Dolj County (; originally meant ''Dol(no)- Jiu'', "lower Jiu", as opposed to '' Gorj'' (''upper Jiu'')) is a county (

județ A (, plural ) is an administrative division in Romania, and was also used from 1940 to 1947 in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic and from 1998 to 2003 in Moldova. There are 41 in Romania, divided into municipii (municipalities), ''ora ...

) 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

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

, in

Oltenia Oltenia (), also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions – with the alternative Latin names , , and between 1718 and 1739 – is a historical province and geographical region of Romania in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Da ...

, with the capital city at

Craiova Craiova (, also , ) is the largest city in southwestern Romania, List of Romanian cities, the seventh largest city in the country and the capital of Dolj County, situated near the east bank of the river Jiu River, Jiu in central Oltenia. It i ...

Demographics

In 2011, the county had a population of 660,544 and a population density of . *

Romanians Romanians (, ; dated Endonym and exonym, exonym ''Vlachs'') are a Romance languages, Romance-speaking ethnic group and nation native to Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. Sharing a Culture of Romania, ...

– over 95.5% *

Roma Roma or ROMA may refer to: People, characters, figures, names * Roma or Romani people, an ethnic group living mostly in Europe and the Americas. * Roma called Roy, ancient Egyptian High Priest of Amun * Roma (footballer, born 1979), born ''Paul ...

– 4.3% * Unknown - 0.2% *

Geography

This county has a total area of . The entire area is a plain with 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 ...

on the south forming a wide valley crossed by the

Jiu River The Jiu (; ; ; ) is a river in southern Romania. It is formed near Petroșani by the confluence of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est. It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, Gorj, Mehedinți and Dolj before flowing ...

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 A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...

Neighbours

Olt County Olt County () is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (the regions are separated by the Olt River, Olt river). The capital city is Slatina, Roma ...

to the east. *

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 west. *

Gorj County Gorj County () is a county () of Romania, in Oltenia, with its capital city at Târgu Jiu. ''Gorj'' comes from the Slavic ''Gornji'' Jiu (“upper Jiu”), in contrast with Dolnji (“lower Jiu”). Demographics At the 2011 census, the count ...

and

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 north. *Bulgaria –

Vidin Province Vidin Province () is the northwesternmost province of Bulgaria. It borders Serbia to the west and Romania to the northeast, and its administrative centre is the city of Vidin on the Danube river. The area is divided into 11 municipalities. As ...

to the southwest,

Montana Montana ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota to the east, South Dakota to the southeast, Wyoming to the south, an ...

and

Vratsa Vratsa ( ) is the largest city in northwestern Bulgaria and the administrative and economic centre of the municipality of Vratsa and Vratsa district. It is about north of Sofia, southeast of Montana. Situated at the foot of the Vrachanski Bal ...

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

, 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

river –

Bechet Bechet is a town in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Danube, opposite the Bulgarian city of Oryahovo. Demographics At the 2021 census, the town had a population of 4,355, of which 77.98% were Romanians and 18.37% Roma. Points of ...

and

Calafat Calafat () is a city in Dolj County, southern Romania, in the region of Oltenia. It lies on the river Danube, opposite the Bulgarian city of Vidin, to which it is linked by the Calafat-Vidin Bridge, opened in 2013. After the destruction of the b ...

People

* Corneliu Baba * Tudor Gheorghe * *

Alexandru Macedonski Alexandru Macedonski (; also rendered as Al. A. Macedonski, Macedonschi or Macedonsky; 14 March 1854 – 24 November 1920) was a Romanian poet, novelist, dramatist and literary critic, known especially for having promoted French Symbolism (arts ...

Titu Maiorescu Titu Liviu Maiorescu (; 15 February 1840 – 18 June 1917) was a Romanian literary critic and politician, founder of the ''Junimea'' Society. As a literary critic, he was instrumental in the development of Culture of Romania, Romanian culture in ...

* Amza Pellea * Gheorghe Popescu * Doina Ruști *

Francisc Șirato Francisc Şirato (15 August 1877 — 4 August 1953) was a Romanian painter, graphic artist, art critic, and designer. Alongside Nicolae Tonitza, Ștefan Dimitrescu, and Oscar Han, he was one of the ''Grupul celor patru'' ("Group of four"), some ...

* Marin Sorescu *

Nicolae Titulescu Nicolae Titulescu (; 4 March 1882 – 17 March 1941) was a Romanian politician and diplomat, at various times ambassador, finance minister, and foreign minister, and for two terms served as president of the General Assembly of the League of Nati ...

* Ion Țuculescu *

Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen Nicolae Vasilescu Karpen (December 10 (O.S.)/December 22 (N.S.), 1870, Craiova – March 2, 1964, Bucharest) was a Romanian engineer and physicist, who worked in telegraphy and telephony and had achievements in mechanical engineering, elastici ...

Mihai Viteazul Michael the Brave ( or ; 1558 – 9 August 1601), born as Mihai Pătrașcu, was the Prince of Wallachia (as Michael II, 1593–1601), Prince of Moldavia (1600) and ''de facto'' ruler of Transylvania (1599–1600). He is considered one of Rom ...

Tourism

Major tourist attractions: * The city of

; * The city of

; * Fishing on the

; * 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 *

– capital city; population: 243,765 (as of 2011) ;Towns *

Dăbuleni Dăbuleni () is a town of Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania. It was declared a town in 2004 (Law no. 83/2004). One village, Chiașu, is administered by the town. Dăbuleni is known for the sandy areas surrounding it; since the 1980s, those areas ha ...

Filiași Filiași () is a town in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Jiu. The town administers six villages: Almăjel, Bâlta, Braniște, Fratoștița, Răcarii de Sus, and Uscăci. Natives * Bianca Curmenț (born 1997), handball player * � ...

Segarcea Segarcea is a small town in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania. It has 7,356 inhabitants (2021 Romanian census, 2021 census), in an area of . The town is located towards the western end of the Wallachian Plain, about north of the Danube and south ...

;Communes * Afumați *

Almăj Almăj is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 1,792 people as of 2021. It is composed of four villages: Almăj, Bogea, Moșneni, and Șitoaia. It also included Beharca and Coțofenii din Față villages until 2004, whe ...

* Amărăștii de Jos * Amărăștii de Sus * Apele Vii *

Argetoaia Argetoaia is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, ...

* Bârca *

Bistreț Bistreț is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 4,211 as of the 2021 census. It is composed of four villages: Bistreț, Bistrețu Nou, Brândușa, and Plosca. The commune has an area of . It is located at the souther ...

Botoșești-Paia Botoșești-Paia is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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 ...

* Brabova * Brădești *

Braloștița Braloștița is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 4,200 people. It is composed of six villages: Braloștița, Ciocanele, Racovița, Schitu, Sfârcea and Valea Fântânilor. The commune is located in the northern part ...

Bratovoești Bratovoești is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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 wes ...

* Breasta *

Bucovăț Bucovăț () is a town in Strășeni district, Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Roma ...

* Bulzești *

Călărași Călărași (), the capital of Călărași County in the Muntenia region, is situated in south-east Romania, on the banks of the Danube's Borcea branch, at about from the Bulgarian border and from Bucharest. It is one of six Romanian county se ...

* Calopăr *

Caraula Caraula is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, S ...

* Cârcea * Cârna * Carpen * Castranova *

Catane Catane is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Se ...

* Celaru * Cerăt * Cernătești * Cetate *

Cioroiași Cioroiași is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, ...

* Ciupercenii Noi * Coșoveni *

Coțofenii din Dos Coțofenii din Dos is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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 ...

Coțofenii din Față Coțofenii din Față is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 1,904 people. It is composed of two villages, Beharca, and Coțofenii din Față. These were part of Almăj Commune until 2004, when they were split off. T ...

* Daneți * Desa * Dioști * Dobrești * Dobrotești * Drăgotești * Drănic * Fărcaș * Galicea Mare * Galiciuica *

Gângiova Gângiova is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 2,312 people as of 2021. It is composed of two villages, Comoșteni and Gângiova. Natives * Doina Ruști (born 1957), novelist References Communes in Dolj Cou ...

Ghercești Ghercești is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 2,132 people as of 2021. It is composed of five villages: Gârlești, Ghercești, Luncșoru, Ungureni, and Ungurenii Mici. Natives * (1929–2010), communist politician ...

* Ghidici * Ghindeni * Gighera * Giubega * Giurgița * Gogoșu *

Goicea Goicea is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Se ...

* Goiești * Grecești *

Întorsura Întorsura is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, ...

Ișalnița Ișalnița is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, ...

* Izvoare * Leu * Lipovu * Măceșu de Jos *

Măceșu de Sus Măceșu de Sus is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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 ...

* Maglavit * Malu Mare *

Mârșani Mârșani is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, ...

* Melinești *

Mischii Mischii is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Se ...

Moțăței Moțăței is a Commune in Romania, commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania, with a population of 5,920 people as of 2021. It consists of three villages: Dobridor, Moțăței, and Moțăței-Gară. Natives *Petre Dumitrescu (1882–1950), a gen ...

Murgași Murgași is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 2,191 people as of 2021. It is composed of eight villages: Balota de Jos (the commune center), Balota de Sus, Bușteni, Gaia, Murgași, Picăturile, Rupturile, and Veleșt ...

* Negoi *

Orodel Orodel is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Se ...

* Ostroveni * Perișor * Pielești * Piscu Vechi *

Plenița Plenița is a Commune in Romania, commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 4,156 people as of 2021. It is composed of two villages, Castrele Traiane and Plenița. The locality was a town until 1950. It is located in the wester ...

* Pleșoi * Podari * Poiana Mare * Predești *

Radovan Radovan ( sr-cyr, Радован) is a Slavic male given name, derived from the passive adjective ''radovati'' ("rejoice"), itself from root ''rad-'' meaning "care, joy". It is found in Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, M ...

* Rast * Robănești *

Rojiște Rojiște is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 1,600 people. It is composed of two villages, Rojiște and Tâmburești. These were part of Bratovoești Bratovoești is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania ...

* Sadova * Sălcuța * Scăești * Seaca de Câmp * Seaca de Pădure *

Secu Secu is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Serb ...

* Siliștea Crucii *

Șimnicu de Sus Șimnicu de Sus is a Commune in Romania, commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania with a population of 5,733 people as of 2021. It is composed of twelve villages: Albești, Cornetu, Deleni, Dudovicești, Duțulești, Florești, Izvor, Jieni, Leșil ...

Sopot Sopot (; or ) is a seaside resort city in Pomerelia on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000. It is located in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomerania Province and has the City with powiat ri ...

* Tălpaș * Teasc * Terpezița * Teslui *

Țuglui Țuglui is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, Se ...

* Unirea * Urzicuța * Valea Stanciului *

Vârtop Vârtop is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, S ...

* Vârvoru de Jos * Vela *

Verbița Verbița is a commune in Dolj County, Oltenia, 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, S ...

Historical county

Historically, the county was located in the southwestern 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 southwest part of the historical region of

. Its capital was

. 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

, to the east by

Romanați County Romanați County was a county (Romanian language, Romanian: ''județ'') in the Kingdom of Romania, in southeastern part of the historical region of Oltenia. The county seat was Caracal, Romania, Caracal. The county was located in the southwestern ...

, and to the south by the

Kingdom of Bulgaria The Tsardom of Bulgaria (), also known as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom (), usually known in English as the Kingdom of Bulgaria, or simply Bulgaria, was a constitutional monarchy in Southeastern Europe, which was established on , when the Bulgaria ...

Administration

The county was originally divided into six administrative districts ('' plăși''):Portretul României Interbelice – Județul Dolj
/ref> #Plasa Amaradia, headquartered at Melinești #Plasa Bârca, headquartered at Bârca #Plasa Calafat, headquartered at

#Plasa Gângiova, headquartered at

#Plasa Ocolul, headquartered at Ocolul #Plasa Plenița, headquartered at

Subsequently, four districts were created in place of two of the prior districts (Plasa Bârca and Plasa Gângiova): #Plasa Bechet, headquartered at

#Plasa Brabova, headquartered at Brabova #Plasa Filiași, headquartered at

#Plasa Segarcea, headquartered at

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