Olt County () is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (the regions are separated by the Olt river). The capital city is Slatina.
History On 24 August 2017, the Olt County Council decided to hold a name referendum on 15 October 2017 for the proposal to change the county name to "Olt-Romanați". The referendum was eventually held on 6 and 7 October 2018. The vote was nullified, as turnout was 27.19%, below the required threshold of 30%; therefore, the Olt County retains its current name.
Demographics
In 2011, the county had a population of 415,530 and the population density was .
Romanians - 98.01%National Institute of Statistics, "Populația după etnie" Romani - 1.9%
Year County populationNational Institute of Statistics, "Populația la recensămintele din anii 1948, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 și 2002" 1948 442,442 1956 458,982 1966 476,513 1977 518,804 1992 520,966 2002 489,274 2011 415,530 2021 383,280
The county is a mainly rural one, with over 60% of the population living in villages.
Geography The county lies in a flat area on the western part of the Romanian Plain. It is crossed by rivers from north to south, including the Olt River which gave the county its name. The Danube forms a wide valley in the south, with many ponds and small channels, which are occasionally flooded.
Neighbours
Teleorman County to the East. Dolj County to the West. Argeș County and Vâlcea County to the North. Bulgaria to the South - Vratsa Province and Pleven Province.
Economy The predominant industries in the county are: Metallurgy - aluminium and aluminium components. Railway equipment. Food and beverages industry. Textile industry. Mechanical components industry.
Agriculture is the main occupation in the county - over 58% of the population having agriculture as their main occupation. Both extensive agriculture, and small-scale, vegetables and fruits, are practiced. The area is well suited for irrigation.
Tourism The main destinations for tourists are: The city of Slatina. Fishing on the Danube and on the Olt River. Town of Corabia with an ancient Roman citadel, a large orthodox cathedral, Danube sunbathes, sailing and fishing. The town of Scornicești - the birthplace of Nicolae Ceaușescu.
Politics The Olt County Council, renewed at the 2024 local elections, consists of 32 councilors, with the following party composition:
Party Seats Current County Council Social Democratic Party (PSD) 20 National Liberal Party (PNL) 7 Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) 5
Administrative divisions
Olt County has 2 municipalities, 6 towns and 104 communes: Municipalities Caracal Slatina - capital city; population: 87,608 (as of 2007)
Towns Balș Corabia Drăgănești-Olt Piatra Olt Potcoava Scornicești
Communes Băbiciu Baldovinești Bălteni Bărăști Bârza Bobicești Brâncoveni Brastavățu Brebeni Bucinișu Cârlogani Călui Cezieni Cilieni Colonești Corbu Coteana Crâmpoia Cungrea Curtișoara Dăneasa Deveselu Dobrețu Dobrosloveni Dobroteasa Dobrun Drăghiceni Făgețelu Fălcoiu Fărcașele Găneasa Găvănești Gârcov Giuvărăști Ghimpețeni Gostavățu Grădinari Grădinile Grojdibodu Gura Padinii Ianca Iancu Jianu Icoana Ipotești Izbiceni Izvoarele Leleasca Mărunței Mihăești Milcov Morunglav Movileni Nicolae Titulescu Obârșia Oboga Oporelu Optași-Măgura Orlea Osica de Sus Osica de Jos Pârșcoveni Perieți Pleșoiu Poboru Priseaca Radomirești Redea Rotunda Rusănești Sâmburești Sârbii-Măgura Scărișoara Schitu Seaca Șerbănești Slătioara Șopârlița Spineni Sprâncenata Ștefan cel Mare Stoenești Stoicănești Strejești Studina Tătulești Teslui Tia Mare Topana Traian Tufeni Urzica Vădastra Vădăstrița Vâlcele Valea Mare Văleni Verguleasa Vișina Vișina Nouă Vitomirești Vlădila Voineasa Vulpeni Vulturești
Historical county
Historically, the county was located in the southern part of Greater Romania, in the western part of the historical region of Muntenia, around and in the south of Bucharest. The county included the north-eastern part of the current Olt county, the south-western part of the present Argeș County and the north-western part of the present Teleorman County. During the interwar years, it was bordered to the north by Argeș County, to the east by the counties of Argeş and Teleorman, to the south by Teleorman County, and in the west by the counties of Romanați and Vâlcea.
Administration
The county originally was divided into three administrative districts (plăși):Portretul României Interbelice - Județul Olt Plasa Drăgănești, headquartered at Drăgănești Plasa Dumitrești, headquartered at Dumitrești Plasa Spineni, headquartered at Spineni
Subsequently, the county established an additional district:Plasa Mijlocul, headquartered at Mijlocul
Population According to the 1930 census data, the county population was 183,595 inhabitants, ethnically divided as follows: 98.2% Romanians, 1.2% Romanies, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the population was 99.5% Eastern Orthodox, 0.2% Roman Catholic, 0.1% Jewish, as well as other minorities.
Urban population In 1930, the county's urban population was 11,243 inhabitants, comprising 92.5% Romanians, 2.5% Hungarians, 1.5% Jews, 0.8% Germans, as well as other minorities. From the religious point of view, the urban population was composed of 94.1% Eastern Orthodox, 2.3% Roman Catholic, 1.6% Jewish, 0.9% Reformed, 0.6% Lutheran, as well as other minorities.
References