Bistrița-Năsăud () is a county (județ) of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Bistrița.
Name In Hungarian, it is known as Beszterce-Naszód megye, and in German as Kreis Bistritz-Nassod. The name is identical with the county created in 1876, Beszterce-Naszód County () in the Kingdom of Hungary (the county was recreated in 1940 after the Second Vienna Award, as it became part of Hungary again until 1944). Except these, as part of Romania, until 1925 the former administrative organizations were kept when a new county system was introduced. Between 1925–1940 and 1945–1950, most of its territory belonged to the Năsăud County, with smaller parts belonging to the Mureș, Cluj, and Someș counties.
Geography
The county has a total area of . One third of this surface represents the mountains from the Eastern Carpathians group: the Țibleș, Rodna, Bârgău, and Călimani Mountains. The rest of the territory represents the North-East side of the Transylvanian Plateau.
The main river crossing the county is the Someșul Mare. On the Bistrița River there is a big dam and a lake.
Neighbours Suceava County in the East. Cluj County in the West. Maramureș County in the North. Mureș County in the South.
Demographics According to the 2021 census, the county had a population of 295,988 and the population density was .
Year County population 1948 233,650 1956 255,789 1966 269,954 1977 286,628 1992 327,238 2002 311,657 2011 277,861 2021 295,988
Politics The Bistrița-Năsăud County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 31 councilors, with the following party composition:
Party Seats Current County Council Social Democratic Party (PSD) 15 National Liberal Party (PNL) 10 Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) 4 Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) 2
Administrative divisions
Bistrița-Năsăud County has 1 municipality, 3 towns, and 58 communes. Municipalities Bistrița – capital city; 78,877 (as of 2021) Towns Beclean Năsăud Sângeorz-Băi
Communes Bistrița Bârgăului Braniștea Budacu de Jos Budești Căianu Mic Cetate Chiochiș Chiuza Ciceu-Giurgești Ciceu-Mihăiești Coșbuc Dumitra Dumitrița Feldru Galații Bistriței Ilva Mare Ilva Mică Josenii Bârgăului Leșu Lechința Livezile Lunca Ilvei Maieru Matei Măgura Ilvei Mărișelu Miceștii de Câmpie Milaș Monor Negrilești Nimigea Nușeni Parva Petru Rareș Poiana Ilvei Prundu Bârgăului Rebra Rebrișoara Rodna Romuli Runcu Salvei Salva Sânmihaiu de Câmpie Șieu Șieu-Odorhei Șieu-Măgheruș Șieuț Șintereag Silivașu de Câmpie Spermezeu Șanț Târlișua Teaca Telciu Tiha Bârgăului Uriu Urmeniș Zagra
People Natives of the county include: George Coșbuc Andrei Mureșanu Liviu Rebreanu
See also Former Beszterce-Naszód County of the Kingdom of Hungary The Via Transilvanica long-distance hiking and biking trail, which crosses the county
References