Bacău County () is a county (
judeÈ›) 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 ...
, in
Western Moldavia
Western Moldavia (, ''Moldova de Apus'', or , also known as Moldavia, is the core historic and geographical part of the former Principality of Moldavia situated in eastern and north-eastern Romania. Until its union with Wallachia in 1878, the P ...
, with its capital city at
Bacău
Bacău ( ; , ; ; ) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. With a population of 136,087 (as of 2021 census), Bacău is the 14th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the ...
. It has one commune,
Ghimeș-Făget, in
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 ...
.
Geography
This county has a total area of .
In the western part of the county there are mountains from the
Eastern Carpathian group. Here, along the valleys of the
Oituz River and
TrotuÈ™ River, there are two important links between
Moldavia
Moldavia (, or ; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ) is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially in ...
and
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 ...
. On the East side, the heights decrease and the lowest point can be found on the
Siret River valley which crosses the county from North to South down the middle. On the East side there is the
Moldavian Plateau
The Moldavian Plateau () is a geographic area of the historical region of Moldavia, spanning nowadays the east and northeast of Romania, most of Moldova (except the south), and most of the Chernivtsi Oblast of Ukraine (where it is known as the ''P ...
crossed by many small rivers.
Flora and fauna
Bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, and squirrels inhabit Bacău County's mountains, particularly in its rural
Slănic-Moldova region; the remnants of the local deer are preserved in
Mănăstirea Cașin.
Neighbours
*
Vaslui County
Vaslui County () is a county (judeÈ›) 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%
* Romani ...
in the East.
*
Harghita County
Harghita County (, and , ) is a county () in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea Ciuc.
Demographics 2002 census
In 2002, Harghita County had a population of 326,222 and a population density of ...
and
Covasna County
Covasna County (, , ) is a county (județ) of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Sfântu Gheorghe.
Demographics
In 2011, it had a population of 210,177, making it the second least populous of Romania's 41 counties and the ...
in the West.
*
NeamÈ› County
NeamÈ› County () is a county ( judeÈ›) of Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia, with the county seat at Piatra NeamÈ›. The county takes its name from the NeamÈ› River. Demographics
Population
In 2011, it had a population of 470,766 ...
in the North.
*
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 (Siret), Milcov River, is in Muntenia.
Demographics
At the 2021 Romanian census, 2 ...
in the South.
Economy
The county of Bacău was one of the most industrialized regions in the
communist period and it remained Moldavia's most important industrial center ever since. There are two large
oil refineries
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, liquefied pet ...
at
Onești and
Dărmănești. Following the
collapse of the communist regime, Bacău continued to be the region's most important GDP supplier, but the county became more famous for the controversial figures involved in the local economy than for its performance.
The predominant industries in the county are:
* The
chemical
A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...
and
oil industry
The petroleum industry, also known as the oil industry, includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transportation (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and marketing of petroleum products. The largest volume products ...
.
*
Food industry
The food industry is a complex, global network of diverse businesses that supplies most of the food consumed by the world's population. The food industry today has become highly diversified, with manufacturing ranging from small, traditional, ...
.
* Construction materials industry.
* Wood and paper industry.
* Textile industry.
* Mechanical components industry.
* Aeronautics industry.
In Bacău County there are important reserves of
oil and salt. Also coal is exploited.
Tourism
The main tourist destinations in the county are:
* The cities of
Bacău
Bacău ( ; , ; ; ) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. With a population of 136,087 (as of 2021 census), Bacău is the 14th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the ...
and
Onești.
* The resorts:
**
Poiana Sărată
**
Poiana Uzului
**
Slănic-Moldova
**
Târgu Ocna
Târgu Ocna (; ) is a town in Bacău County, Romania.
It administers two villages, Poieni and Vâlcele.
The town is situated on the left bank of the TrotuÈ™ River, an affluent of the Siret, and on a branch railway which crosses the GhimeÈ™ Pa ...
* The .
Demographics
Some estimates put the total number of
Csángós
The Csángós (; ) are Hungarians, ethnic Hungarians of Catholic Church in Romania, Roman Catholic faith living mostly in the Romanian region of Western Moldavia, Moldavia, especially in Bacău County. The region where the Csángós live in Mold ...
at around 70,000 in 1987.
Politics
The Bacău County Council, renewed at the
2020 local elections, consists of 36 councillors, with the following party composition:
People
*
Gabriela Adameșteanu
*
Vasile Alecsandri
*
George Bacovia
*
Radu Beligan
*
Nadia Comăneci
*
Loredana Groza
*
Ioan Măric
*
Vasile Pârvan
*
Lucrețiu Pătrășcanu
*
Radu R. Rosetti
*
Tristan Tzara
Tristan Tzara (; ; ; born Samuel or Samy Rosenstock, also known as S. Samyro; – 25 December 1963) was a Romanian and French avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist. Also active as a journalist, playwright, literary and art critic, c ...
* Nicu Enea
Administrative divisions
Bacău County has 3 municipalities, 5 towns, and 85 communes
*Municipalities
**
Bacău
Bacău ( ; , ; ; ) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. With a population of 136,087 (as of 2021 census), Bacău is the 14th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the ...
– capital city; population: 136,087 (as of 2021)
**
Moinești
**
Onești
*Towns
**
Buhuși
Buhuși (; ; ) is a town in Bacău County, Romania with a population of 14,152 as of 2021. It was first mentioned in the 15th century when it was named "Bodești" and was a property of an important family of Boyars named "Buhuș".
The town had ...
**
Comănești
**
Dărmănești
**
Slănic-Moldova
**
Târgu Ocna
Târgu Ocna (; ) is a town in Bacău County, Romania.
It administers two villages, Poieni and Vâlcele.
The town is situated on the left bank of the TrotuÈ™ River, an affluent of the Siret, and on a branch railway which crosses the GhimeÈ™ Pa ...
*Communes
**
Agăș
**
Ardeoani
**
Asău
**
Balcani
**
Berești-Bistrița
Berești-Bistrița is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, 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, H ...
**
Berești-Tazlău
**
Berzunţi
**
Bârsănești
**
Blăgești
**
Bogdănești
**
Brusturoasa
**
Buciumi
**
Buhoci
**
Cașin
**
Căiuți
**
Cleja
**
Colonești
**
Corbasca
**
Coțofănești
**
Dămienești
**
Dealu Morii
**
Dofteana
**
Faraoani
**
Filipeni
**
Filipești
**
Găiceana
**
Ghimeș-Făget
**
Gârleni
**
Glăvănești
**
Gioseni
**
Gura Văii
**
Helegiu
**
HemeiuÈ™
**
Huruiești
**
Horgești
**
Izvoru Berheciului
**
Itești
**
Letea Veche
**
Lipova
**
Livezi
**
Luizi-Călugăra
**
Măgirești
**
Măgura
**
Mănăstirea Cașin
**
Mărgineni
**
Motoșeni
**
Negri
**
Nicolae Bălcescu
**
Odobești
**
Oituz
Oituz (formerly ''Grozești''; ) is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Călcâi (''Zöldlonka''), Ferestrău-Oituz (''Fűrészfalva''), Hârja (''Herzsa''), Marginea, Oituz and Poiana Sărată (' ...
**
Oncești
**
Orbeni
**
Palanca
**
Parava
**
Pâncești
**
Parincea
**
Pârgărești
**
Pârjol
**
Plopana
**
Podu Turcului
**
Poduri
Poduri is a Commune in Romania, commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of seven villages: Bucșești, Cernu, Cornet, Negreni, Poduri, Prohozești, and Valea Șoșii.
The Poduri archeological site of the Late Neolithi ...
**
Prăjești
**
Racova
**
Răcăciuni
**
Răchitoasa
**
Roșiori
**
Sascut
**
Sănduleni
**
Sărata
**
Săucești
**
Scorțeni
**
Secuieni
**
SolonÈ›
**
Stănișești
**
Strugari
**
Ștefan cel Mare
**
Tamași
**
Tătărăști
**
Târgu Trotuș
**
Traian
**
Ungureni
**
Urechești
**
Valea Seacă
**
Vultureni
**
ZemeÈ™
Politics
Bacău became famous after electing
Ilie Ilașcu of the
Greater Romania Party as their Senator, while he was held in prison in
Transnistria
Transnistria, officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and locally as Pridnestrovie, is a Landlocked country, landlocked Transnistria conflict#International recognition of Transnistria, breakaway state internationally recogn ...
.
Historical county
Between the world wars, Bacău County had a different territorial extent. The county was located in the east central part of
Greater Romania
Greater Romania () is the Kingdom of Romania in the interwar period, achieved after the Great Union or the related pan-nationalist ideal of a nation-state which would incorporate all Romanian speakers.Irina LivezeanuCultural Politics in Greate ...
, in the center of
Moldavia
Moldavia (, or ; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ) is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially in ...
. Its territory included the central part of the current Bacău County. It bordered on the west with the counties of
Trei Scaune and
Ciuc, in the north with
NeamÈ› and
Roman counties, in the east with the counties of
Tutova and
Tecuci
Tecuci () is a city in Galați County, Romania, in the historical region of Western Moldavia. It is situated among wooded hills, on the right bank of the Bârlad River, and at the junction of railways from Galați, Bârlad, and Mărășești.
...
, and in the south with
Putna County.
Administration
The county was originally divided into five districts (''
plăși''):
[Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Bacău]
/ref>
#Plasa Bistrița
#Plasa Muntele, headquartered in Moinești
#Plasa Oituz
Oituz (formerly ''Grozești''; ) is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Călcâi (''Zöldlonka''), Ferestrău-Oituz (''Fűrészfalva''), Hârja (''Herzsa''), Marginea, Oituz and Poiana Sărată (' ...
, headquartered in Oituz
Oituz (formerly ''Grozești''; ) is a commune in Bacău County, Western Moldavia, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Călcâi (''Zöldlonka''), Ferestrău-Oituz (''Fűrészfalva''), Hârja (''Herzsa''), Marginea, Oituz and Poiana Sărată (' ...
#Plasa Siret
Siret (; ; ; ; ) is a town, municipality and former Latin bishopric in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Siret is the 11th largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 6,708 ...
, headquartered in Siret
Siret (; ; ; ; ) is a town, municipality and former Latin bishopric in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Siret is the 11th largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 6,708 ...
#Plasa Tazlău, headquartered in Tazlău
Subsequently, two more districts were established:
- Plasa Răcăciuni, headquartered in Răcăciuni
- Plasa Traian, headquartered in Traian
Population
According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 260,781, comprising 88.6% Romanians, 5.3% Jews, 3.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities.[Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 30] From the religious point of view, 75.8% were Eastern Orthodox, 18.1% Roman Catholics, 5.5% Jewish, as well as other minorities.[Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 536-541]
Urban population
In 1930, the county's urban population was 50,342, of which 70.1% were Romanians, 23.9% were Jews, 2.2% were Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From a religious point of view, the urban population consisted of 64.9% Eastern Orthodox, 24.4% Jewish, 9.3% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bacau County
Counties of Romania
1879 establishments in Romania
1938 disestablishments in Romania
States and territories disestablished in 1938
States and territories established in 1879
1940 establishments in Romania
1950 disestablishments in Romania
States and territories established in 1940
States and territories disestablished in 1950
1968 establishments in Romania
States and territories established in 1968