Suceava (county)

Suceava County () is a county ('' ro, județ'') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper.

The county seat is the historical town of Suceava (german: Suczawa, also Sotschen or Sutschawa; historically known in Old High German as ''Sedschopff'' as well) which was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia during the late Middle Ages and then a pivotal, predominantly German-speaking commercial town of the Habsburg/Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary at the border with the Kingdom of Romania throughout the late Modern Age up until 1918.

Suceava County, as part of the historical and geographical region of Bukovina, had been sometimes described as " Switzerland of the East". It has also been known as "Switzerland of Eastern Europe" in the minds of the educated public.

Demographics

In 2011, Suceava County had a population of 634,810, with a population density of 74/km2. The proportion of each ethnic group is displayed below as follows:

* Romanians - 96.14%
* Romani - 1.92%
* Ukrainians (including Hutsuls and Rusyns) - 0.92%
* Lipovans - 0.27%
* Germans of Romania, Germans (Bukovina Germans, Zipser Germans, and Regat Germans) - 0.11%
* West Slavs (i.e. Poles in Romania, Poles, Slovaks of Romania, Slovaks, and Czechs of Romania, Czechs) as well as Minorities of Romania, other ethnic groups - 0.5%

Geography

Two thirds of the county lies within the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina, while the rest of it incorporates territories from Western Moldavia proper.

In terms of total area, it covers a surface of , making it thus the second in Romania in this particular regard, just after Timiș County in Banat.

The western side of the county consists of mountains from the Eastern Carpathians group: the Rodna Mountains, the Rarău Mountains, the Giumalău Mountains, and the Bukovinian Subcarpathians, Ridges of Bukovina, the latter with lower heights.

The county's elevation decreases towards the east, with the lowest height in the Siret (river), Siret River valley. The rivers crossing the county are the Siret (river), Siret River with its tributaries: the Moldova River, Moldova, Suceava River, Suceava, and Bistrița (Siret), Bistrița rivers.

Neighbours

The county of Suceava is bordered by the following other territorial units:

* Ukraine to the north - Chernivtsi Oblast.
* Mureș County, Harghita County, and Neamț County to the south.
* Botoșani County and Iași County to the east.
* Maramureș County and Bistrița-Năsăud County to the west.

Historical county

In the Kingdom of Romania, between the early 20th century up to the end of the 1940s, the county had a smaller size and population. The contemporary Suceava county is the result of the merger of other smaller former Romanian counties from the historical province of Bukovina that were functional mostly throughout the interwar period (e.g. Rădăuți County or Câmpulung County).

The present-day Suceava County also incorporates part of Baia County. As per the administrative reform of 1938 under Carol II of Romania, King Carol II, the whole counties which divided Bukovina in the Kingdom of Romania were united into a bigger land called Ținutul Suceava. Later, during World War II, Suceava County was part of the Bukovina Governorate of Romania.

As for the historical interwar Suceava County, this administrative unit was located in the northern part of Greater Romania and the southern part of the historical region of Bukovina respectively. Its territory is situated entirely within the borders of the current Suceava County, constituting thus the central-eastern part of the contemporary namesake county. During the interwar period, it was the smallest county of Greater Romania by area, covering .

During Socialist Republic of Romania, communism, Suceava County was at some point dissolved (as were all other counties in Romania as per the law no. 5 from 6 September 1950), then changed into the Suceava Region and then re-organized once again as county starting from 1968.

It is bordered on the east by the counties of Dorohoi County, Dorohoi and Botoșani County, Botoșani, to the north by Rădăuți County, to the west by Câmpulung County, and to the south by Baia County.

Administrative organization

As of 1930, the county was administratively subdivided into three districts (''plasă, plăși''):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Suceava
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#Plasa Arbore, headquartered at Arbore, Suceava, Arbore
#Plasa Dragomirna, headquartered at Dragomirna, Suceava, Dragomirna
#Plasa Ilișești, headquartered at Ilișești, Suceava, Ilișești

In 1938, the county was administratively reorganized into the following districts:
#Plasa Arbore, headquartered at Solca (containing 15 villages)
#Plasa Bosanci, Suceava, Bosancea, headquartered at Bosanci, Suceava, Bosancea (including 36 villages)
#Plasa Ilișești, headquartered at Ilișești, Suceava, Ilișești (including 17 villages)

Population

According to the Demographic history of Romania#29 December 1930 census, 1930 census data, the county population was 121,327, ethnically divided among Romanians (79.5%), Germans of Romania, Germans (primarily Bukovina Germans but also Zipser Germans, Zipsers) (8.2%), History of Jews in Romania, Jews (5.5%), Poles in Romania, Poles (2.7%), Ukrainians (1.7%), as well as Minorities of Romania, other ethnic minorities.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 434-437

By language the county was divided among Romanian language, Romanian (76.5%), German (9.4%), Ukrainian language, Ukrainian (5.5%), Yiddish (4.3%), Polish language, Polish (2.5%), as well as other languages. From the religious point of view, the population consisted of Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox (80.1%), Catholic Church, Roman Catholic (8.4%), Judaism, Jewish (5.5%), Lutheranism, Evangelical Lutheran (3.3%), Romanian Greek Catholic Church, Greek Catholic (1.4%), as well as other minor religions.Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 738-739

Urban population

The county's urban population consisted of 19,850 inhabitants (17,028 in Suceava and 2,822 in Solca), ethnically divided among Romanians (61.5%), History of Jews in Romania, Jews (18.7%), Germans of Romania, Germans (13.9%), Poles in Romania, Poles (2.6%), as well as Minorities of Romania, other ethnic minorities.

As a mother tongue in the urban population, Romanian (60.4%) predominated, followed by German (18.7%), Yiddish (13.8%), Ukrainian language, Ukrainian (3.2%), Polish language, Polish (2.2%), as well as other minor spoken languages. From the religious point of view, the urban population consisted of 60.6% Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, 18.8% Judaism, Jewish, 15.3% Catholic Church, Roman Catholic, 2.0% Romanian Greek Catholic Church, Greek Catholic, 1.7% Lutheranism, Evangelical Lutheran, 0.7% Baptists, Baptist as well as other confessional minorities.

Economy

The predominant industries/economic sectors in the county are as follows:

* Lumber - producing the greatest land mass of forests in Romania;
* Food and Cooking;
* Mechanical components;
* Construction materials;
* Mining;
* Textile and leather.

Suceava occupies the first place among the Romanian cities with the most commercial spaces per inhabitant.
Notable supermarket chains correlated with the aforementioned economic areas: Metro Cash and Carry, Metro, Carrefour, Auchan, Selgros, Kaufland, and Lidl (some of the List of supermarket chains in Romania, biggest supermarket chains in Romania).

In June 2022, it was reported that there are projects worth 1 billion EUR for the Suceava County from the PNRR/Next Generation EU plan by County Council president Gheorghe Flutur, former acting (law), acting/ad interim president of the National Liberal Party (Romania), National Liberal Party (PNL).

Tourism

In 2017, Suceava ranked 3rd in Romania regarding total tourist accommodation capacity, after Brașov County, Brașov and Constanța County, Constanța counties. Furthermore, one year later in 2018, Suceava County was designated "European destination of excellence" by the European Commission (EC).

The main touristic attractions of the county are:

* The town of Suceava with its medieval fortifications;
* The Painted churches of northern Moldavia and their monasteries:
** The Voroneț Monastery;
** The Putna Monastery;
** The Moldovița Monastery;
** The Sucevița Monastery;
** The Bogdana Monastery from Rădăuți;
** The Humor Monastery;
** The Arbore Monastery;
** The Dolhasca, Probota Monastery;
** The Dragomirna Monastery;
* The medieval salt mine of Cacica ( pl, Kaczyka);
* Mocăniță narrow-gauge railway, narrow-gauge steam locomotive, steam train network, built during Austria-Hungary, Austrian times, in the Moldovița commune and other rural parts of the county;
* The Vatra Dornei resort;
* The cities and towns of Rădăuți, Fălticeni, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Gura Humorului, and Siret.

Politics and local administration

1992–1996

The elected President of the County Council was Constantin Sofroni (FSN). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 1992 Romanian local elections, 1992 local elections, consisted of 45 councillors, with the following party composition:

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1996–2000

The elected President of the County Council was Gavril Mârza (PDSR). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 1996 Romanian local elections, 1996 local elections, consisted of 45 councillors, with the following party composition:

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2000–2004

The elected President of the County Council was Gavril Mârza (PDSR). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 2000 Romanian local elections, 2000 local elections, consisted of 45 councillors, with the following party composition:

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2004–2008

The elected President of the County Council was Gavril Mârza (PSD). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 2004 Romanian local elections, 2004 local elections, consisted of 37 councillors, with the following party composition:

2008–2012

The elected President of the County Council was Gheorghe Flutur (PDL). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 2008 Romanian local elections, 2008 local elections, consisted of 36 councillors, with the following party composition:

2012–2016

The elected President of the County Council was Cătălin Nechifor (PSD/USL). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 2012 Romanian local elections, 2012 local elections, consisted of 36 councillors, with the following party composition:

2016–2020

The elected President of the County Council was Gheorghe Flutur (PNL). The Suceava County Council, elected at the 2016 Romanian local elections, 2016 local elections, consisted of 37 councillors, with the following party composition:

2020–2024

The elected President of the County Council is Gheorghe Flutur (PNL). The Suceava County Council, renewed at the 2020 Romanian local elections, 2020 local elections, consists of 36 county councillors, with the following party composition:

Administrative divisions

Suceava County has 5 municipalities, 11 towns, and 98 communes.

* Municipalities
** Câmpulung Moldovenesc
** Fălticeni
** Rădăuți
** Suceava - county seat ( ro, Oraș reședință de județ); population within town limits: 124,161 (as of 2018)
** Vatra Dornei

* Towns
** Broșteni, Suceava, Broșteni
** Cajvana
** Dolhasca
** Frasin
** Gura Humorului
** Liteni
** Milișăuți
** Salcea
** Siret
** Solca
** Vicovu de Sus

* Communes
** Adâncata, Suceava, Adâncata
** Arbore
** Baia
** Bălăceana
** Bălcăuți, Suceava, Bălcăuți
** Berchișești
** Bilca
** Bogdănești, Suceava, Bogdănești
** Boroaia
** Bosanci, Suceava, Bosanci
** Botoșana
** Breaza, Suceava, Breaza
** Brodina
** Bunești, Suceava, Bunești
** Burla, Suceava, Burla
** Cacica
** Calafindești
** Capu Câmpului
** Cârlibaba
** Ciocănești, Suceava, Ciocănești
** Ciprian Porumbescu, Suceava, Ciprian Porumbescu
** Comănești, Suceava, Comănești
** Cornu Luncii
** Coșna
** Crucea, Suceava, Crucea
** Dărmănești, Suceava, Dărmănești
** Dolhești, Suceava, Dolhești
** Dorna-Arini
** Dorna Candrenilor
** Dornești
** Drăgoiești
** Drăgușeni, Suceava, Drăgușeni
** Dumbrăveni, Suceava, Dumbrăveni
** Fântâna Mare
** Fântânele, Suceava, Fântânele
** Forăști
** Frătăuții Noi
** Frătăuții Vechi
** Frumosu
** Fundu Moldovei
** Gălănești
** Grămești
** Grănicești
** Hănțești
** Hârtop, Suceava, Hârtop
** Horodnic de Jos
** Horodnic de Sus
** Horodniceni
** Iacobeni, Suceava, Iacobeni
** Iaslovăț
** Ilișești
** Ipotești, Suceava, Ipotești
** Izvoarele Sucevei
** Mălini
** Mănăstirea Humorului
** Marginea
** Mitocu Dragomirnei
** Moara, Suceava, Moara
** Moldova-Sulița
** Moldovița, Suceava, Moldovița
** Mușenița
** Ostra, Suceava, Ostra
** Păltinoasa
** Panaci
** Pârteștii de Jos
** Pătrăuți
** Poiana Stampei
** Poieni-Solca
** Pojorâta
** Preutești
** Putna, Suceava, Putna
** Rădășeni
** Râșca, Suceava, Râșca
** Sadova, Suceava, Sadova
** Șaru Dornei
** Satu Mare, Suceava, Satu Mare
** Șcheia, Suceava, Șcheia
** Șerbăuți
** Siminicea
** Slatina, Suceava, Slatina
** Straja, Suceava, Straja
** Stroiești, Suceava, Stroiești
** Stulpicani
** Sucevița
** Todirești, Suceava, Todirești
** Udești
** Ulma, Suceava, Ulma
** Vadu Moldovei
** Valea Moldovei
** Vama, Suceava, Vama
** Vatra Moldoviței
** Verești
** Vicovu de Jos
** Voitinel
** Volovăț
** Vulturești, Suceava, Vulturești
** Zamostea
** Zvoriștea

* Villages
** Dolhasca, Probota
** Cacica, Solonețu Nou

2010 floods

During June 2010, Gheorghe Flutur, at that time (as now) the president of Suceava County Council, stated in a Mediafax interview that his county was one of the worst hit in the country. In the morning of June 29, relief work was coordinated to deal with the flooding that killed 21 people and caused hundreds to be evacuated from their homes.

Gallery

File:Piatra Fântânele 1.jpg, Tihuța Pass – connecting Bukovina to neighbouring westward Transylvania
File:Prislop pass08.jpg, Prislop Pass
File:Bukovina.JPG, Ciumârna (Palma) Pass
File:Pietrosu Bistriței - panoramio.jpg, Pietrosul Bistriței peak, Bistrița Mountains (1791 m)
File:Conacul Andreica - panoramio.jpg, Traditional Romanian inn by a countryside road
File:Bucovina1.cristibur.jpg, Hills covered in fog in the countryside
File:Forest in Bukovina's Hearth (Ciocanesti, Romania).jpg, Part of the forested Carpathian Mountains near Ciocănești
File:Aprilie - panoramio (1).jpg, Crucea Commune
File:Biserica Alba din Baia9.jpg, Romanian Orthodoxy, Orthodox white church in Baia (german: Baja, Stadt Molde, or Moldenmarkt)
File:Catedrala Catolică din Baia3.jpg, 15th century Roman Catholic church, Roman Catholic cathedral ruins built by the Transylvanian Saxons in Baia (german: Baja, Stadt Molde, or Moldenmarkt)
File:Rumunia, Kaczyka, kościół rzymskokatolicki DSCF7626.jpg, Cacica ( pl, Kaczyka)
File:SolonetuNou.jpg, Solonețu Nou ( pl, Nowy Sołoniec) village
File:Biserica Preasfanta Inima a lui Isus din Poiana Micului.jpg, Poiana Micului ( pl, Pojana Mikuli)
File:RO SV Iacobeni (46).JPG, The town hall of Iacobeni, Suceava, Iacobeni (german: Jakobeny)
File:Biserica romano-catolica din Prisaca Dornei1.jpg, Vama, Suceava, Prisaca Dornei (german: Eisenau)
File:RO SV Valea Putnei (4).JPG, Pojorâta, Valea Putnei (german: Waleputna)
File:Straja.JPG, Straja, Suceava, Straja (german: Strasza)
File:Romania Putna Biserica Coborârea Duhului Sfânt din Putna.jpg, Roman Catholic church in Gura Putnei (german: Karlsberg)
File:Adam si Eva - panoramio.jpg, Mountainous landscape near Câmpulung Moldovenesc
File:Mocanita Hutulca - Moldovita - panoramio.jpg, Mocăniță narrow-gauge railway steam train
File:Dumbraveni - Suceva (557456324).jpg, Dumbrăveni, Suceava, Dumrăveni
File:Defense walls.jpg, Mitocu Dragomirnei (german: Mitoka Dragomirna)
File:Humor monastery5.jpg, Mănăstirea Humorului (german: Humora Kloster)
File:Manastirea putna1.jpg, Putna Monastery
File:Weidelandschaft bei Moldovita.JPG, Moldovița (german: Russ Moldawitza)
File:Karpatenlandschaft bei Slatioara.JPG, Stulpicani, Slătioara Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, secular forest, UNESCO World Heritage Site
File:RO SV Panaci meadow.jpg, Meadows in Panaci
File:Biserica romano-catolica din Falticeni14.jpg, Downtown Fălticeni (german: Foltischeni)
File:Gara Veresti1.jpg, Verești
File:Conacul Sturdza din Salcea.jpg, Sturdza manor in Salcea

Natives and residents

* Anca Parghel - Romanian-Romani musician and jazz singer
* Matei Vișniec - Romanian-French playwright
* Nichita Danilov - Lipovan poet
* Iulian Vesper - Romanian poet and writer
* Nicolae Labiș - Romanian poet
* Grigore Vasiliu Birlic - Romanian actor
* Ion G. Sbiera - Romanian folklorist
* Ion Costist - Romanian 16th century Roman Catholic monk
* Liviu Giosan - Romanian Americans, Romanian-American marine geologist
* Elisabeta Lipă - Romanian Olympic rower
* Dorin Goian - Romanian football player
* Constantin Schumacher - Romanian-German footballer
* Józef Weber - German Roman Catholic archbishop
* Elisabeth Axmann - German writer
* Otto Babiasch - German Olympic boxer
* Lothar Rădăceanu, Lothar Würzel - German linguist, journalist, and politician
* :de:George Ostafi, George Ostafi - German abstract painter
* :de:Hugo Weczerka, Hugo Weczerka - German historian and academician
* :ro:Anton Keschmann, Anton Keschmann - German politician in the Imperial Council (Austria), Imperial Austrian Parliament
* Olha Kobylianska - Ukrainian-German writer
* :de:Ludwig Adolf Staufe-Simiginowicz, Ludwig Adolf Staufe-Simiginowicz - Ukrainian-German writer and educator
* :ro:George Löwendal, George Löwendal - Russian-Danish painter

Notes

References

External links

{{Authority control

Suceava County,
Bukovina
Counties of Romania
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