the Șureanu and Cindrel mountains – are in the south. In the east there is the Transylvanian Plateau with deep but wide valleys. The three main elements are separated by the

Mureș River Mureș may refer to: * Mureș County, Romania * Mureș (river) in Romania and Hungary (''Maros'') * Mureș culture, a Bronze Age culture from Romania See also * Târgu Mureș, the capital of Mureș County * Ocna Mureș, a town in Alba Cou ...

valley. The main rivers are the

and its tributaries, the Târnava, the Sebeș, and the Arieș.

Neighbors

* Sibiu County and

Mureș County Mureș County (, , ) is a county (''județ'') of Romania, in the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Transylvania, with the administrative centre in Târgu Mureș. The county was established in 1968, after the administrative reor ...

to the east. *

Bihor County Bihor County (, ) is a county (județ) in western Romania. With a total area of , Bihor is Romania's 6th largest county geographically and the main county in the historical region of Crișana. Its capital city is Oradea (Nagyvárad). Toponymy ...

and

Arad County Arad County () is an administrative division ( județ) of Romania roughly translated into county in the western part of the country on the border with Hungary, mostly in the region of Crișana and few villages in Banat. The administrative cente ...

to the west. *

Cluj County Cluj County () is a county () of Romania, in Transylvania. Its seat is Cluj-Napoca. Name In Hungarian language, Hungarian it is known as ''Kolozs megye''. Under the Kingdom of Hungary, a county with an identical name (Kolozs County, ) existed s ...

to the north. *

Hunedoara County Hunedoara County () is a county (''județ'') of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Deva, Romania, Deva. The county is part of the Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion. Name In Hungarian language, Hungarian, it is known as , ...

to the southwest. *

Vâlcea County Vâlcea County (also spelt ''Vîlcea''; ) is a county (județ) that lies in south-central Romania. Located in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (which are separated by the Olt (river), Olt River), it i ...

to the south.

Economy

The predominant industries in the county are: * Food industry * Textile industry * Wood industry * Mechanical components * Paper and packaging materials industry * Chemical industry The mineral resources exploited in Alba county are metals (gold, silver, copper), salt, and construction materials, including marble and granite.

Tourist attractions

The main tourist attractions in the county are: * The city of Alba Iulia * The

** Scărișoara

karst Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and Dolomite (rock), dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. Ther ...

complex ** Maidens' Fair on the ** The ''Dealul cu melci'' ("Snail Hill") west of Vidra ** Barren Detunata and Shaggy Detunata ( Detunatele) * The Câlnic Citadel and the castle of Gârbova * The towns and churches of Sebeș and Aiud * The Ocna Mureș resort * The Țara Moților ethnographical area. Situated in the Apuseni Mountains, Țara Moților is a region with strong and distinct Romanian traditions. * Roșia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape - Mining began 2000 years ago on Mt. Kirnik (Cârnic), with well-preserved Roman galleries. A Canadian company attempted an open-pit mine, but abandoned the project around 2007. Roșia Montană is a famous locality among mineral collectors for fine native gold specimens. * The Via Transilvanica hiking and biking trail

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, the county had a population of 325,941 and the

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was .

Politics

The Alba County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 32 county councillors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Alba County has 4 municipalities, 7 towns, and 67 communes. * Municipalities: ** Aiud ** Alba Iulia – county seat; pop. 58,761 (as of 2011) ** Blaj ** Sebeș * Towns: ** Abrud ** Baia de Arieș ** Câmpeni ** Cugir ** Ocna Mureș ** Teiuș ** Zlatna * Communes: ** Albac ** Almașu Mare ** Arieșeni ** Avram Iancu ** Berghin ** Bistra ** Blandiana ** Bucerdea Grânoasă ** Bucium ** Câlnic ** Cenade ** Cergău ** Ceru-Băcăinți ** Cetatea de Baltă ** Ciugud ** Ciuruleasa ** Crăciunelu de Jos ** Cricău ** Cut ** Daia Româna ** Doștat ** Fărău ** Galda de Jos ** Gârbova ** Gârda de Sus ** Hopârta ** Horea ** Ighiu ** Întregalde ** Jidvei ** Livezile ** Lopadea Nouă ** Lunca Mureşului ** Lupșa ** Meteș ** Mihalț ** Mirăslău ** Mogoș ** Noșlac ** Ocoliș ** Ohaba ** Pianu ** Poiana Vadului **

Ponor A ponor is a natural opening where surface water enters into underground passages; they may be found in Karst topography, karst landscapes where the geology and the geomorphology is typically dominated by porous limestone rock. Ponors can drain s ...

** Poșaga ** Rădești ** Râmeț ** Rimetea ** Roșia de Secaș ** Roșia Montană ** Sălciua ** Săliștea ** Sâncel ** Sântimbru ** Săsciori ** Scărișoara ** Șibot ** Sohodol ** Șona **

Șpring Șpring (; ) is a Commune in Romania, commune located in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Carpen (''Árvádtanya''), Carpenii de Sus (''Gyertyános''), Cunța (''Konca''; ''Zeckesdorf''), Drașov (''Drassó''; ' ...

** Stremț ** Șugag ** Unirea ** Vadu Moților ** Valea Lungă ** Vidra ** Vințu de Jos

Historical county

Historically, Alba de Jos County was located in the central-western part of Greater Romania, in the southwestern part of

, with a territory identical with the old Alsó-Fehér County of Hungary. After the administrative unification law in 1925, the name of the county changed to Alba County and the territory was reorganized. It was bordered on the west by

, to the north by Turda County, and to the east by the counties of Sibiu and Târnava-Mică. Its territory included the central part of the current Alba County.

Administration

The county originally consisted of seven districts ('' plăși''):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Alba
/ref> # Plasa Abrud (headquarters at Abrud) # Plasa Aiud (headquarters at Aiud) # Plasa Ighiu (headquarters at Ighiu) # Plasa Ocna Mureș (headquarters at Ocna Mureș) # Plasa Sebeș (headquarters at Sebeș) # Plasa Teiuș (headquarters at Teiuș) # Plasa Vințu de Jos (headquarters at Vințu de Jos) Subsequently, Plasa Ighiu was abolished and two other districts were established, leaving these: # Plasa Abrud (seven villages, headquarters at Abrud) # Plasa Aiud (thirty-three villages, headquarters at Aiud) # Plasa Alba Iulia (eighteen villages, headquarters at Alba Iulia) # Plasa Ocna Mureș (twenty-one villages, headquarters at Ocna Mureș) # Plasa Sebeș (twenty-one villages, headquarters at Sebeș) # Plasa Teiuș (twenty villages, headquarters at Teiuș) # Plasa Vințu de Jos (thirteen villages, headquarters at Vințu de Jos) # Plasa Zlatna (eighteen villages, headquarters at Zlatna) There were four towns: Alba Iulia, Abrud, Aiud, and Sebeș.

Population

According to the census data of 1930, the county's population was 212,749, of which 81.5% were Romanians, 11.3% Hungarians, 3.6% Germans, 1.8% Romanies, 1.4% Jews, as well as other minorities. In the religious aspect, the population consisted of 50.1% Eastern Orthodox, 31.6% Greek Catholics, 7.5% Reformed (Calvinists), 3.4% Roman Catholics, 3.3% Evangelical (Lutherans), 1.2% Unitarians, and other minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pp. 522-524

Urban population

In 1930, the urban population of the county was 33,365, of which 58.8% were Romanians, 23.0% Hungarians, 8.2% Germans, 6.2% Jews, 1.6% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was made up of 38.3% Eastern Orthodox, 21.4% Greek Catholic, 14.7% Reformed (Calvinist), 7.2% Evangelical (Lutheran), 6.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.

After 1938

After the 1938 Administrative and Constitutional Reform, this county merged with the counties of Ciuc, Odorhei, Sibiu, Târnava Mare, and Târnava Mică to form Ținutul Mureș. The county was re-established in 1940, but dissolved again in 1950. It was re-established in 1968 in its current borders.

People

Notable natives include: * Ion Agârbiceanu * Lucian Blaga * Avram Iancu * Sofronie of Cioara * Ioan Suciu

References

External links

*
Alba County on memoria.ro
{{coord, 46.1333, N, 23.5333, E, source:kolossus-svwiki, display=title Counties of Romania Geography of Transylvania 1925 establishments in Romania 1938 disestablishments in Romania States and territories disestablished in 1938 States and territories established in 1925 1940 establishments in Romania 1950 disestablishments in Romania 1968 establishments in Romania States and territories established in 1940 States and territories disestablished in 1950 States and territories established in 1968