Neamț County (Romanian pronunciation: [ne̯amt͡s] ) is a county (județ) of Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia, with the county seat at Piatra Neamț. The county takes its name from the Neamț River.

Neamț County
Județul Neamț
Coat of arms of Neamț County
Administrative map of Romania with Neamț county highlighted
Coordinates: 46°58′N 26°24′E / 46.97°N 26.4°E / 46.97; 26.4
CountryRomania
Development regionNord-Est
CapitalPiatra Neamț
Area
 • Total5,897 km2 (2,277 sq mi)
 • Rank18th
Population
 (2021-12-01)[1]
 • Total454,203
 • Rank17th
 • Density77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Telephone code(+40) 233 or (+40) 333[2]
ISO 3166 codeRO-NT
GDP (nominal)US$ 2.430 billion (2015)
GDP per capitaUS$ 5,161 (2015)
WebsiteCounty Council
Prefecture

Demographics edit

Population edit

In 2011, it had a population of 470,766 and a population density of 80/km2.

Year County population[4]
1948 357,348  
1956 419,949  
1966 470,206  
1977 532,096  
1992 577,619  
2002 554,516  
2011 470,766  
2021 454,203  

Religion edit

Religion in Neamț County (2011)[5]
Eastern Orthodox
83.2%
Catholic
9.6%
Unknown
5.0%
Other faiths
(e.g. Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostalism, Islam)
2.2%

Geography edit

 
Bistrița Valley

Neamț County has an area of 5,897 km2 (2,277 sq mi).[6]: 17 

The relief decreases from west to east. In the western part, there are mountains, the Eastern Carpathians, with heights of over 1,800 m (5,900 ft) and the impressive peak of Ceahlău Massif. Along the Bicaz River lies the canyon of Cheile Bicazului. Construction of the Bicaz Dam in the 1950s on the Bistrița River led to the formation of Lake Bicaz (Lake Izvorul Muntelui), the largest artificial lake completely in Romania.[6]: 15 

On the western side, the lowest point, at about 160 m (520 ft), is found along the Siret River's valley.

Neighbours edit

Economy edit

 
The Bicaz Dam

The county's main industries are

  • Chemical industry
  • Mechanical parts
  • Textiles
  • Food stuffs
  • Construction materials

One of the greatest dams in Romania, the Bicaz Dam is built along the Bistrița River, forming the Bicaz Lake; the water of the lake is used for electricity production at Bicaz-Stejaru Hydroelectric Power Station.

Tourism edit

 
The church of Văratec Monastery
 
Ceahlău Massif

Neamț County is known as the region with the most monasteries to be found per square kilometer in the world.[citation needed] The monumental church of Neamț Monastery has been a model for Moldavian churches and monasteries. The Moldavian art style, of great originality and stylistic unity, was developed by blending Gothic elements with Byzantine motifs.

The county is host to two of Romania's 9 national parks: the Ceahlău Massif and the Vânători-Neamț Natural Park.

The county's main tourist attractions include

Politics edit

The Neamț County Council, renewed at the 2020 local elections, consists of 34 councillors, with the following party composition:[7]

    Party Seats Current County Council
  Alliance For The Modernisation Of Neamț 2020 (PSD) 13                          
  National Liberal Party (PNL) 11                          
  Save Romania Union (USR) 4                          
  People's Movement Party (PMP) 3                          
  PRO Romania (PRO) 3                          

Administrative divisions edit

 
Piatra Neamț (German: Kreuzburg an der Bistritz)
 
The History Museum in Roman

Neamț County has 2 municipalities, 3 towns and 78 communes.

Natives edit

Historical county edit

Județul Neamț
County (Județ)
 
The Neamț County Prefect's building from the interwar period, currently the county museum.
 
 
Country  Romania
Historic regionMoldavia
Capital city (Reședință de județ)Piatra Neamț
Area
 • Total3,977 km2 (1,536 sq mi)
Population
 (1930)
 • Total198,223
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

The county was located in the north-eastern part of Romania, in the north-west of the region of Moldavia. Today, most of the territory of the former county is part of the current Neamț County. It was bordered on the north by Câmpulung County, to the north-east by Baia County, to the east by Roman County, to the south by Bacău County, to the southwest by Ciuc County, and to the west by Mureș County.

Administration edit

 
Map of Neamț County as constituted in 1938.

In 1930, the county had four districts (plăși):[8]

  1. Plasa Bistrița
  2. Plasa De Mijloc
  3. Plasa Muntele
  4. Plasa Neamț

In 1938, the county had five districts:

  1. Plasa Bistrița, with 45 villages and headquartered in Roznov
  2. Plasa Muntele, with 53 villages and headquartered in Broșteni
  3. Plasa I.Gh. Duca, with 39 villages
  4. Plasa Răsboeni, with 56 villages and headquartered in Răsboeni
  5. Plasa Cetatea Neamț, with 15 villages and headquartered in Târgu Neamț

Apart from Piatra Neamț, the county had two urban municipalities (cities): Târgu Neamț and Buhuși.

Population edit

According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 198,223 inhabitants, 90.3% Romanians, 6.3% Jews, 1.2% Hungarians, as well as other minorities.[9] From the religious point of view, the population was 90.5% Eastern Orthodox, 6.7% Jewish, 2.3% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

Urban population edit

In 1930, the county's urban population was 47,957 inhabitants, comprising 69.6% Romanians, 24.7% Jews, 1.3% Hungarians, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 69.7% Eastern Orthodox, 25.2% Jewish, 3.4% Roman Catholic, as well as other minorities.

References edit

  1. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  2. ^ The number used depends on the numbering system employed by the phone companies on the market.
  3. ^ National Institute of Statistics, "Populația după etnie" Archived 2009-08-16 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ National Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002" Archived 2006-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Tab13. Populaţia stabilă după religie – judeţe, municipii, oraşe, comune". Recensământul. 2011.
  6. ^ a b 2017 Romanian Statistical Yearbook
  7. ^ "Rezultatele finale ale alegerilor locale din 2020" (Json) (in Romanian). Autoritatea Electorală Permanentă. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  8. ^ Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Neamț
  9. ^ Recensământul general al populației României din 29 decemvrie 1930, Vol. II, pag. 308

External links edit