Caraș-Severin () 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 ...
on the border with
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
. The majority of its territory lies within the
historical region
History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
of
Banat
Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...
, with a few northeastern villages considered part 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 ...
. The county seat is
Reșița
Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...
. The Caraș-Severin county is part of the
Danube–Criș–Mureș–Tisa Euroregion.
Name
In
Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...
, it is known as ''Karaš Severin''/Караш Северин or ''Karaš-Severinska županija'', in
Hungarian as ''Krassó-Szörény megye'', in
German as ''Kreis Karasch-Severin'', and in
Bulgarian as Караш-Северин (translit. ''Karash-Severin'').
Geography
With 8,514 km
2, it is the third largest county in Romania, after
Timiș and
Suceava counties. It is also the county through which the river
Danube
The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
enters Romania.
The mountains make up 67% of the county's surface, including the
Southern Carpathians range, with
Banat Mountains,
Țarcu-Godeanu Mountains and
Cernei Mountains and elevations between 600 and 2100 meters. Transition hills between mountains and the
Banat Plain lie in the western side of the county.
The
Danube
The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
enters Romania in the vicinity of
Baziaș, bordering
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
.
Timiș,
Cerna,
Caraș and
Nera cross the county, some of them through spectacular valleys and gorges.
Neighbours
*
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 , ...
and
Gorj County to the east.
*
Timiș County
Timiș () is a county (''județ'') of western Romania on the border with Hungary and Serbia, in the historical regions of Romania, historical region of Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the westernmost and the largest county in Ro ...
to the north.
*
Mehedinți County
Mehedinți County () is a county () of Romania on the border with Serbia and Bulgaria. It is mostly located in the historical province of Oltenia, with one municipality (Orșova) and three communes (Dubova, Mehedinți, Dubova, Eșelnița, and Svi ...
to the southeast.
*
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
to the southwest:
**
Vojvodina
Vojvodina ( ; sr-Cyrl, Војводина, ), officially the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, is an Autonomous administrative division, autonomous province that occupies the northernmost part of Serbia, located in Central Europe. It lies withi ...
Autonomous Province to the west –
South Banat okrug.
**
Bor District and
Braničevo District to the south.
History and economy
In 1718 the county was part of the
Habsburg monarchy
The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...
, part of the province of
Banat
Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...
. In 1771 the county seat, Reschitz (
Reșița
Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...
) became a modern industrial center under Austrian rule. The area received considerable attention due to its
mining
Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
industry. In 1855, the entire Banat area, with its supplies of mineral deposits and timber, was transferred from the Austrian Treasury to a joint Austrian-French mining and railroad company named
StEG. StEG built the
Oravița-
Baziaș line, Romania's oldest railroad track.
After World War I, StEG, Banat and most
Austro-Hungarian property were taken over by a company named UDR. During the last years of World War II, when Romania was an ally of
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
, a
partisan group, led by
Ștefan Plavăț, was active in the mountainous area of the county. The arrival of the communist regime in Romania after World War II and that regime's campaign of
nationalization
Nationalization (nationalisation in British English)
is the process of transforming privately owned assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of a national government or state. Nationalization contrasts with p ...
of the mining industry brought tremendous social upheaval in the area.
Tourism
Archaeological findings show the area has been populated since
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic ( years ago) ( ), also called the Old Stone Age (), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone tools, and which represents almost the entire period of human prehist ...
times. There is a County Museum of History in Reșița, displaying archeological artifacts, and, in the town of
Ocna de Fier, the
Constantin Gruiescu Mineralogical Collection. The county hosts the regional
daffodil and
lilac festivals in the Spring.
Sites worth visiting:
*
Cheile Nerei – Beușinta National Park;
*
Semenic – Cheile Carașului National Park;
*
Domogled – Valea Cernei National Park;
*
Danube Iron Gate National Park;
*
Semenic resort;
*
Băile Herculane resort;
* The
Via Transilvanica long-distance hiking and biking trail, which crosses the county.
Demographics
According to the
2021 census, the county had a population of 246,588 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
*President of the County Council – Romeo-Dan Dunca (National Liberal Party)
*Vice-presidents of the County Council – Dan Stan and Ovidiu Rădoi (both National Liberal Party)
The Caraș-Severin County Council, renewed at the
2020 local elections, consists of 30 counsellors, with the following party composition:
Administrative divisions

Caraș-Severin County has 2 municipalities, 6 towns, and 69 communes
*Municipalities
**
Caransebeș
**
Reșița
Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...
– capital city; population: 58,393 (as of 2021)
*Towns
**
Anina
**
Băile Herculane
**
Bocșa
**
Moldova Nouă
**
Oravița
**
Oțelu Roșu
*Communes
**
Armeniș
**
Bănia
**
Băuțar
**
Berliște
**
Berzasca
**
Berzovia
Berzovia () is a commune in Caraș-Severin County, Banat, 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 ...
**
Bolvașnița
**
Bozovici
**
Brebu
**
Brebu Nou
**
Buchin
**
Bucoșnița
**
Carașova
**
Cărbunari
**
Ciclova Română
**
Ciuchici
**
Ciudanovița
**
Constantin Daicoviciu
**
Copăcele
**
Cornea
The cornea is the transparency (optics), transparent front part of the eyeball which covers the Iris (anatomy), iris, pupil, and Anterior chamber of eyeball, anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and Lens (anatomy), lens, the cornea ...
**
Cornereva
**
Coronini
**
Dalboșeț
**
Doclin
**
Dognecea
**
Domașnea
**
Eftimie Murgu
**
Ezeriș
**
Fârliug
**
Forotic
**
Gârnic
**
Glimboca
**
Goruia
**
Grădinari
**
Iablanița
**
Lăpușnicel
**
Lăpușnicu Mare
**
Luncavița
**
Lupac
**
Marga
**
Măureni
**
Mehadia
**
Mehadica
**
Naidăș
**
Obreja
**
Ocna de Fier
**
Păltiniș
**
Pojejena
**
Prigor
**
Răcășdia
**
Ramna
**
Rusca Montană
**
Sacu
**
Sasca Montană
**
Sichevița
**
Slatina-Timiș
**
Socol
**
Șopotu Nou
**
Târnova
**
Teregova
**
Ticvaniu Mare
**
Topleț
**
Turnu Ruieni
**
Văliug
**
Vărădia
**
Vermeș
**
Vrani
**
Zăvoi
**
Zorlențu Mare
Historic county
The territory of the county was transferred to the
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 ...
from the
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...
in 1920 under the
Treaty of Trianon. The county was located in the southwestern part of
Greater Romania, in the south and east region of the
Banat
Banat ( , ; ; ; ) is a geographical and Historical regions of Central Europe, historical region located in the Pannonian Basin that straddles Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe. It is divided among three countries: the eastern part lie ...
. The county seat was
Lugoj
Lugoj (; ; ; ; ; ) is a list of cities and towns in Romania, city in Timiș County, Romania. The Timiș, Timiș River divides the city into two halves: the "Romanian Lugoj" that spreads on the right bank, and the "German Lugoj" on the left bank. Th ...
. Its territory consisted entirely of the current territory of the county, but also parts of the current counties of
Timiș,
Arad, and
Mehedinți. It bordered on the west with
Timiș-Torontal County and the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...
, to the south with Yugoslavia, to the east with the counties
Mehedinți and
Hunedoara
Hunedoara (; ; ) is a municipiu, city in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, Romania. It is located in southwestern Transylvania near the Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and administers five villages: Boș (''Bós''), Groș (''Grós''), Hășdat (''Hosdát ...
, and to the north by
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 ...
. The county had a total area over , making it the largest county geographically of interwar Romania. Its territory corresponded to the former Hungarian division of
Krassó-Szörény County. The county existed for seven years, being divided in 1926 into
Caraș County and
Severin County.
Administration
The county was divided administratively into fourteen districts (''
plăși''). There were five urban municipalities (cities):
Lugoj
Lugoj (; ; ; ; ; ) is a list of cities and towns in Romania, city in Timiș County, Romania. The Timiș, Timiș River divides the city into two halves: the "Romanian Lugoj" that spreads on the right bank, and the "German Lugoj" on the left bank. Th ...
(capital),
Caransebeș,
Reșița
Reșița (; ; ; ; ; ; ) is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraș-Severin County. It is located in the Banat region. The city had a population of 58,393 in 2021. It administers six villages: Câlnic (''Kölnök''), Cuptoare (''Kupt ...
,
Oravița and
Orșova.
[Portretul României Interbelice – Județul Caraș]
/ref>[Portretul României Interbelice – Județul Severin]
/ref>
Population
According to the census data of 1920, the total population of the county was 424,254 inhabitants. The population density was 38 inhabitants/km2.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caras-Severin County
Counties of Romania
1919 establishments in Romania
1926 disestablishments in Romania
1940 establishments in Romania
1950 disestablishments in Romania
1968 establishments in Romania
States and territories established in 1919
States and territories disestablished in 1926
States and territories established in 1940
States and territories disestablished in 1950
States and territories established in 1968